CWINS / Wireless LAN Research Laboratory: Executive Summary

While the wireless LAN industry has attracted significant interest and, indeed, many notable installations of leading-edge products, the industry as a whole has grown more slowly than many expected. While many factors contribute to this situation, two stand out:

First, there remains a general lack of awareness on the part of key decision-makers of the benefits of replacing or augmenting LAN and short-haul bridge cable plants (and services) with wireless alternatives. Misconceptions regarding cost, cost-effectiveness, performance, and reliability remain.
Secondly, and more importantly, there is no independent, central resource for technical information regarding important topics such as performance benchmarkes, interpretability, etc. on wireless LANs and related systems. An unbiased, vendor-independent focal point for the technology is required.

It is the second factor that is addressed by the proposal in this document, but the authors of this proposal believe that the effects of establishing this reference point will be far-reaching and ultimately of enormous benefit to the participants.

Specifically, we propose that a Wireless LANs Technology Group (WLTG) be established within the Center for Wireless Information Network Studies (CWINS) at the Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI), in Worcester, Massachusetts. WPI and CWINS have long histories of innovation and technical and educational excellence, and represent the best alternative for establishing a credible and technically-able resource.

Key objectives:

Serve as a focal point for wireless LAN technology including issues involving benchmarking and performance
Specify and develop key benchmark criteria and test software, as well as compatibility, interoperability, and standards-verification software and systems
Design and develop installation planning, simulation, and debugging tools (both hardware and software)
Disseminate the results of center activities, subject to the approval of member firms, in the form of articles, presentations, conferences, and a presence on the Internet and the World-Wide Web
Other activities as suggested by the members, who will each have a seat on the WLTG Advisory Board.

While it is not the intention of the WLTG to assist individual members in the marketing of their specific products, the authors of this proposal believe that the interest generated by the WLTG will be of tremendous benefit nonetheless. Member firms will have the opportunity to advise the work of the Group, have early access to research results, and will be able to contract with the Group for specific research on a confidential and very cost-effective basis. In summary, the Wireless LANs Technology Group will be a key resource for the entire industry, serving as a center of excellence for scholarly research and practical applications of wireless LAN technology.

Part of this proposal details a planed testbed installation of wireless LAN and bridge technology at WPI, to be used as both a research tool and a practical "wireless classroom" facility. It is intended that this system be interoperable and, from a configuration point of view, vendor-independent. In addition to serving as a research vehicle, this installation will attract international attention from the academic community directly, and indirectly from potential users of any wireless LAN application.

The authors of this prospectus remain open to its refinement to better suit the specific needs of the founding members. Regardless of the nature of specific programs, the overriding objective of the Wireless LANs Technology Group is to serve as a technical focal point for the development of the wireless LAN industry, ultimately to the benefit of LAN users everywhere.