TY - JOUR
T1 - Association, Blockage, and Handoffs in IEEE 802.11ad-Based 60-GHz Picocells
T2 - A Closer Look
AU - Joshi, Kishor Chandra
AU - Hersyandika, Rizqi
AU - Venkatesha Prasad, R.
PY - 2020
Y1 - 2020
N2 - The link misalignment and high susceptibility to blockages are the biggest hurdles in realizing 60-GHz-based wireless local area networks (WLANs). However, much of the previous studies investigating 60 GHz alignment and blockage issues do not provide an accurate quantitative evaluation from the perspective of WLANs. In this article, we present an in-depth quantitative evaluation of commodity IEEE 802.11ad devices by forming a 60-GHz WLAN with two docking stations mimicking as access points (APs). Through extensive experiments, we provide important insights about directional coverage pattern of antennas, communication range, and cochannel interference and blockages. We are able to measure the IEEE 802.11ad link alignment and association overheads in absolute time units. With a very high accuracy (96%-97%), our blockage characterization can differentiate between temporary and permanent blockages caused by humans in the indoor environment, which is a key insight. Utilizing our blockage characterization, we also demonstrate intelligent handoff to alternate APs using consumer-grade IEEE 802.11ad devices. Our blockage-induced handoff experiments provide important insights that would be helpful in integrating millimeter wave-based WLANs into future wireless networks.
AB - The link misalignment and high susceptibility to blockages are the biggest hurdles in realizing 60-GHz-based wireless local area networks (WLANs). However, much of the previous studies investigating 60 GHz alignment and blockage issues do not provide an accurate quantitative evaluation from the perspective of WLANs. In this article, we present an in-depth quantitative evaluation of commodity IEEE 802.11ad devices by forming a 60-GHz WLAN with two docking stations mimicking as access points (APs). Through extensive experiments, we provide important insights about directional coverage pattern of antennas, communication range, and cochannel interference and blockages. We are able to measure the IEEE 802.11ad link alignment and association overheads in absolute time units. With a very high accuracy (96%-97%), our blockage characterization can differentiate between temporary and permanent blockages caused by humans in the indoor environment, which is a key insight. Utilizing our blockage characterization, we also demonstrate intelligent handoff to alternate APs using consumer-grade IEEE 802.11ad devices. Our blockage-induced handoff experiments provide important insights that would be helpful in integrating millimeter wave-based WLANs into future wireless networks.
KW - 5G
KW - IEEE 802.11ad
KW - millimeter wave
KW - WiGig
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85086079743&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1109/JSYST.2019.2937568
DO - 10.1109/JSYST.2019.2937568
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:85086079743
SN - 1932-8184
VL - 14
SP - 2144
EP - 2153
JO - IEEE Systems Journal
JF - IEEE Systems Journal
IS - 2
M1 - 8839948
ER -