802.11ad MAC Functions

What are MAC functions in 802.11ad?

MAC functions in 802.11ad manage frame transmission, scheduling, medium access, beamforming coordination, and QoS in the 60 GHz band.

What makes MAC in 802.11ad different from earlier standards?

802.11ad MAC includes directionality-aware access, beamforming support, and highly scheduled service periods due to challenges in 60 GHz propagation.

What is the role of the PCP (Personal Basic Service Set Control Point)?

The PCP acts like an access point, coordinating access periods (CBAPs and SPs), beaconing, and resource allocation within the PBSS.

How does 802.11ad MAC support beamforming?

MAC frames include training sequences and feedback exchanges that allow devices to perform beam training, refinement, and tracking dynamically.

Does 802.11ad use traditional CSMA/CA?

Yes, but it’s used only in Contention-Based Access Periods (CBAPs). The standard also supports scheduled access (SPs) for QoS and efficiency.

What types of frames are supported in 802.11ad MAC?

It includes control, management, and data frames, with added support for beamforming and directional transmission signaling.

What MAC-level QoS features does 802.11ad offer?

Service Periods (SPs) and prioritized CBAPs allow deterministic and high-priority traffic scheduling, critical for video streaming and low-latency use cases.

How does fragmentation work in 802.11ad MAC?

802.11ad supports fragmentation of MAC Service Data Units (MSDUs) for improved reliability over variable link quality in the 60 GHz band.

How are retransmissions handled in 802.11ad?

MAC layer uses Block ACK and selective retransmission schemes to efficiently recover lost frames without redundant transmissions.

What is the role of beacons in MAC operation?

Beacons synchronize the network, announce access schedules (CBAPs and SPs), and assist in beam alignment and channel availability.

Is power management supported in 802.11ad MAC?

Yes, MAC supports dozing and wake-up signaling coordinated with beacons and service periods for energy-efficient operations.

How does the MAC support peer-to-peer (P2P) communication?

802.11ad enables direct device-to-device links via the PBSS architecture, with MAC coordinating link setup, beam alignment, and transmission scheduling.

Are MAC functions in 802.11ad fixed or flexible?

Many parameters are standardized, but SP durations, CBAP access policies, and beamforming intervals can be tuned per deployment needs.

Where can I find detailed MAC specifications for 802.11ad?

In the IEEE 802.11ad amendment (2012) and incorporated sections of the full IEEE 802.11 standard (2016 and later).

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