The animated TECHTip tutorial available here.

802.16 MAC [Media Access Control] is designed for data rates up to 268 mbps each way with provisions for delivering ATM [Asynchronous Transfer Mode] compatible QoS [Quality of Service], Ethernet and other services such as MPLS [Multi-Protocol Label Switching]. The 802.16 MAC uses a variable length designed to increase the efficiency of the standard. Multiple MAC PDUs [Packet Data Units] may be concatenated (combined) into a single burst to save PHY [PHYsical] overhead. There are various revisions of the IEEE standard such as 802.16REVd (now known as 802.16-2004) for fixed wireless and to call 802.16e nomadic wireless or semi-mobile wireless. Additionally, multiple SDUs [Service Data Units] for the same service may be concatenated into a single MAC PDU, saving on MAC header overhead. Fragmentation allows very large SDUs to be sent as needed to guarantee the QoS. Payload header suppression can be used to reduce the overhead caused by the redundant portions of SDU headers. 802.16 can use TDMA [Time Division Multiple Access] where each data packet is assigned a unique time slot, FDMA [Frequency Division Multiple Access] for both full duplex (simultaneous two-way) and half-duplex (one direction at a time) or other transmission systems.

Metro-City-wide BS [Base Station] WiMax architecture will consist of subscriber connections and back haul connections to CO [Central Office] switching or Internet and other network connections.

There are two key WiMax topologies – PtP [Point-to-Point] for “backhaul” and PtMP [Point-to-Multi-Point] BS to SS [Subscriber Station] (customer locations). In either situation MIMO [Multiple-Input-Multiple Output] antennas will likely be used. In building or SS WiMax Architecture will consist of wireline connections to Wi-Fi AP [Access Points], servers, phones, VoIP GateKeepers/Gateways and optical fiber connections to the Internet or other networks.

This is the process for Channel Acquisition, Initial Ranging and Negotiation of SS capabilities:

1. SS begins scanning pre-set frequency for BS.

2. BS responds and synchronizes with SS.
3. IR [Initial Ranging] parameters set. UL-MAP [Mobile Application Part-Up-Link]. SS broadcasts with a MAC using minimum RF [Radio Frequency] transmission. If no response, SS increases RF transmission power until it reaches a receiving response from the BS.
4. BS transmits power and timing adjustments and management CID [Connection IDentification].
5. SS responds with PHY capabilities (modulation and coding schemes).
6. BS authorizes SS. Service begins.

This is the process for SS Authentication and Registration:

1. SS sends Authorization and Authentication request with an X.509 digital certificate.

2. BS responds with Authorization Reply (contains Authorization Key encrypted with the SS’s Public Key and intervals for refreshing with Keys).
3. With validation, SS registers with the network.
4. SS sends an address IP request to the DHCP server.
5. BS and SS maintain the current date and time using the time of the day protocol (IETF RFC868). The SS receives (downloads) operational parameters using TFTP [Trivial File Transfer Protocol] (IETF RFC 1350 – read/write/ACK [Acknowledge]/Error data transfer to/from remote server protocol) over UDP [User Datagram Protocol] (Layer 4).
6. After completion of registration and the transfer of operational parameters, transport connections are created.

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