Secure Roaming Optimization for VoIP in 802.11 MAC Layer

Voice over IP (VoIP) and other real-time services are emerging as important applications for IEEE 802.11 wireless local area networks (WLANs). In this paper, we analyze MAC layer transition procedure in wireless local area networks based on the IEEE 802.11 MAC protocol. We survey several of the optimizations being considered to improve transition times without reducing security. Transition time improvements can be achieved by two sorts of optimizations: discover phase optimizations and transition phase. In the discovery phase, the mobile client learns to better exploit its ambient radio resource environment through IEEE 802.1 lkllie protocols; these techniques permit the client to select an AP that can provide acceptable QoS. The transition phase consists of optimizations proposed in the early draft of IEEE 802.1 lr to accelerate AP-to-AP transition without compromising security.