11
T
ERMINOLOGY
Access Point
—An internetworking device that seamlessly connects wired and
wireless networks.
Ad Hoc
—An ad hoc wireless LAN is a group of computers, each with LAN adapters,
connected as an independent wireless LAN.
Backbone
—The core infrastructure of a network. The portion of the network that
transports information from one central location to another central location where it is
unloaded onto a local system.
Base Station
—In mobile telecommunications, a base station is the central radio
transmitter/receiver that maintains communications with the mobile radiotelephone
sets within its range. In cellular and personal communications applications, each cell
or micro-cell has its own base station; each base station in turn is interconnected with
other cells’ bases.
BSS
—Basic Service Set. It is an access point and all the LAN PCs that are associated
with it.
CSMA/CA
—Carrier Sense Multiple Access with Collision Avoidance.
EAP
—Extensible Authentication Protocol, which provides a generalized framework
for several different authentication methods.
File
Server
Switch
Desktop PC
Access Point
<BSS2>
Notebook with Wireless
PC Card Adapter
Seamless Roaming
<ESS>
Switch
Access Point
<BSS1>
PC with Wireless
PCI Adapter
Notebook with Wireless
PC Card Adapter
