Chapter 7: Wireless and Mobile Networks

Kurose and Keith W. Ross explores the unique challenges and technologies of wireless and mobile networks. It begins by distinguishing between the effects of wireless communication and user mobility, showing how these factors impact network design and performance. The authors introduce wireless link characteristics, including differences in signal propagation, interference, and error rates compared to wired links. The chapter then examines common wireless network architectures, such as infrastructure-based networks (WiFi, cellular) and ad hoc networks, and explains how they integrate with the broader Internet. It covers key technologies like IEEE 802.11 WiFi standards, including physical and MAC layer details, CSMA/CA for collision avoidance, and association/authentication processes. The section on cellular networks explains core concepts like base stations, frequency reuse, handoff procedures, and generations from 2G through LTE and beyond. The chapter also addresses mobility management, including handoff strategies, location registration, and the use of the home agent/foreign agent model in Mobile IP. Security considerations for wireless networks—such as encryption, authentication, and threats like eavesdropping—are discussed, along with advances in integrating IoT devices into wireless infrastructures. By combining foundational principles with real-world protocols, the chapter equips readers with a deep understanding of how wireless and mobile networks operate, scale, and secure communications in an increasingly mobile world.