9.1 Introduction

WPANs (Wireless Personal Area Networks), WLANs (Wireless Local Area Networks), WMANs (Wireless Metropolitan Area Networks), and WWANs (Wireless Wide Area Networks) operate at various rates and levels of complexity; feature a multiplicity of architectures, protocols, and topologies; and vary in size and capacity. As with cellular networks, these configurations provision links to Web resources and narrowband and broadband network applications such as e-mail, E-banking transactions, distance education, and telehealthcare treatment via RF (Radio Frequency) waves in free space, thus eliminating requirements for fixed wireline connections.

The profusion of wireless devices reflects the popularity of cellular and wireless teleservices in addressing communications requirements in home, school, government, business, and hospital environments. Accelerating demand for instantaneous access to the Web and enterprisewide intranets and extranets, regardless of the technology employed, time constraints, or user and/or terminal location, and mobility motivates ubiquitous implementation of integrated cellular and wireless networks that interoperate with landline networks.

As noted in Chapter 8, wireless networks developed apart from cellular networks. In the present-day environment, wireless and cellular networks support overlapping services and applications, employ identical or closely related portable devices, and facilitate development of unified network implementations. Currently in development, these amalgamated networking solutions are expected to enable pervasive connections to networking resources and employ Mobile IP (Internet Protocol) platforms based on IPv6 for provisioning vast numbers of Internet addresses to accommodate the proliferation of wireless network nodes. Technologies such as Bluetooth, 3GSM (Third-Generation Global System for Mobile Communications), and UMTS (Universal Mobile Telecommunications Systems)...