In general, this document makes only passing mention of such features.
2.2.3 Wireless LAN Topologies
WLANs are designed for flexibility and mobility. The standards refer to the nodes of a
wireless network as stations (STAs). A special type of station called an access point (AP) is
connected to both the wired and the wireless network and bridges communications between
the two. The AP (sometimes called a base station) also provides synchronization and
coordination and forwarding of broadcast packets for all the associated STAs. The area of
operation of an AP is sometimes referred to generically as a radio cell.
The standard distinguishes between Infrastructure topologies (those with an AP and a
connection to a wired network) and Independent topologies, made up of STAs with no
access point and no direct connection to the wired network.
Figure 2.1: Stations in an independent Basic Service Set (IBSS) or Ad Hoc group are able to
communicate with one another without connection to a wired network.
The simplest arrangement is an ad hoc group of independent wireless nodes
communicating on a peer-to-peer basis, as shown in Figure 2.1. (Ad hoc is a Latin phrase
meaning ???for this (purpose),??? indicating a temporary arrangement.
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