User Manual

Psion Teklogix 9160 Wireless Gateway User Manual E-5
Appendix E: Glossary
Ad hoc Mode
When one access point is connected to wired network and supports a set of wireless
stations, it is referred to as a basic service set (BSS). An extended service set (ESS)
is created by combining two or more BSSs.
Ad hoc Mode
Ad hoc mode is a Wireless Networking Framework in which stations communicate
directly with each other. It is useful for quickly establishing a network in situations
where formal infrastructure is not required.
Ad hoc mode is also referred to as peer-to-peer mode or an independent basic
service set (IBSS).
AES
The Advanced Encryption Standard (AES) is a symmetric 128-bit block data
encryption technique developed to replace DES encryption. AES works at multiple
network layers simultaneously.
Further information is available on the NIST Web site.
B
Basic Rate Set
The basic rate set defines the transmission rates that are mandatory for any station
wanting to join this wireless network. All stations must be able to receive data at the
rates listed in this set.
Beacon
Beacon frames provide the “heartbeat” of a WLAN, announcing the existence of the
network, and enabling stations to establish and maintain communications in an
orderly fashion. It carries the following information (some of which is optional):
•The Timestamp is used by stations to update their local clock, enabling syn-
chronization among all associated stations.