IEEE 802.22 - Overview of The WRAN Topology

Overview of The WRAN Topology

The initial drafts of the 802.22 standard specify that the network should operate in a point to multipoint basis (P2MP)The system will be formed by base stations (BS) and customer-premises equipment(CPE). The CPEs will be attached to a BS via a wireless link. The BSs will control the medium access for all the CPEs attached to it.

One key feature of the WRAN Base Stations is that they will be capable of performing a cognitive sensing. This is that the CPEs will be sensing the spectrum and will be sending periodic reports to the BS informing it about what they sense. The BS, with the information gathered, will evaluate whether a change is necessary in the channel used, or on the contrary, if it should stay transmitting and receiving in the same one.