1. Rate Control for GAS Requests
January 2007
doc.: IEEE /0140r0
January 2007
Rate Control for GAS Requests
Date:
Authors:
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Angelo Centonza, Siemens Roke Manor
Angelo Centonza, Siemens Roke Manor

2. January 2007
doc.: IEEE /0140r0
January 2007
Abstract
Discussion on whether a some sort of restrictions are needed on GAS requests.
Angelo Centonza, Siemens Roke Manor
Angelo Centonza, Siemens Roke Manor

3. January 2007
doc.: IEEE /0140r0
January 2007
The Problem
When issuing GAS requests, the STA is in an unauthenticated state.
The onus is on the network to process and respond to requests
Construction of a query does not require too much effort.
In contrast, construction of the response can be quiet resource intensive.
Potentially fairly large response messages can be generated.
Some higher layer services may encourage lots of queries (lots of information the STA may want to download)
Therefore, it is not difficult to the STA to send multiple queries (either for malicious reasons or just over-enthusiasm) requesting lots of information:
This may lead to a flooding of information into the access network.
Angelo Centonza, Siemens Roke Manor
Angelo Centonza, Siemens Roke Manor

4. Possible Solutions Insert an identifier into the message
January 2007
Possible Solutions
Insert an identifier into the message
Can be used by the high layer to enforce its own rate control
BUT would have to be inserted by the AP?
Assume size limitations across air interface are enough
Protects air interface resources, but not the access network infrastructure
May end up in this situation anyway; how do we cope with this?
Introduce a limit on the number of GAS requests a non-AP STA can generate in an unauthenticated state (over a certain timeframe?).
Per-STA?
Per-STA, per service?
Could potentially still DoS the network by changing APs
Angelo Centonza, Siemens Roke Manor

5. Conclusions It is not possible to completely solve this problem
January 2007
Conclusions
It is not possible to completely solve this problem
If we think some limits are useful
Is this something that actually needs to be standardised (could be an implementation issue)
Would probably require error messages to indicate some threshold has been crossed has been reached.
Straw Poll: should this functionality be developed further (to develop proposed text for the amendment)?
Angelo Centonza, Siemens Roke Manor