1. IEEE 802.15-08-0649-02-004e Submission: Wireless Ping for Network Management 8 September 2008 Bhatti, Mitsubishi ElectricSlide 1 Project: IEEE P802.15 Working Group for Wireless Personal Area Networks (WPANs) Submission Title: [Wireless Ping for Network Management] Date Submitted: [8 September 2008] Source: [Ghulam Bhatti] Company [MERL] Address: [201 Broadway, Suite 8, Cambridge, MA 02139] Voice:[617-621-7513], E-Mail: [gbhatti@merl.com] Re: [IEEE 802.15.4e group] Abstract: We propose the use of single-hop wireless ping frame to help better manage network resources. A node can forward frames more intelligently if it knows, for example, buffering capacity, average transmission delay, drop rate, and battery level of its neighbor nodes. Currently, IEEE 802.15.4 MAC simply transmits data as request by its higher layer. Purpose:We’re presenting it as a proposal to be included in the specification to be defined by the task group 15.4e. Notice:This document has been prepared to assist the IEEE P802.15. It is offered as a basis for discussion and is not binding on the contributing individual(s) or organization(s). The material in this document is subject to change in form and content after further study. The contributor(s) reserve(s) the right to add, amend or withdraw material contained herein. Release:The contributor acknowledges and accepts that this contribution becomes the property of IEEE and may be made publicly available by P802.15.

2. IEEE 802.15-08-0649-02-004e Submission: Wireless Ping for Network Management 8 September 2008 Bhatti, Mitsubishi ElectricSlide 2 Single-Hop Wireless Ping Command Mitsubishi Electric Research Labs Cambridge, MA 02139 USA 8 September 2008 Ghulam Bhatti

3. IEEE 802.15-08-0649-02-004e Submission: Wireless Ping for Network Management 8 September 2008 Bhatti, Mitsubishi ElectricSlide 3 Problem Definition A node’s MAC has little knowledge of the state of peer MACs Currently it just transmits frames passed by its higher layers State information of neighbor node may be useful for better network management Example data: Uptime, battery power level, traffic load, average Tx wait, frame drop rate, buffering capacity, LQI LQI can indicate asymmetric links Load balancing based on battery level, buffering capacity, etc. Better reliability by intelligent frame forwarding Can be used to check the existence of a neighbor node This information can be exchanged as or when needed or periodically. Can ping can partially serve as asynchronous beacon? May be.

4. IEEE 802.15-08-0649-02-004e Submission: Wireless Ping for Network Management 8 September 2008 Bhatti, Mitsubishi ElectricSlide 4 Wireless Ping Frame A wireless frame that is communicated between two neighbor nodes to exchange the state information A local ping frame always travels a single hop It is a unicast frame – always directed to a single neighbor node MAC level ACK indicates successful transmission of a ping frame Ping reply frame is optional A flag in received ping frame indicates if a reply ping is requested Small payload – max size of a ping frame may be less than 10 bytes

5. IEEE 802.15-08-0649-02-004e Submission: Wireless Ping for Network Management 8 September 2008 Bhatti, Mitsubishi ElectricSlide 5 HDRPAYLOAD Ping Frame Structure b0 b1 b2 b3 b4 b5 b6 b7 BitData Type Bitmap Size Reply Ping Req. Battery Level Up Time Load Level Tx Wait Time Buffering Capacity LQI Flags FLAGS consist of a bitmap. If a bit in bitmap is set, corresponding data byte is present in the payload Each data value is one byte in size b0 can be used to extend the bitmap (to 2 bytes) Minimum payload size of a ping frame is zero A regular ping frame can have a max payload of 8 bytes An extended ping frame can have a max payload of 17 bytes (defined by a vendor) DATAFLAGS Payload Structure 1/2Variable Structure of Wireless Ping Frame

6. IEEE 802.15-08-0649-02-004e Submission: Wireless Ping for Network Management 8 September 2008 Bhatti, Mitsubishi ElectricSlide 6 Thank You