Service set (802.11 network)

In computer networking, a service set is a set consisting of all the devices associated with a consumer or enterprise IEEE 802.11 wireless local area network (WLAN). The service set can be local, independent, extended or mesh.

Service sets have an associated identifier, the Service Set Identifier (SSID), which consists of 32 octets that frequently contains a human readable identifier of the network.

Basic service set

The basic service set (BSS) provides the basic building-block of an 802.11 wireless LAN. In infrastructure mode, a single access point (AP) together with all associated stations (STAs) is called a BSS; not to be confused with the coverage of an access point, known as the basic service area (BSA). The access point acts as a master to control the stations within that BSS; the simplest BSS consists of one access point and one station.

The IEEE 802.11s amendment defined an additional protocol for wireless mesh networks. Only mesh STAs participate in mesh functionalities such as formation of the mesh BSS, path selection, and forwarding. Accordingly, a mesh STA is not a member of an IBSS (independent BSS) or of an infrastructure BSS. Consequently, mesh STAs do not communicate with nonmesh STAs. However, instead of existing independently, an MBSS can interconnect with other BSSs through the DS (Distribution System). Mesh STAs can communicate with nonmesh STAs through a logical architectural component called a Mesh Gate.

Basic service

In telecommunications, basic service is:

1. A pure transmission capability over a communication path that is virtually transparent in terms of its interaction with customer-supplied information.

2. The offering of transmission capacity between two or more points suitable for a user's transmission needs and subject only to the technical parameters of fidelity and distortion criteria, or other conditioning.

Service set

Service set can refer to: