UNIVERSITI TEKNIKAL MALAYSIA MELAKA

INTELLIGENT PIGEON HOLE WITH E-MAIL NOTIFICATION

USING WIRELESS SYSTEM

This report submitted in accordance with requirement of the Universiti Teknikal

Malaysia Melaka (UTeM) for the Bachelor of Electronics Engineering Technology

(Telecommunications) With Honours

by

NORHAIRI BIN ABD HALIM

B071210522

890717-11-5399

FACULTY OF ENGINEERING TECHNOLOGY 2015

UNIVERSITI TEKNIKAL MALAYSIA MELAKA

BORANG PENGESAHAN STATUS LAPORAN PROJEK SARJANA MUDA

TAJUK: Intelligent Pigeon Hole with E-Mail Notification Using Wireless System

SESI PENGAJIAN: 2014/15 Semester 2

Saya NORHAIRI BIN ABD HALIM

mengaku membenarkan Laporan PSM ini disimpan di Perpustakaan Universiti

Teknikal Malaysia Melaka (UTeM) dengan syarat-syarat kegunaan seperti berikut:

1. Laporan PSM adalah hak milik Universiti Teknikal Malaysia Melaka dan penulis. 2. Perpustakaan Universiti Teknikal Malaysia Melaka dibenarkan membuat salinan

untuk tujuan pengajian sahaja dengan izin penulis. 3. Perpustakaan dibenarkan membuat salinan laporan PSM ini sebagai bahan

pertukaran antara institusi pengajian tinggi.

4. **Sila tandakan ( )

SULIT

TERHAD

TIDAK TERHAD

(Mengandungi maklumat yang berdarjah keselamatan

atau kepentingan Malaysia sebagaimana yang termaktub

dalam AKTA RAHSIA RASMI 1972)

(Mengandungi maklumat TERHAD yang telah ditentukan

oleh organisasi/badan di mana penyelidikan dijalankan)

( )

Alamat Tetap:

Lot 883/1 Kampung Kedondong,

Jalan Sek. Keb. Kedondong,

17010 Pasir Mas, Kelantan.

Disahkan oleh:

( )

Cop Rasmi:

** Jika Laporan PSM ini SULIT atau TERHAD, sila lampirkan surat daripada pihak berkuasa/organisasi

berkenaan dengan menyatakan sekali sebab dan tempoh laporan PSM ini perlu dikelaskan sebagai

SULIT atau TERHAD.

iv

DECLARATION

I hereby, declared this report entitled “Intelligent Pigeon Hole With E-Mail

Notification Using Wireless System” is the results of my own research except as

cited in references.

Signature :………………………

Name : NORHAIRI BIN ABD HALIM

Date : 14/12/2015

v

APPROVAL

This report is submitted to the Faculty of Engineering Technology of UTeM as a

partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Bachelor of Engineering

Technology (Department of Electronics and Computer Engineering Technology)

(Hons.). The member of the supervisory is as follow:

……………………………….

(Abdul Halim Bin Dahalan)

vi

ABSTRACT

Upon receiving of the letter or any document in their pigeon holes or mailbox, most users were not notified about this. They have to speculatively and periodically check their mailbox contents. In most occurrences, users have neglected to check their mailbox. At the same time, may lead towards the ignorance of important letters and results in various miseries. Most of the multi-storey buildings such as apartments, condominiums and office buildings are limited to check or collect their letters due to the centralize mailbox location. Users find convenient to be on alert of mails they receive to overwrite the conventional method of checking mailbox. Because of the high confidentiality and official letters are increasing as a corresponding tool globally, the users seek for a better solution which enables them to be on their toes each time a mail is delivered. The state of the art electronics technology is incorporated into these conventional mailboxes as a solution. The Arduino UNO and Infrared Sensor can be incorporated by linking the user’s pigeon hole with E-mail facilities and this enable the users to be notified whenever a new mail is delivered and pigeon hole is full. Mails delivered into the users pigeon hole, the system will automatically generate an alert which is send in E-mail that typically details the real time of mail delivery. The system is design to easy human life by sending E-mail to notify the users about important new mails reaching their pigeon hole or mailbox.

vii

ABSTRAK

Apabila menerima surat baru atau sebarang dokumen dalam “pigeon holes” atau peti surat mereka, kebanyakan pengguna tidak diberitahu mengenai hal ini. Mereka perlu bersangka dan secara berkala untuk memeriksa kandungan peti surat mereka. Dalam kebanyakan kejadian yang berlaku, pengguna telah lalai untuk memeriksa peti surat mereka. Pada masa yang sama, boleh membawa kepada kebuntuan tentang surat penting dan keputusan dalam pelbagai kekusutan. Kebanyakan bangunan yang bertingkat seperti pangsapuri, kondominium dan bangunan pejabat adalah terhad untuk memeriksa atau mengutip surat mereka disebabkan lokasi peti surat yang berada ditengah. Pengguna mendapati untuk amaran tentang surat yang mereka terima dengan menukar kaedah konvensional memeriksa peti surat. Ini kerana, surat rasmi dan kerahsiaannya yang tinggi sebagai alat sesuai untuk globalisasi, oleh demikian pengguna mencari penyelesaian lebih baik dimana mereka wujudkan amaran setiap kali surat yang dihantar. Oleh itu, kemahiran teknologi elektronik telah menggabungkan ke dalam peti surat konvensional sebagai penyelesaian. Arduino UNO dan pengesan inframerah yang boleh dimasukkan dengan menggabungkan “pigeon holes” pengguna dengan kemudahan E-mel and membolehkan pengguna diberitahu setiap kali surat dihantar dan “pigeon holes” telah penuh. Surat yang dihantar ke “pigeon holes” pengguna, akan menghasilkan sistem amaran yang automatik menghantar berbentuk E-mel yang kebiasaanya jelas tentang masa sebenar penghantaran surat. Sistem ini direka untuk memudahkan kehidupan manusia dengan menghantar E-mel untuk memberitahu pengguna tentang surat yang penting telah berada didalam “pigeon holes” atau peti surat mereka.

viii

DEDICATIONS

Special dedication to

My beloved parents, Abd. Halim Bin Che Husin and

Wan Hamidah Bt Ab Rashid for their support, understanding

And pray for success. Besides that, I would like to thanks

To my supervisor and friends for guidance and advice

Throughout this project. Thanks for everything.

ix

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

I am grateful and would like to express my sincere gratitude to my supervisor Mr Abdul Halim Bin Dahalan for his invaluable guidance, continuous encouragement and constant support in making this research possible. I really appreciate his guidance from the initial to the final level that enabled me to develop an understanding of this research thoroughly. Without his advice and assistance it would be a lot tougher to completion. I also sincerely thanks for the time spent proofreading and correcting my mistakes.

I also would like to express very special thanks to IR. Nik Azran Bin Ab Hadi for his suggestions and co-operation especially in electronic solution. A special appreciation should be given to Mr Win Adiyansyah Indra from Technology Engineering Faculty whom which gave me a brand new perception about this project.

My sincere thanks go to all lecturers and members of the staff of the Electronics and Computer Engineering Technology Department, UTeM, who helped me in many ways and made my education journey at UTeM pleasant and unforgettable. Many thanks go to BETT member group for their excellent co-operation, inspirations and supports during this study. This four year experience with all you guys especially to Muhamad Luqmanulhakim Bin Suhaimi will be remembered as important memory for me to face the new chapter of life as an engineer.

I acknowledge my sincere indebtedness and gratitude to my parents for their love, dream and sacrifice throughout my life. I am really thankful for their sacrifice, patience, and understanding that were inevitable to make this work possible. Their sacrifice had inspired me from the day I learned how to read and write until what I have become now. I cannot find the appropriate words that could properly describe my appreciation for their devotion, support and faith in my ability to achieve my dreams. Lastly I would like to thanks any person which contributes to my final year project directly or indirectly. I would like to acknowledge their comments and suggestions, which was crucial for the successful completion of this study.

x

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Contents DECLARATION ........................................................................................................ iv

APPROVAL ................................................................................................................. v

ABSTRACT ................................................................................................................ vi

ABSTRAK ................................................................................................................. vii

DEDICATIONS ........................................................................................................ viii

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS .......................................................................................... ix

TABLE OF CONTENTS ............................................................................................. x

LIST OF FIGURES .................................................................................................. xiv

LIST OF TABLE ....................................................................................................... xv

LIST OF SYMBOLS AND ABBREVIATIONS ..................................................... xvi

CHAPTER 1 INTRODUCTION

1.0 Introduction ................................................................................................... 1

1.1 Background ................................................................................................... 1

1.2 Problem Statement ........................................................................................ 2

1.3 Project Objectives .......................................................................................... 3

1.4 Scope of Project ............................................................................................. 3

1.5 Work Scope ................................................................................................... 4

1.5.1 Hardware ................................................................................................ 4

1.5.2 Software ................................................................................................. 4

1.5.3 Command ............................................................................................... 4

1.6 Report Organization ...................................................................................... 4

1.7 Summary ....................................................................................................... 6

xi

CHAPTER 2 LITERATURE RIVEWS .................................................................. 6

2.0 Introduction ................................................................................................... 7

2.1 Overview of Wi-Fi Technology (Ajay R. Mishra, 2010) .............................. 7

2.2 IEEE standard (Alan Holt, Chi-Yu Huang, 2012) ......................................... 8

2.2.1 IEEE 802.11 standard (Vandana Wekhande,2006)................................ 9

2.3 Wi-Fi Network Architecture ......................................................................... 9

2.4 Wi-Fi Technology Categories (vandana Wekhande, 2006) ........................ 10

2.5 Wi-Fi Configuration (Vandana Wekhande, 2006) ...................................... 11

2.6 Service in Wi-Fi (vandana Wekhande, 2006) ............................................. 12

2.7 Wi-Fi Technology in different way ............................................................. 13

2.8 The difference between Wi-Fi and WiMax (Gurveen K. Sandhu, Gurpreet

Singh mann, Rajdeep Kaur, 2013) ......................................................................... 13

2.9 The difference between Wi-Fi and Bluetooth ............................................. 14

2.10 Difference between Wi-Fi and ZigBee (Karunakar Pothuganti, Anusha

Chiteni, 2014) ......................................................................................................... 14

2.11 The Advantages of Wi-Fi ............................................................................ 16

2.12 Project Related .............................................................................................. 5

2.12.1 Wi-Fi Based Notification System (Prof.VP patil, Onkar Hajare,

Shekhar Palkhe, Burhanuddin Rangwala, 2014) .................................................. 6

2.12.2 Smart Home using Wi-Fi (Niharika Shortriya, Anjali Kulkami, Priti

Gadhave, 2014) ..................................................................................................... 6

2.12.3 Wi-Fi Based Vital Signs Monitoring and Tracking System for Medical

Parameters (Arrihant nagar, Barshi, Dist. Solapur, India, 2013) .......................... 6

xii

2.12.4 Arduino Based Wi-Fi Enables Wireless Speaker (A. Anbuselvan, D.

Antony Shajan, M. Deepak, T. K Sethuramalingam, 2013) ................................. 6

2.12.5 Power Line Communication Based Automation System using a

Handled Wi-Fi Device (Karhik Shivaram, Nikhil Rajendra, Kavi Mahesh, 2012)

.............................................................................................................................. 6

2.13 Arduino .......................................................................................................... 5

2.13.1 Arduino Uno .......................................................................................... 6

2.14 Arduino IDE .................................................................................................. 5

2.15 LED ............................................................................................................... 5

2.16 E-mail (Edson Kageyama, Carlos Maziero and Altair Santin, 2008) ........... 5

2.17 Summary ....................................................................................................... 5

CHAPTER 3 METHODOLOGY ............................................................................. 4

3.0 Introduction ................................................................................................... 5

3.1 Project Planning ............................................................................................ 5

3.1.1 Gantt chart .............................................................................................. 6

3.1.2 Flowchart Project ................................................................................... 6

3.2 Hardware Requirement .................................................................................. 5

3.2.1 Arduino Uno .......................................................................................... 6

3.2.2 Infrared, IR Sensor ................................................................................. 6

3.2.3 LED ........................................................................................................ 6

3.3 Software Requirement ................................................................................... 5

3.4 Design Project Overview ............................................................................... 5

3.5 Software Implementation .............................................................................. 5

3.5.1 Coding Arduino and Python (Input and Output) ................................... 6

xiii

3.5.2 Flowchart of Program (Arduino) ........................................................... 6

3.6 Hardware Implementation ............................................................................. 5

3.6.1 Arduino Pin used .................................................................................... 6

3.6.2 Interface of IR Sensor with Arduino Uno .............................................. 6

3.6.3 Interface of LED with Arduino Uno ...................................................... 6

3.6.4 Communication between Personal Computer with Arduino Uno ......... 6

3.7 Summary ....................................................................................................... 5

CHAPTER 4 RESULT AND DISCUSSION ........................................................... 4

4.0 Introduction ................................................................................................... 5

4.1 Complete circuits ........................................................................................... 5

4.2 Testing Results .............................................................................................. 5

4.2.1 IR Sensor and LED display .................................................................... 6

4.2.2 Sensor E-Mail ........................................................................................ 6

CHAPTER 5 CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION ................................ 4

5.0 Conclusion ..................................................................................................... 5

5.1 Recommendation ........................................................................................... 5

APPENDIX A .......................................................................................................... 5

APPENDIX B .......................................................................................................... 5

APPENDIX C .......................................................................................................... 5

REFERENCES ....................................................................................................... 5

xiv

LIST OF FIGURES

Figure 2.1: Block diagram of Wi-Fi Based Notification System……………….....17

Figure 2.2: Block diagram Project……………………………………………….....20

Figure 2.3: Arduino Uno……………………………………………………………23

Figure 2.4: Example of LED………………………………………………………..24

Figure 3.1: Flowchart for Project Intelligent Pigeon Hole………………………....29

Figure 3.2: Illustrate of Project……………………………………………………..30

Figure 3.3: Arduino Uno board with component description……………………...30

Figure 3.4: USB and Power connector……………………………………………..31

Figure 3.5: IR Sensor circuit………………………………………………………..33

Figure 3.6: Illustrate the pictorial scenarios………………………………………..34

Figure 3.7: Directivity and angle…………………………………………………....34

Figure 3.8: LED……………………………………………………………………..35

Figure 3.9: Block diagram of Intelligent Pigeon Hole……………………………...39

Figure 4.0: Flowchart of program…………………………………………………..42

Figure 4.1: Situation of IR sensor detects the object……………………………....43

Figure 4.2: Complete circuit connection at Arduino Uno Pin……………………..46

Figure 4.3: Two condition when IR sensor detect new document and Pigeon hole in full situation…………………………………………………………....47

Figure 4.4: Command Prompt……………………………………………………...48

Figure 4.5: Sent Mail history for Intelligent Pigeon Hole System………………...49

Figure 4.6: Inbox of owner………………………………………………………...49

.

xv

LIST OF TABLE

Table 2.1: Some of IEEE 802.11 Standard for Wi-Fi………………………………6

Table 2.2: Some of the IEEE 802 Standard………………………………………...8

Table 2.3: There are five types of services for Wi-Fi IEEE 802.11……………….12

Table 2.4: Type of Wi-Fi Network…………………………………………………13

Table 2.5: Comparison between Wi-Fi and WIMax……………………………….14

Table 2.6: Different between WLAN and ZigBee………………………………….15

Table 3.1: Gantt chart……………………………………………………………….27

Table 3.2: Arduino Uno Specification……………………………………………...31

Table 3.3: Digitals Pin details……………………………………………………….32

Table 3.4: Analog Pin details………………………………………………………..32

Table 3.5: Arduino Pin used and description……………………………………….43

Table 3.6: Input and Output (Notification)………………………………………….50

xvi

LIST OF SYMBOLS AND ABBREVIATIONS

IR = Infra-Red

PSM = Projek Sarjana Muda

PCB = Printed Circuit Board

Wi-Fi = Wireless Fidelity

PDAs = Personal Data Assistant

Mbps = Megabits per Second

IEEE = Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineer

BSS = Basic building block of a wireless

CSMA/CA = Carrier Sense Multiple Access/Collision Avoidance

Wi-Max = The IEEE 802.16 family of wireless network

LCD = Liquid Crystal Display

PWM = Pulse Width Modulation

USB = Universal Serial Bus

ICSP = In-Circuit Serial Programming

UART = Universal Asynchronous Receiver/Transmitter

PLC = Programmable Logic Control

DFU = Device Firmware Update

GPS = Global Positioning System

1

CHAPTER 1

INTRODUCTION

1.0 Introduction

This project is about the development of the Pigeon Hole Notification that used

E-mail to notify recipient from pigeon hole to personal computer at their room. In

this chapter, it will explain about the Background of project, Objectives, Problem

Statement, Scope of Project, Work Scope, and Report Organization.

1.1 Background

Centralize mail compartment or pigeon hole are commonly seen in an office

building or an apartment building. However, the communication by through letter it

is not preferred to use anymore. For example, the wireless technology revolution is

increasing rapidly in routine applications. It is regarded as one the solution to ease

the communication either among people or between people and services. This is

because, this technology also enables the information imparts and communication

process done in short time interval anywhere and anytime. But, conventional

mailboxes are still practical to be used especially for receiving important mails.

In general, each staff in most big organization has his/her own pigeon hole to

receive any important letter or memo related to official duty. In the case of

University Teknikal Malaysia, Melaka (UTeM), each academic staff has been

allocated a pigeon hole for any letters or assignment from students from within or

inter faculty. Unfortunately, the current conventional pigeon hole system is unable to

inform the staff or any urgent letter and this lead to significant delay in responding

2

the letter. The main weakness of current system is that staff needs to check their

respective pigeon hole everyday but due to the routine commitment or unforeseen

circumstances the pigeon hole cannot be possibly checked every day.

This project is proposed to overcome the problems rise due to the use of

current conventional mail compartment. The project aims to notify the user every

time a letter is being sent into the pigeon hole, and to enable the users check status of

their pigeon hole whether full or not. In this project, the system can generate

automatically without the human inspection. The system will generate a notification

through E-mail to notify user when the new document already in pigeon hole used

wireless network technology. Two infra-red (IR) sensor, one for transmitter and the

other one for receiver will be installed in pigeon hole. The system will operate once

mail or any document insert into the pigeon hole and block the IR signal, the system

automatically send form E-mail.

1.2 Problem Statement

The current conventional pigeon hole system is unable to notify the user.

Even though it is not big matter, but in different situation is more complicated too.

For example this problem is faced academic staff. The main weakness of current

systems is that staff needs to check their respective pigeon hole every day. At the

same time, staff lost their document, especially important thing, such assignment or

lab report student. They do not know what happen actually, whether the document

already submit in their pigeon hole or not.

In big organization or office buildings whereas their staff office rooms

between pigeon hole is bit far. This because, normally pigeon hole or mailbox is

installed at centralized at the buildings, so they tend to frequently check their

mailbox for new content. This is not really an effective way to apply. Furthermore, it

is waste of energy and time.

3

1.3 Project Objectives

Projek Sarjana Muda’s (PSM) aims is to provide opportunity for students to

apply their skill and knowledge that had learned in electric and electronics theories to

produce a product that can be commercialized in market. Based on that, in order to

make this project successful, the objectives have been declared. These objectives

must be achieved in completing this project. Therefore the objectives have been

listed below:

i. to study combination between of hardware and software to use for completing

this project.

ii. to develop software that notify user via E-mail when document is detect and

full.

iii. to solve problem for forgetting check the document on pigeon hole.

1.4 Scope of Project

In order to achieve the project’s objective important scope project had been

highlighted.

i. Design a prototype self-built model to represent the mail boxes which is a

pigeon hole mail box.

ii. Simulate the design circuit and the performance using the relevant

software (MATLAB / MULTISIM).

iii. Infrared (IR) sensor detection of the presence of new mail.

iv. Identify methods of the transmission signal to notify E-mail.

4

1.5 Work Scope

In order to achieve the project’s objective important work scope of this project

had been highlighted. The work scope of this project is divided into three (3) parts:

1.5.1 Hardware

i. Etching process.

ii. Construct circuit on PCB board

iii. Solder circuit.

iv. Design prototype of Pigeon Hole Notification.

1.5.2 Software

i. Design and simulation circuit using MULTISIM.

ii. Design schematic circuit using PROTEUS.

iii. Python.

1.5.3 Command

i. Protocol Wireless Network Connection

ii. Arduino Uno command program used to send signal from IR sensor

circuit to notify E-Mail.

1.6 Report Organization

In this part will explain all the process and the flow for completing this report

and project. This report will be conducted in few chapters and each started as below:

5

Chapter 1: Introduction

This chapter will simply introduce about the project. This chapter contains

Background of project, Objectives, Problem statement, Scope of project, Work

scope, and Report Organization.

Chapter 2: Literature Reviews

This chapter shows about the studies and research of related or previous

project. In addition, the research for literature reviews of the project also state. Last

but not least, the conclusion of this chapter will be included to complete this chapter.

Chapter 3: Methodology

This chapter shows about the flow of project methodology to achieve the

objectives. Last but not least, the conclusion of this chapter will be included to

complete this chapter.

Chapter 4: Results and Discussion

This part will state out the result that will be obtained at the end of this

project.

Chapter 5: Conclusion and Recommendation

This chapter will discuss about the summarization of the project and the

major conclusion of the project.

6

1.7 Summary

The first chapter of this report is about the introduction of the project. In this

chapter, the background of project was state to become more understand about the

project. The problems statement was also stated in this chapter to show the purpose

of developing the project. After that, the objectives of this project were state and

should be achieved at the end of this project. The scope of this project was state to

make sure the project follow the scope. Next, the work scope was state to show the

work should be due to completing this project. Lastly, in chapter 2, literature review

that related to this project will be discussed with supervisor to completing that

chapter. In this chapter consist collecting data from earlier project and reading

journal or article.

7

CHAPTER 2

LITERATURE RIVEW

2.0 Introduction

This chapter will discuss about related literature review and other important

information related to this project. The information about Wi-Fi network is included

to become more understanding about this project. In this chapter, the research from

other person project that related to this project also included. The information of

Arduino Uno is state because Arduino Uno acts as a brain in this project.

2.1 Overview of Wi-Fi Technology (Ajay R. Mishra, 2010)

Wi-Fi is the short name for Wireless Fidelity. It is a name of certification

given by the Wi-Fi Alliance that was formerly called the WECA or Wireless

Ethernet Compatibility Alliance. Wi-Fi technology was designed and optimized for

Local Area Networks. Wi-Fi can be used to provide high-speed connections

(11Mbps or greater) to laptop computers, desktop computers, personal digital

assistants (PDAs). Wi-Fi refers to an over-the air connection with a wireless client

and base between two wireless clients. Wi-Fi is freedom it allows to user to connect

without wires to the internet from users to couch at home, a bed in a hotel room or a

conference room at work.

Furthermore, Wi-Fi is one of the latest technology for communication which

using for transmit the data or notice information directly. Wi-Fi is system of

wirelessly connecting devices that use radio waves, allowing for the connection

8

between devices without the expense of cables or without needing them to be facing

one another. Wi-Fi is a wireless technology like a cell phone. Wi-Fi enables

computer to send and receive data indoors and outdoors, anywhere within the range

of a base station. The best thing of all, it is fast. In fact, it`s several times faster than

the fastest cable modem connection.

It operates in the unlicensed 2.4 GHz radio spectrum, uses direct-sequence

spread spectrum (DSSS) for modulation, supports variable data rates up to 11Mbps,

and has a range of about 50 meters. The Wi-Fi Alliance complies with the

IEEE802.11 standard. These different 802.11 standards have different modes of

operation, making each of these standards offer different frequency, speed and

ranges. Table below show some of IEE 802.11 Standards for WIFI.

Table 2.1: Some of IEEE 802.11 Standards for Wi-Fi

STANDARD FREQUENCY(GHz) SPEED(Mbps) RANGE(m)

Wi-Fi a (802.11a) 5 54 10

Wi-Fi b (802.11b) 2.4 11 100

Wi-Fi g (802.11g) 2.4 54 100

2.2 IEEE standard (Alan Holt, Chi-Yu Huang, 2012)

The IEEE is stand for Institute of Electrical and Electronic. IEEE is a large

non-profit, professional society concerned with technological research and

development. Its standards and is accredited by the American National Standard

Institute (ANSI) IEEE 802 is a set of standards for local area network (LAN)

technology. Table below show some of the IEEE 802 standard.

Table 2.2: Some of the IEEE 802 Standard

NUMBER STANDARD COMMENT

802.11 Wireless LANs Wi-Fi

802.15 Wireless PANs Bluetooth and Zigbee

802.16 Wireless MANs WiMax

9

2.2.1 IEEE 802.11 standard ( Vandana Wekhande, 2006)

IEEE 802.11 standard has its roots in Waveland, which was a proprietary

wireless LAN system. It was capable of 1 or 2 Mb/s transmission rates (depending

upon the wireless channel condition). It operates in infrared band and unlicensed

radio frequency band. 802.11 is one of number of multi-access LAN technologies.

Besides, 802.11 controls channel access through a number of coordination functions.

Both contention based (active) and contention free (passive). Access techniques are

specified in the standard.

In addition, 802.11 devices suffered from interoperability problems between

vendors when they initially came on the market. The Alliance was formed to address

interoperability issues. A number of companies formed the Wi-Fi Alliance in order to

test the compliance of 802.11 equipment. Equipment that passes the compliances test

is entitled to bear the Wi-Fi certification logo, which is a registered trademark of the

Wi-Fi Alliance. Most 802.11 devices display the Wi-Fi logo. For this reason Wi-Fi

and 892.11 devices have become synonymous.

2.3 Wi-Fi Network Architecture

The Wi-Fi network consist three main units there are Access point, Station, and

PC cards. A wireless access point is all what is needed to connect all the computers

in a home. The whole system would consist of DSL modem (or cable), wireless

access point, firewall, router and Ethernet hub. The cable/ modem bring the Internet

line at home while the router allows inter-connection between various

computer/devices. Many types of routers are used based on various IEEE 802.11

recommendations, but the 802.11g is used due to its speed and reliability.