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[802SEC] IEEE 802 News Bulletin Information from 802.15


IEEE P802.15 Working Group for Wireless Personal Area Networks

TG1 (Bluetooth® Wireless Technology):

·       Task Group Rev. 1a translates Bluetooth SIG Draft for Version 1.2
Following the commercial success of the original IEEE 802.1-2002 (a.k.a. Bluetooth® Wireless Technology); this Task Group has translated a new draft from the SIG to correspond to Bluetooth Version 1.2.  This work is expected to move to Sponsor Ballot in May 2004.
TG2 (Coexistence):

·       Task Group goes into Hibernation.

Last year IEEE-SA published the document IEEE 802.15.2-2003 describing recommended practices for improved peaceful sharing of Wireless Personal Area Networks (802.15) devices and other radio systems such as 802.11.  With that work now complete, the Task Group will move into hibernation.

TG3 (High Data Rate):

·      Task Group goes into Hibernation.

Following up on last year's IEEE 802.15.3-2003 standard, TG3a and SG3b are continuing to enhance and augment that baseline (see below).  In addition an interest group is investigating an alternate PHY which specifically targets 60 GHz mm-wave technologies. The formation of Study Group 6 was approved to investigate the merits of project in this space.  The Study Group will hold its first meeting in May 2004. As the real work of the Task Group is complete it will move into hibernation.

TG3a (Alternate Higher Rate PHY):

·       Alternate PHY Proposal Down-Selection Process Confirmation

The group remains at an impasse. The favored solution appears to the UWB, but there is no agreement on which of two competing UWB technologies to pick.  As this is still a US only market and there is precious little hardware to test, a quick resolution is not expected.

SG3b (15.3 MAC Maintenance):

·       Study Group Looks at Optimizing the 15.3 MAC.

With the release of IEEE 802.15.3-2003, this Study Group will look at ways to improve the basic operation of the MAC.  This effort is limited to MAC maintenance, so the group will not be adding new the capabilities to the MAC. The project is expected to be approved in March 2004 and hold its first meeting as a task group in May.

TG4 (Low Data Rate):

·       The Low Rate Group Launches Two Study Groups
With last year's release of the IEEE P802.15.4-2003, the group has moved into hibernation but has spawned two Study Groups, SG4a and SG4b (see below,) looking to augment the standard.

SG4a (Low Rate Alternate PHY)
This Study Group is investigating the merits and market requirements of creating an alternate low rate PHY to augment the IEEE 802.15.4-2003 standard by adding new functionality, such as support for mobility, increased range, improved link robustness and precision location awareness (better than one meter). The project is expected to be approved in March 2004 and hold its first meeting as a task group in May.
SG4b (Low Rate MAC and PHY Enhancements)
This Study Group is investigating MAC and PHY enhancements to the baseline IEEE 802.15.4-2003 standard; such a adding recently approved bands in the 860MHz range and incorporating MAC efficiency improvements and simplifications. The project is expected to be approved in March 2004 and hold its first meeting as a task group in May.
SG5 (WPAN Mesh Networking)
This Study Group has begun an investigation into the merits and market requirements of establishing recommended practices for implementing mesh topologies in WPANs. The project is expected to be approved in March 2004 and hold its first meeting as a task group in May.