Session #41 Overview
Session #41 of the IEEE 802.16 Working Group (WG) on Broadband Wireless Access was held 9-12 January 2006 in New Delhi, India. The
session was supported by Member Host Aditya Agrawal of
corporate host Beceem Communications. The session attendance list includes 111 people. The session meeting schedule is available. The decision to select this site was made on 17 March 2005 based on the host's site selection proposal and slides.The corporate host, along with a number of other sponsors, arranged the India Broadband Wireless Summit of 9 January.
Task Group e
IEEE 802.16e-2005 is now an approved amendment to IEEE Std 802.16, following final action on 7 December 2005 by the IEEE-SA Standards Board. Approval had been unanimously recommended by the Board's Standards Review Committee (RevCom) on 6 December. With its work concluded, Task Group e has been terminated. Prior to publishing IEEE 802.16e, IEEE-SA editorial staff are merging the corrigendum IEEE 802.16-2004/Cor1-2005. The result will be published as IEEE 802.16e-2005. Following a delay, publication is planned by the end of February 2006.
Maintenance Task Group
The Maintenance Task Group was assigned to propose a process for handling and compiling reports of errors, ambiguities, and errata, as well as interpretation requests. The Task Group met (see the minutes) and developed a draft process. The Working Group intends to finalize the procedures during Session #42.
Update:A Call for Comments regarding the proposed maintainance process was issued on 6 February.
Network Management (NetMan) Task Group
The NetMan Task Group addressed responses to a Call for Comments regarding the P802.16g Baseline Document. Following the session, Working Group Letter Ballot #19 authorized the production of the first P802.16g draft, P802.16g/D1. This document is now being reviewed among the Working Group membership in Working Group Letter Ballot #20.
On 7 December, the IEEE-SA Standards Board approved a new project authorization request (PAR), designated P802.16i, to initiate a management information base to support mobile subscriber stations. Following a Call for Contributions, the NetMan Task Group considered nine contributions regarding P802.16i.
The NetMan Task Group issued a closing report and minutes.
Update: A new P802.16i Baseline Document and a Call for Comments were issued on 7 February.
802.16 Bridging
The Working Group submitted a new project authorization request (PAR), designated P802.16k, to amend IEEE 802.1D to specify 802.16 bridging. Considered of the PAR by the IEEE 802 Executive Committee is expected on 10 March.
Update: A Call for Contributions was issued on 9 February.
Licensed-Exempt Task Group
The Working Group's Licensed-Exempt Task Group reviewed ten responses to its Call for Comments and Contributions. The group agreed to issue a new working document for further review. A closing report and minutes were issued.
Update: A new Working Document and a Call for Comments were issued on 6 February.
Conformance Task Group Activities
The Conformance Task Group, addressing the P802.16/Conformance04 project on PICS Proforma for fixed operation below 11 GHz, met to resolve comments received in Working Group Letter Ballot Recirculation #18d. Following comment resolution, Working Group Letter Ballot Recirculation #18e was concluded without response, terminated the ballot successfully. As a result, the draft was submitted for IEEE-SA Sponsor Ballot, which opened on 3 February and will close on 5 March, prior to Session #42. The Task Group issued a closing report and minutes.
Mobile Multihop Relay Study Group
The Working Group's Mobile Multihop Relay Study Group met and reviewed 15 responses to a Call for Contributions. The Study Group then drafted, and agreed to submit, draft PAR 802.16j. With the Working Group's approval, the PAR was submitted for 10 March consideration by the IEEE 802 Executive Committee. A closing report and minutes were issued. The Study Group plans to present an IEEE 802 Tutorial on 802.16 Mobile Multihop Relay on 6 March, at the upcoming IEEE 802 Plenary.
Liaison Activities
Documents
The Session #41 document list includes references to all session documents. Draft standards are available with a working group password or by purchase from IEEE-SA. Most IEEE 802.16 standards are available for free download via the Get IEEE 802® program. See the 802.16 publication list for details of published standards and drafts.
Working Group Minutes and Motions
The Working Group minutes are available as IEEE 802.16-06/008. These were recorded by Andy Sago, serving as Acting Secretary for Session #41.
Working Group Membership
The Working Group Membership stands at 307 members. Another 85 other Potential Members are eligible for membership by attending Session #42.
Working Group Officer Elections
Elections for two-year terms as Working Group Chair and Vice Chair are scheduled for 6 March, at the Opening Plenary of IEEE 802.16's Session #42. The process will follow the established procedures. One member (Roger Marks) has declared his candidacy for Chair. Three others (Ken Stanwood, Jon Labs, and Panyuh Joo) have declared their candidacy for Vice Chair.
About IEEE 802.16
The IEEE 802.16 Working Group on Broadband Wireless Access Standards has developed and is enhancing the WirelessMAN® Standard for wireless metropolitan area networks. IEEE 802.16 is a unit of the IEEE 802 LAN/MAN Standards Committee, the premier transnational forum for wired and wireless networking standardization. A list of IEEE 802.16 standards and drafts is available on-line, as is a project milestone summary and an archive of previous Session Reports.
"802.16 News" Mailing List
The "802.16 News" mailing list ("stds-802-16-news") has the sole purpose of distributing major announcements related to the Working Group. Those interested in following the progress of the group but not in the day-to-day details may wish to subscribe. Only the Working Group Chair is eligible to post to the list, and mailings will be rare: once after each bimonthly session and additionally for major news, such as the approval of a new standard. Those subscribing to the stds-802-16 mailing list, for active Working Group participants, need not subscribe to stds-802-16-news since the postings will be redundant.
Roger Marks (r.b.marks@ieee.org)
Chair, IEEE 802.16 Working Group on Broadband Wireless Access Standards
tel: +1-303-497-7837