[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.