IEEE P802.11 - LIGHT COMMUNICATION (LC) TASK GROUP (TG) -
MEETING UPDATE
Status of IEEE 802.11 Light Communication TG
Nikola Serafimovski (pureLiFi), Chair
Tuncer Baykas (Mediopol University), Vice-Chair
Volker Jungnickel (HHI), Technical Editor - PHY layer
Harry Bims (Bims Laboratories), Technical Editor - MAC layer
The work of the LC Topic Interest Group (TIG) and the LC Study Group (SG) has now completed with the creation of the 802.11 Light Communications Amendment - Task Group "bb".
The IEEE 802.11bb Task Group on Light Communications is focused on introducing necessary changes to the base IEEE 802.11 Stds to enable communications in the light medium - access to the approved Project Authorization Request (PAR) and the Criteria for Standards Development (CSD). The general scope for the TG is limited to:
- Uplink and downlink operations in 800 nm to 1,000 nm band,
- All modes of operation achieve minimum single-link throughput of 10 Mb/s as measured at the MAC
data service access point (SAP),
- Interoperability among solid state light sources with different modulation bandwidths.
This amendment specifies changes to the IEEE 802.11 MAC that are limited to the following:
- Hybrid coordination function (HCF) channel access,
- Overlapping basic service set (OBSS) detection and coexistance,
- Existing power management modes of operation (excluding new modes),
The project will also address the security of the transition between the new LC PHY and the existing 802.11 PHYs as well as the security implications in supporting Fast Session Transfer.
Page Contents
- Background
- Goals
- Participation
- March 2023
- January 2023
- November 2022
- September 2022
- July 2022
- May 2022
- March 2022
- January 2022
- November 2021
- September 2021
- July 2021
- May 2021
- March 2021
- January 2021
- November 2020
- September 2020
- July 2020
- January 2020
- November 2019
- September 2019
- July 2019
- May 2019
- March 2019
- January 2019
- November 2018
- September 2018
- July 2018
- May 2018
- March 2018
- January 2018
- November 2017
- September 2017
- July 2017
- May 2017
Background
Light Communication was a new Topic Interest Group (TIG) that started within the IEEE 802.11 working group aiming to determine the technical and economic opportunity presented by using the light medium for wireless communications. The introduction of light emitting diodes (LED) for general purpose lighting has created a growing interest in using the visible light spectrum for wireless communications.
The work of the TIG completed with the formation of the LC Study Group.
The IEEE 802.11 Working Group approved the Project Authorization Request (PAR) and Criterial for Standards Development (CSD) produced by the LC Study Group (SG) at the January 2018 meeting. Comments received from the rest of the IEEE 802 Working Groups were discussed and addressed by the LC SG in March 208. The updated PAR and CSD documents where then approved by the IEEE 802.11 Working Group and uninaimously approved by the IEEE 802 Executive Committee in March 2018.
The revised documents were approved by the IEEE Standards Association Standards Board in May 2018 for the creation of the new Light Communications amendment to the IEEE Std. 802.11.
Goals
The goal of the Topic Interest Group was to determine the technical and economic opportunity presented by using the light medium for wireless communications.
The goal of the LC SG was to define the appropriate scope for a potential IEEE amendment on Light Communications.
The goal of the LC TG is to define the technical specifications.
It is felt that the IEEE 802.11 is the best forum to drive forward the global standardization efforts for light communications with manufacturers, operators and end customers all present druing the standardization process. The progression of this work into a TG will help users within home, enterprise and industrial environments, as well as assist manufacturers and operators to provide common components and services for IEEE 802.11 customers.
Participation
Participation in the 802.11 LC TG can be achieved through:
- Attending the IEEE 802.11 meetings (meeting schedule),
- Contacting the Chair (nikola.serafimovski@purelifi.com),
- Uploading content to the Mentor site under the (TGbb),
- Old documents from the LC TIG/SG is available under the (LC TIG/SG label).
March 2023
Main documents
Achievements
The committee completed its agenda items for the meeting.
- Task Group is now acting as a Comment Resolution Committee
- Draft 7.0 received 100% approval during the third SA recirculation
- The group developed and approved the TGbb report for the EC and has requested unconditional approval from the 802.11 WG and 802 EC to be forwarded to RevCom
- Meeting agenda and motions are available here.
The meeting minutes can be found here
January 2023
Main documents
Achievements
The committee completed its agenda items for the meeting.
- Task Group is now acting as a Comment Resolution Committee
- Comment resolution against Draft 5.0 (58 comments in total)
- Target date for recirculation SA ballot is 1 Feb. (latest) for ballot closing by 15 Feb.
- Meeting agenda and motions are available here here.
The meeting minutes can be found here.
November 2022
Main documents
Achievements
The committee completed its agenda items for the meeting.
- Task Group is now acting as a Comment Resolution Committee
- Comment resolution against Draft 4.1 (39 comments in total)
- Target date for recirculation SA ballot is 6 Dec. (latest) for ballot closing by 6 Jan.
- Motion to send TGbb D4.1 to ISO for information
- Meeting agenda and motions are available here here.
The meeting minutes can be found here.
September 2022
Main documents
Achievements
The committee completed its agenda items for the meeting.
- Comment resolution on LB267 against Draft 3.0 completed (65 comments in total)
- Discussion on the EC report for P802.11bb
- Motion to start 15-day recirculation ballot passed in TGbb for D4.0
- Motion to start conditional SA ballot once D4.0 WG ballot recirculation finished
- Motion to approve the EC report for P802.11bb
- Meeting agenda and motions are available here here.
The meeting minutes can be found here.
July 2022
Main documents
Achievements
The committee completed its agenda items for the meeting.
- Comment resolution on CC 42 against Draft 2.1 completed (51 comments in total)
- MDR document has been reviewed and approved.
- Motion to start 15-day recirculation ballot passed in TGbb for D3.0
- Motion to make D3.0 available for purchase once it passes WG LB
- Motion to approve minutes from the May 2022 meeting
- Motion to approve the minutes between the May 2022 and July 2022 meeting
- Meeting agenda and motions are available here here.
The meeting minutes can be found here.
May 2022
Main documents
Achievements
The committee completed its agenda items for the meeting and passed four motions.
- Comment resolution on LB263 against Draft 2.0 almost complete (111 comments in total)
- Tuncer Baykas has been reaffirmed as TGbb Vice-Chair
- Motion to start 15-day recirculation ballot passed in TGbb
- Motion to approve minutes from the Mar. 2022 interim meeting
- Motion to approve the minutes between the Mar. 2022 and May 2022 meeting
- PAR document has been updated and approved, which is available here here.
- Meeting agenda and motions are available here here.
The meeting minutes can be found here.
March 2022
Main documents
Achievements
The committee completed its agenda items for the meeting and passed three motions in the closing plenary.
- Comment resolution on LB260 against Draft 1.0 (333 comments in total)
- Comment resolution on comments proposed in doc. 11-22/0069r2
- Motion to start 15-day recirculation ballot passed in TGbb
- Motion to approve minutes from the Jan. 2022 interim meeting
- Motion to approve the minutes between the Jan. 2022 and Mar. 2022 meeting
- CAD document has been updated and approved, which is available here here.
- Draft 2.o is to be released and recirculated in April.
- Meeting agenda and motions are available here here.
The meeting minutes can be found here.
January 2022
Main documents
Achievements
The committee completed its agenda items for the meeting and passed three motions.
- Comment resolution on LB260 against Draft 1.0 (333 comments in total)
- Motion to approve minutes from the Nov. 2021 plenary meeting
- Motion to approve the minutes between the Nov. 2021 and Jan. 2022 meeting
- Continue to work on comment resolution on LB260 against Draft 1.0 before the plenary meeting in March
- Meeting agenda and motions are available here here.
The meeting minutes can be found here.
November 2021
Main documents
Achievements
The committee completed its agenda items for the meeting and passed three motions in the closing plenary.
- Comment resolution for D0.7
- Motion to approve Comment Resolutions
- Move to request 802.11 WG to start letterballot
- Motion to Reaffirm TGbb CSD
- Motion to approve Coexistence Assessment Document
- Meeting agenda and motions are available here here.
The meeting minutes can be found here.
September 2021
Main documents
Achievements
The committee completed its agenda items for the meeting.
- Architecture review for TGbb:
- ITU-R liaison review
- Comments on Draft 0.6
- Timeline updated:
- Meeting agenda and motions are available here here.
The meeting minutes can be found here.
July 2021
Main documents
Achievements
The committee completed its agenda items for the meeting.
- Approved: Comment resolution on Draft 0.5 to create Draft 0.6
- Agreed PAR modifications:
- Limit the TGbb spectrum from 380nm – 5000nm to 800nm – 1000nm
- Remove the upper-bound of 5 Gb/s
- doc. 11-21/1125r1
- LC Optimized PHY was removed
- HT PHY and VHT PHY modes were introduced as optional TGbb PHY modes
- Draft 0.5 was restructured
- Timeline updated: SA Ballot target in July '22
- Meeting agenda and motions are available here here.
The meeting minutes can be found here.
May 2021
Main documents
Achievements
The committee completed its agenda items for the meeting.
- Approved: Updates to Draft 0.5
- MAC contributions were considered
- Coexistence of LC CM & LC optional PHY modes was considered
- CCA and retransmission CCA concepts approved
- Comment resolution against D0.4 on-going
- Timeline updated
- Meeting agenda and motions are available here here.
The meeting minutes can be found here.
March 2021
Main documents
Achievements
The committee completed its agenda items for the meeting.
- Approved: Creation of Draft 0.4 with multiple comments on the PHY and additional content for the MAC
- MAC contributions were considered and approved
- LC channel numbering and agreed
- CCA concepts were discussed
- Changes to the LC HE PHY discussed and agreed
- Timeline updated
- Meeting agenda and motions are available here here.
The meeting minutes can be found here.
January 2021
Main documents
Achievements
The committee completed its agenda items for the meeting.
- Approved: Comment resolution on all except 4 collected comments for D0.2
- Revised text for mandatory MAC for LC presented and feedback received on possible improvements
- Role of CCA in LC discussed and high level concepts articulated
- High level concepts for LC HE MAC changes discussed
- Meeting agenda and motions are available here here.
The meeting minutes can be found here.
November 2020
Main documents
Achievements
The committee completed its agenda items for the meeting.
- Approved: Comment resolution on all except 5 collected comments for D0.2
- Role of CCA in LC discussed and high level concepts articulated
- Text for mandatory MAC for LC presented and feedback received on possible improvements
- High level concepts for LC HE MAC changes discussed
- Timeline updated with target submission for WG LB in July 2021 (doc. 11-18/1290r7)
- Meeting agenda and motions are available here here.
The meeting minutes can be found here.
September 2020
Main documents
Achievements
The committee completed its agenda items for the meeting.
- Agreed the mandatory PHY mode centre frequency (26 MHz for 20 MHz bandwidth channel)
- Agreed LC HE PHY mode channelization
- Agreed to release draft D0.2 for WG comment collection
- Reviewed possible minimum MAC requirements
- Revised mandatory PHY mode text based on 802.11a is reviewed and discussed
- Channel Modelling for LC in TGbb is discussed in terms of validation results
- Meeting agenda and motions are available here here.
The meeting minutes can be found here.
July 2020
Main documents
Achievements
COVID19 has impacted the work of TGbb. Nonetheless, the committee completed its agenda items for this meeting and confirmed that progress made during the last five months.
- Draft D0.1 – complete and is available to all 802.11 WG members in the Members Area
- Mandatory PHY mode text based on 802.11a is agreed
- Only missing point is the electrical centre frequency, which is being discussed.
- Contributions relevant for the discussion on the electrical centre frequency:
- Text for optional PHY modes based on 11ax and G.9991 is complete.
- Timeline updated with target submission for SA ballot in Sept. 2021 (doc. 11-18/1290r0)
- Meeting agenda and motions are available here here.
The meeting minutes can be found here.
January 2020
Main documents
Achievements
The committee completed its agenda items for the meeting.
- TGbb discussed co-existence and interoperability with other IEEE 802 standards as well as the ITU-T G.9991
- TGbb reviewed the performance of 802.11ac in the light communications channel (doc. 11-20/0196r0)
- The Draft D0.1 will be made available to all 802.11 WG members in the Members Area by 1 Feb. 2020
- The timeline for TGbb was revised with no changes, planning to go to WG LB in July 2020 and SA ballot in Mar. 2021
- Meeting agenda and motions are available here here.
The meeting minutes can be found here.
November 2019
Main documents
Achievements
The committee completed its agenda items for the meeting.
- TGbb approved Harry Bims (Bims Laboratories) as the MAC Technical Editor
- TGbb considered PHY text proposals for Draft 0.1 and MAC features
- PHY text proposals were discussed (doc. 11-19/1791r2 and doc. 11-19/1820r2)
- Multiple options for the 11bb MAC were considered as a starting point (doc. 11-19/2034r0)
- The mandatory PHY text was agreed to be based on Chapter 17 from the IEEE 802.11 base text
- The Draft D0.1 was agreed with content available in the PHY sections and will be made available to all 802.11 WG members in the Members Area
- The timeline for TGbb was revised with no changes, planning to go to WG LB in July 2020 and SA ballot in Mar. 2021
- Meeting agenda and motions are available here here.
The meeting minutes can be found here.
September 2019
Main documents
Achievements
The committee completed its agenda items for the meeting.
- TGbb considered proposals for PHY and MAC features
- Mandatory, common-mode PHY was agreed to be based on the 20 MHz, SISO profile from 11ax
- Copyright request was granted from ITU-T for material related to the LC-optimized PHY (doc. 11-19/1663r1)
- Agreed the general format of the Table of Content for the Draft D0.1 (doc. 11-19/1695r0)
- The timeline for TGbb was revised (doc. 11-18/1290r4), planning to go to WG LB in July 2020 and SA ballot in Mar. 2021
- Meeting agenda and motions are available here here.
- The committee will hold one (1) teleconference on Wed., 23 Oct. The schedule and dial-in details can be found here.
The meeting minutes can be found here.
July 2019
Main documents
Achievements
The committee completed its agenda items for the meeting.
- TGbb is considering proposals for PHY and MAC features
- Discussions ongoing for the Evaluation Methodology for the MAC (doc. 11-19/0187)
- Request for liaison to ITU-T Q18/15 to inform the them on the potential usage of G.9991 PHY for Light Communication, and to request from ITU-T copyrights for using text from recommendation G.9991 and all ITU-T documents referenced therein, including G. 9960, G.9961, G.9963 and G.9964 (doc. 11-19/1322).
- Meeting agenda and motions are available here here.
- The committee will hold one (1) teleconference on Thur., 5 Sept. The schedule and dial-in details can be found here.
The meeting minutes can be found here.
May 2019
Main documents
Achievements
The committee completed its agenda items for the meeting.
- Evaluation Methodology document has been updated to include MAC evaluation parameters (doc. 11-19/0187)
- Considerations for MAC evaluation methodology were presented (doc. 11-19/0848r2 and doc. 11-19/0916r1)
- Pre-proposals were discussed on:
- Meeting agenda and motions are available in doc. 11-19/0614r3
- The committee will hold three (3) teleconferences. The schedule and dial-in details can be found here.
The meeting minutes can be found here.
March 2019
Main documents
Achievements
The committee completed its agenda items for the meeting.
- Evaluation Methodology document has been updated (doc. 11-19/0187)
- Joint proposal for a possible TGbb PHY approach (doc. 11-19/0388r0)
- New deadline for the proposals has been agreed (PHY proposals before 1 July 2019 - doc. 11-18/2039r3)
- Meeting agenda and motions are available in doc. 11-19/0235r5
- The committee will hold three (3) teleconferences. The schedule and dial-in details can be found here.
The meeting minutes can be found here.
January 2019
Main documents
Achievements
The committee completed its agenda items for the meeting.
- Evaluation Methodology document has been created and agreed (doc. 11-19/0187)
- PHY evaluation methodology has been included in the Evaluation Methodology (doc. 11-19/0186r2)
- TGbb timeline has been reviewed and agreed (doc. 11-18/1290r2)
- Meeting agenda and motions are available in doc. 11-18/2122r4
- The committee will hold three (3) teleconferences. The schedule and dial-in details can be found here.
The meeting minutes can be found here.
November 2018
Main documents
Achievements
The committee completed its agenda items for the meeting.
- Channel model document has been updated to include mobility and blockage considerations (doc. 11-18/2037r0)
- Front-end models for the transmitter and receiver have been discussed and agreed (doc. 11-18/1574r4)
- Comments against the Simulation Scenarios document were discussed and resolved (doc. 11-18/1760r4)
- Simulation Scenarios document has been updated and approved by the TG as the basis for any technical proposals (doc. 11-18/1423r8)
- Process document has been agreed for the TG (doc. 11-18/2036r1)
- Call for Proposals has been approved to be issued (doc. 11-18/2039r1)
- Pre-proposals related to the PHY must be submitted no later than 1 March, 2019 (23:59 UTC).
- Pre-proposals related to the MAC must be submitted no later than 1 May, 2019 (23:59 UTC).
- The committee will hold three (3) teleconferences. The schedule and dial-in details can be found here.
The meeting minutes can be found here.
September 2018
Main documents
Achievements
The committee completed its agenda items for the meeting.
- Channel model document has been update and comments are requested against the current version (doc. 11-18/1582r2).
- Simulation Scenarios document has been updated (doc. 11-18/1423r3)
- Topology for the various scenarios need to be agreed
- Comments to be submitted no later than 1 Oct. 2018
- Evaluation Methodology document has been updated (doc. 11-18/1429r1)
- Traffic model considerations and others elements have been removed from the original document to simply it.
- Comments and revisions to be discussed at the next teleconference on 5 Oct. 2018.
- Call for Proposals will be issued at the end of the Nov. 2018 plenary session.
- The committee will hold four (4) teleconferences. The schedule and dial-in details can be found here.
The meeting minutes can be found here.
July 2018
Main documents
Achievements
The committee completed its agenda items for the meeting.
- Officer selection
- Oliver Pengfei Luo – 1st Vice-Chair
- Tuncer Baykas – 2nd Vice-Chair
- Usage model document has been agreed (doc. 11-18/1109r5)
- Focus is on indoor connectivity usage models
- Outdoor and specialist use cases are also acknowledged but will not be part of the evaluation for any incoming proposals
- Functional requirements document has been agreed (doc. 11-18/1309r0)
- Photobiological safety has been considered as essential for LC systems
- Timeline for the TGbb has been agreed (doc. 11-18/1290r1)
- Discussion on preliminary channel models for LC that could be used to satisfy the agreed usage models drawn from (doc. 11-18/1236r1)
- Specific instructions have been given to the contributors of the channel model to deliver necessary improvements including minor changes to the propagation model as well as the introduction of transmission system impairments, e.g., reference transmitter and receiver models, should be included.
The meeting minutes can be found here.
May 2018
Main documents
Achievements
The committee discussed the possible timeline and work that should be completed by the new Task Group along with additional contributions on various usage models, use-cases for automotive and commercial solutions for classified.
The meeting minutes can be found here.
The IEEE Standards Associations Standards Board approved the creation of the new IEEE Std. 802.11 amendment on Light Communications. This resulted in the creation of a new Task Group - `bb'.
March 2018
Main documents
Achievements
The committee discussed the submitted comments against the draft PAR/CSD and agreed resolution in the final text. The comment resolution can be found here.
The meeting minutes can be found here.
The IEEE 802.11 Working Group approved the Project Authorization Request (PAR) and Criterial for Standards Development (CSD) produced by the LC Study Group (SG) at the March 2018 meeting.
January 2018
Main documents
Achievements
The committee discussed the submitted comments against the first draft PAR/CSD and agreed resolution in the final text. The committee finally agreed to pass the completed draft PAR and draft CSD for submission to the 802.11 Working Group.
The meeting minutes can be found here.
The IEEE 802.11 Working Group approved the Project Authorization Request (PAR) and Criterial for Standards Development (CSD) produced by the LC Study Group (SG) at the January 2018 meeting. Pending comments and confirmation from the IEEE 802 Executive Committee and NesCom in March 2018, this should result in the creation of a Task Group to work on an LC amendment to the IEEE 802.11 standard. The motions for the approval of the PAR and CSD at the closing plenary can be found on slide 8 and slide 9, respectively.
November 2017
Main documents
Achievements
The main achievements of this meeting were the presentation and discussion on a number of different use-cases,
the creation of a consolidated list of key performance indicators that the eventual ammendment should target,
the completion of a draft Project Authorization Request (PAR) and Criteria for Standards Development (CSD) ready for comment collection.
A conference call to discuss the first set of comments against the draft CSD and PAR will be held on 30 Nov.
Please check here for the agreed time (right hand side of the page).
- Current status
- The draft CSD is ready for comment collection.
- Comment submission deadline is 28 Nov. at 23:59 EST.
- The draft PAR is ready for comment collection.
- Comment submission deadline is 28 Nov. at 23:59 EST.
- The consolidated use-case KPI indicate the general performance envelop expected from the eventual standard.
September 2017
Main documents
Achievements
The main achievements of this meeting were
the dicsussion on the applicability of the existing Letters of Assurance within the 802.11 to a potential new standard,
agreement on the timeline for the SG,
appointment of the officers for the group and contributions to define the scope of the PAR/CSD.
- Current status and plan forward
- Sept. 2017
- Use-cases and usage scenario discussion
- Amendment or standalone standard?
- Request for clarification from SA on LoA applicability to stand alone standard
- Nov. 2017
- Use-cases, usage scenarios and technical considerations for scope
- Draft 1 for PAR and CSD documents
- Jan. 2018
- Agree PAR and CSD document for circulation within the 802.11 WG
- Submit to the EC for consideration 30 days before the EC meeting at the end of March plenary
- Mar. 2018
- Comments and approval of the PAR and CSD by the EC
- May. 2018
- Start of a potential LC Task Group
July 2017
Main documents
Achievements
The main achievements of this meeting were
the creation of the LC SG, a tutorial to the larger IEEE 802 community on LC,
the completion of the final TIG report on LC and
a presentation of the summary findings of the LC TIG to the 802.11 Working Group.
- Current status
- The final report of the TIG is doc. 11-17/0023r9 was approved after comment collection from the 802.11 WG
- The general activities of the IEEE 802 on optical wireless communications (OWC) were presented to the group along with the comparative uniqueness of the potentially three different efforts from the 802.15.7r1, the 802.15.13 and the potential 802.11 effort on LC.
- A presentation of the summary findings of the LC TIG was discussed during the 12:25 17/07/2017WG mid-week plenary.
May 2017
Main documents
Achievements
The main achievements of this meeting were
Administration
Volker Jungnickel (Fraunhofer HHI) appointed as the Secretary
John Li Qiang (Huawei) appointed as the Editor
Structure
- Current status
- The draft report outline in doc. 11-17/0023r7 was improved
- The contribution from Swiss regulator OFCOM was presented and the relevant text with a recommendation on the license exempt nature of LC was included in doc. 11-17/0023r7
- The economic consideration for LC was presented doc. 11-17/0803r1 and the relevant text was included in doc. 11-17/0023r7.
- Doc. 11-17/0023r7 will be sent for comment collection from the 802.11 WG will be issued with a 20 day circulation ballot passed unanimously.
July 2017 plans
- Final review and sign-off of TIG report on all sections
- WG and EC LC Study Group approval
>li>Tutorial to wider 802 on Light Communications
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