Hi Mark,
This was also an issue for 802REVc – The bottom line was we decided not to define the term. The P802-REVc-d1.3 currently only defines “bridgeable network”:
bridgeable network:
A communication resource that provides the MAC service specified in IEEE Std 802.1AC, between two or more MSAPs, supporting the MAC Internal Sublayer Service.
The specification also defines LAN, MAN, PAN, and RAN:
local area network (LAN):
A network of devices, whether indoors or outdoors, covering a limited geographic area, e.g., a building or campus.
metropolitan area network (MAN):
A network of devices, extending over a large geographical area such as an urban area, often providing integrated communication services such as data, voice, and video.
personal area network (PAN):
A network of devices extending over a very limited geographical area, used to convey information among a group of participant stations.
regional area network (RAN):
A network of devices that generally covers a service area that is larger than metropolitan area networks (MANs), typically in sparsely populated areas.
(Note WAN, WLAN, WPAN, WRAN, are only provided as acronyms/abbreviations.)
The spec also uses the term “network” though out the document without defining it. The 802.11 ARC SC spent a significant amount of time trying to define “network” only to be told the definition was not acceptable. See:
https://mentor.ieee.org/802.11/dcn/23/11-23-1240-00-0arc-arc-sc-mixed-mode-minutes-july-2023-plenary.docx Quoted from these minutes:
“Define “IEEE 802 Network”
•
Reminder of discussion on teleconferences (slides 22-25, notes on 26), especially existing “definitions” on slide 22
•
Proposal for definition (Max Riegel, teleconference updates):
IEEE 802 ® network: an interconnected group of two or more devices that forward user data frames according to IEEE 802 medium access control (MAC) addresses, and IEEE 802 MAC
addresses identify the endpoints of the communication.
Discussion:
C - Is it a technical definition or is it an abstract concept.
C – The original concern was the current definition requires using 802 protocols – and 802.11 does not require using 802 protocols in the DS, so this definition seems to exclude
an 802.11 DS based network from being an IEEE 802 network. Supported the proposed definition.
Some discussion on word changes to improve the definition, some proposals discussed were:
·
Add “a computer network of”
·
Change “devices” to end stations, stations, entities, or layer 2 entities
·
Change “forward” to exchange
·
Change “data frames” to “frames”
·
Remove “user data frames”
“Agreed” draft proposal of the definition to be provided to 802REVc:
IEEE 802 ® network: an interconnected group of two or more devices that forward data between end stations that are identified by IEEE 802 MAC addresses.
As stated above this definition was not acceptable to the experts in P802REVc and no definition was agreed, it was just removed from the specification.
Bottom line:
I don’t think we should attempt to define “network” – the dictionary definition is adequate and any technical definition we add to the 802.11 spec, will make some of the uses of “network” in the specification incorrect, adding “multiple”
definitions to the specification is not helpful, does not provide technical clarity, and will not provide a useful technical solution.
Regards,
Joseph
From: Mark Rison <m.rison@xxxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Tuesday, May 7, 2024 1:01 PM
To: STDS-802-11-TGM@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [STDS-802-11-TGM] 11me/D5.0 CID 7225 ("network")
--- This message came from the IEEE 802.11 Task Group M Technical Reflector ---
Hello,
CID 7225 was marked "more work required" but the minutes don't remind me
what more work I was supposed to do. Can you help?
Comment: The term "network" is used a lot, but not actually defined. It might be equivalent to "BSS", or it might be equivalent to "ESS", or it might be something
else
Proposed change: Define the term
My starting offer is:
network: A set of devices that can communicate. Depending
on the context, a network might be a basic service set (BSS), an
extended service set (ESS), a non-802.11 local area network (LAN)
or a wide area network (WAN).
Thanks,
Mark
--
Mark RISON, Standards Architect, WLAN English/Esperanto/Français
Samsung Cambridge Solution Centre Tel: +44 1223 434600
Innovation Park, Cambridge CB4 0DS Fax: +44 1223 434601
ROYAUME UNI WWW:
http://www.samsung.com/uk
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