stds-802-16-mobile: RE: MBWA draft agenda & work approach
Mark,
I have some concerns with the MBWA draft agenda.
I believe it isn't very helpful in structuring the discussion and the eventual creation of PAR and 5 criteria.
In my view, the SG isn't going to be able to agree on the technical issues underlying the needed text for the PAR and 5 criteria based on some discussion of the listed contributions, especially since different sessions will have a substantially different audience due to the overlap with TGa.
As soon as the discussion gets to item 4 in the PAR, the SG will have to have a common understanding of the functional requirements of a mobile system, and how this compares to what the .16 MAC and .16a PHY(s) can deliver and can be tweaked to. Unless of course the SG is going to run a popularity contest based on vague notions and intends to present that to the .16 plenary for serious consideration.
Since it is reasonable to expect that the SG won't finish its work in the time allocated during this meeting, it might be helpful to agree at the start of the meeting on a general plan of operation, such as the one below.
A. Development of MBWA functional requirements document.
(This could be a delta to 802163-00_02r4.pdf to move things along or a standalone document)
B. Evaluation of principal suitability of 802.16 MAC based on FRD.
If found suitable, identify additional required functionality/restrictions, if any.
Else goto D.
C. Evaluation of principal suitability of 802.16a PHY(s) based on FRD.
If found suitable, identify additional required functionality/restrictions, if any.
D. Evaluate overlap of scope (possibly as modified) with existing standardization efforts (outside 802.16)
If major or full overlap, terminate SG.
Else goto E.
E. Write 5 criteria.
Write PAR.
The major work is then under A., which will need to be done anyway regardless of where the project ends up.
Hence please add the discussion of a plan of operation, such as the one above, to the "work approach" item on the agenda. I believe it would be helpful in moving the SG (and subsequent work) forward in an organized fashion.
Regards,
/Nico