stds-802-16: ATM and IP in 802.14

["Roger B. Marks" <r.b.marks@ieee.org>]

[Notice: It is the policy of 802.16 to treat messages posted here as non-confidential.]

I asked 802 Vice Chair Paul Nikolich, who has been closely involved in
802.14, for his thoughts on the ATP/IP issue from an 802.14 perspective.
Here is his reply; my questions are below.

Roger

>Roger,
>
>I will answer your questions in the order you asked them.
>
>1)  I agree with Jim--it is up to 802.16 to determine what the best layer
>two 'wrapper' (variable length packet or fixed length cell) to use based on
>the requirements of the system.  802.14 initially adopted both packets and
>cells based MAC, but ultimately decided cells were the best solution for
>their particular requirement.
>
>2)  802.14 has not 'given up' but put the cell based MAC on the shelf,
>waiting for vendors/providers to establish enough interest to continue the
>work.
>
>3)  802.14 has put the cell based MAC on the shelf because the core group
>of cell based proponents dwidled to nearly zero, while there are dozens of
>vendors planning to build or building packet based products.  802.14 is
>simply reacting to market conditions.
>
>One of the keys to a successful standards development activity is a
>motivated, organized, and skilled body of WG members.  Assembling this kind
>of a group is usually driven by the market interest in that particular
>standards activity.
>
>You are welcome to post these comments to your reflector.
>
>--Paul
>
>
>At 10:58 AM 4/20/99 -0600, Roger B. Marks wrote:
>>Paul,
>>
>>802.16 has been discussing the issue of ATM vs. IP. Could you provide some
>>commentary?
>>
>>(1) I have ensured people that 802 is not going to push people into an
>>IP-centric solution rather than an ATM-centric solution. Jim Carlo agreed
>>and said I that 802.14 is a good example of the freedom of a Working Group
>>to go either way. Do you agree? Jim suggested that I ask you.
>>
>>(2) Is it fair to say that 802.14 has given up on the idea of an
>>ATM-centric MAC?
>>
>>(3) If so, is there a simple reason why? It might be educational for us.
>>
>>If you like, you can reply to our reflector (stds-802-16@ieee.org). If you
>>reply to me, I may post your comments to the reflector, unless you ask me
>>not to.
>>
>>Thanks,
>>
>>Roger