IEEE 802.16 Session #51 Report

Special News Flash: IEEE 802.16 enters IMT-2000
On 18 October, the ITU Radiocommunication Assembly granted final approval, by consensus, of an update to Recommendation ITU-R M.1457, the IMT-2000 specification. The update includes a new sixth radio interface, "IMT-2000 OFDMA TDD WMAN", that is based on a normative reference to IEEE Std 802.16. This action brings IEEE Std 802.16 into the IMT-2000 family, following an effort that began over a year ago.

Session #51 Attendance
The Session #51 attendance list includes 288 individuals.

Task Group m (TGm): Advanced Air Interface
Task Group m (TGm) continued with its advance work in the development of the P802.16m project to amend the IEEE 802.16 WirelessMAN-OFDMA specification so that, while offering continuing support for legacy WirelessMAN-OFDMA equipment, it can meet the emerging cellular layer requirements of IMT-Advanced next generation mobile networks. TGm completed its System Requirements Document (SRD). TGm also agreed to an initial baseline Evaluation Methodology Document, with a Call for Comments requesting its review by 5 November. An additional Call for Comments was issued to initiate the development of the System Description Document. The Task Group issued a closing report and minutes.

Network Management (NetMan) Task Group
The NetMan Task Group met to address the P802.16i project, as detailed below. The Task Group issued a closing report and minutes.

P802.16i Project (Mobile Management Information Base)

The Task Group resolved comments received in Working Group Letter Ballot Recirc #25c regarding P802.16i/D4. P802.16i/D5 was prepared for Recirculation #25d (18 October - 9 November).

P802.16g Project (Management Plane Procedures and Services)

On 27 September, the draft P802.16g/D9 was approved by the IEEE-SA Standards Board as IEEE Std 802.16g-2007. Publication is expected in November. The operative version of IEEE Std 802.16 is now IEEE Std 802.16-2004, as amended by IEEE 802.16f-2005, IEEE 802.16e-2005, IEEE Std 802.16-2004/Cor1-2005, and IEEE 802.16g-2007.

P802.16k Project

IEEE Std 802.16k, an amendment to IEEE Std 802.1D-2004, was published as an IEEE standard on 14 August.

Maintenance Task Group
The Working Group's Maintenance Task Group addressed editorial comments received on document P802.16Rev2/D0d. This is a pre-draft version prepared for the P802.16Rev2 revision project, with the content of IEEE Std 802.16g included. The WG adopted the result as WG Draft P802.16Rev2/D1 and opened Working Group Letter Ballot #26, from 5 October - 4 November,  to review it. The TG issued a closing report and minutes. The Task Group initiated a series of discussion topics on the IEEE 802.16 WirelessMAN Forum to socialize issues to be raised during the ballot.

The IEEE-SA Standards Board agreed, on 27 September, to the WG's request for the withdrawal of the P802.16-2004/Cor2 corrigendum project.

Relay Task Group
The Relay Task Group met to address comments received in Working Group Letter Ballot Recirc #28 regarding the new draft P802.16j/D1. Time did not allow for resolutuon of all comments. The remaining comments are scheduled for resolution at Session #52, with ad hoc activity planned between sessions. A closing report and minutes were issued. Subsequently, a Call for Reply Comments was issued.

• The ITU-R Liaison Group held several meetings during the session and issued a meeting report. The primary focus was on the development of input documents to the IEEE 802.18 TAG regarding its activities to develop contributions to ITU-R regarding the technical requirements and evaluation criteria for IMT-Advanced. Three documents (L802.16-07/059, L802.16-07/060, and L802.16-07/061) were submitted to 802.18.
• The 802.18 announced plans to develop a contribution to ITU-R regarding technical requirements and evaluation criteria for IMT-Advanced. Contributions from 802 Working Groups are due on 29 October for consideration at the November IEEE 802 Plenary in conjunction with the WG's Session #52. Since the 802.16 WG's contribution was accepted as the initial draft of thetechnical requirements contribution, no additional input from 802.16 is expected by the deadline. However, the WG Chair plans to organize an activity to develop WG input regarding evaluation criteria, based on TGm's initial baseline Evaluation Methodology Document.
• As noted above, the ITU-R Radiocommunication Assembly, on 18 October, the ITU Radiocommunication Assembly granted final approval, by consensus, of an update to Recommendation ITU-R M.1457, the IMT-2000 specification. The update includes a new sixth radio interface, "IMT-2000 OFDMA TDD WMAN", that is based on a normative reference to IEEE Std 802.16. This action brings IEEE Std 802.16 into the IMT-2000 family.
  

• The WG submitted a statement (L802.16-07/065) to the WiMAX Forum suggesting the development of a formal liaison relationship.
• The WG received a liaison statement (L802.16-07/058) from the NGMN Alliance on performance evaluation methodology.
• The WG received a report (L802.16-07/064) regarding the IETF 16ng Working Group and provided a liaison statement L802.16-07/063r2.

Future Meetings

• IEEE 802.16's Session #52 will take place on 12-15 November 2007 in Atlanta, GA, USA in conjunction with the IEEE 802 Plenary Session.
• IEEE 802.16's Session #53 will take place in Levi, Finland on 21-24 January 2008. Carl Eklund serves as Member Host, with Nokia and Nokia Siemens Networks as Corporate Hosts.
• IEEE 802.16's Session #54 will take place on 17-20 March 2008 in conjunction with the IEEE 802 Plenary Session. The likely location is Orlando, FL, USA.
• IEEE 802.16's Session #55 will take place in Macau, China on 12-15 May 2008, with Corporate Hosts China Mobile, Huawei, ZTE, and CATR.
• IEEE 802.16's Session #56 will take place on 14-17 July 2008 in Denver, CO, USA in conjunction with the IEEE 802 Plenary Session.
• IEEE 802.16's Session #57 will take place in September 2008. The site is to be determined during Session #52. Proposals are solicited; please see IEEE 802.16 Interim Session Guidelines.

Minutes and Motions
The Working Group Session #51 minutes are available as IEEE 802.16-07/048.

Documents
The Session #51 Document Guide includes references to all session documents. Draft standards are available with a working group password or by purchase from IEEE-SA. Most IEEE 802.16 standards are available for free download via the Get IEEE 802® program. See the 802.16 publication list for details of published standards and drafts.

About IEEE 802.16
The IEEE 802.16 Working Group on Broadband Wireless Access Standards has developed and is enhancing the WirelessMAN® Standard for wireless metropolitan area networks. IEEE 802.16 is a unit of the IEEE 802 LAN/MAN Standards Committee, the premier transnational forum for wired and wireless networking standardization. A list of IEEE 802.16 standards and drafts is available on-line, as is an archive of previous Session Reports. The IEEE 802.16 Interactive Calendar includes sessions and deadlines.

"802.16 News" Mailing List
The "802.16 News" mailing list ("stds-802-16-news") has the sole purpose of distributing major announcements related to the Working Group. Those interested in following the progress of the group but not in the day-to-day details may wish to subscribe. Only the Working Group Chair is eligible to post to the list, and mailings will be rare: once after each bimonthly session and additionally for major news, such as the approval of a new standard. Those subscribing to the stds-802-16 mailing list, for active Working Group participants, need not subscribe to stds-802-16-news since the postings will be redundant.

Roger Marks (r.b.marks@ieee.org)
Chair, IEEE 802.16 Working Group on Broadband Wireless Access Standards