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I agree with RLP
- Radio Link Protocol Radio
Link Protocol terminates at the MS (Mobile Station) and the IWF (Interworking Function) generally located at the MSC (Mobile
Switching Centre). It utilizes the reliability mechanisms of the underlying
protocols in order to deliver data. (http://www.mpirical.com/companion/mpirical_companion.html#http://www.mpirical.com/companion/GSM/RLP_-_Radio_Link_Protocol.htm) I would like to toss out the
following for people to consider. Considerata: The word "Interface" is somewhat ambiguous in
that we are using it in the two senses given in Webster's: 2 a : the place at
which independent and often unrelated systems meet and act on or communicate
with each other <the man-machine interface>
b : the means by which interaction
or communication is achieved at an interface we
seem to be using it in both the sense of 2a and 2b. This is the root of the
difference in the two definitions that have been shared. So we could speak about an air-interface
and even an air-interface interface. We have the definition provided by Gang Wu (via the
Intel website) : the air interface is the radio-frequency portion of the circuit
between the cellular phone set or wireless modem (usually portable or mobile)
and the active base station. And the one provided by Dan Gal (via
the Ericsson web-site): "The air
interface is the shared boundary between a mobile and the base station." IEEE 100 (The Authoritative
Dictionary of IEEE Standards Terms) provides the following "general definition"
[def 4] for "interface": A
shared boundary Suggestion
for a way forward: I would therefore suggest the following:
We define air-interface as: Definition: 1)
The air interface is the radio-frequency
portion of the transmission path between the wireless terminal (usually
portable or mobile) and the active base station or access point. 2) The air interface is the shared boundary
between a wireless terminal and the base station or access point. I am trying to avoid using
air-interface interface, and I believe that 2 in essence is taking a look at
the "cross section" of the air interface between the mobile and
base station. I have paraphrased definition one to remove the term "circuit"
and replace it with the more generic "transmission path" due to the
potential connectionless packet nature of the path. The intro/preamble to the actual
standard could then read eg: This standard specifies the layer 1
and layer 2 protocols of the air-interface between compliant wireless terminals
and base stations. (English to be fixed and polished when we
get there). In the requirements document we can
put a similar statement in the overview. Note that the discussion as to whether
we indicate what layer a requirement applies to is a separate issue. This is in line with IEEE standards,
3G standards and ISO standards that all use the term air interface in a similar
manner. Sorry about this somewhat lengthy
epistle. I hope it helps in getting us towards closure. Mark -----Original
Message----- I respectfully
disagree. A protocol and an interface are not the same thing. A
protocol specifies what happens when, and generally involves several
information transfers across one or more interfaces. An interface is the
boundary between two entities, across which information may flow according to
some protocol. I think Jim Tomcik had
discussed a term Radio Link Protocol, or RLP during the San Francisco meeting.
After replacing Air Link with Radio Link or Radio Link Protocol in the
document and then re-reading, it seems to make much more sense. I would agree with
Alan's 10/2 proposal to remove Air Interface and replace with Radio Link
or Radio Link Protocol where it makes sense. Also this decision would
carry forward to all documents of 802.20, as Alan proposed. geoff Geoffrey T. Anderson 45 Roe Avenue Cornwall on Hudson,
NY 12520-1403 Phone: 845-534-4589 Fax: 845-818-3513 Cell: 914-843-9572 -----Original
Message----- At
least I found one from the web. "In
cellular telephone communications, the air interface is the radio-frequency
portion of the circuit between the cellular phone set or wireless modem
(usually portable or mobile) and the active base station." Regards, Gang
Wu |