IEEE 802.16’s Session #79 meeting was held on 16-19 January 2012 in Atlanta, Georgia, USA. This Working Group (WG) interim session was co-located with the IEEE 802 Wireless Interim.  This report was written by 802.16 chair Roger Marks.

HetNet Study Group

The new IEEE 802.16 WG Study Group on the WirelessMAN Radio Interface in Heterogeneous Networks (HetNet Study Group) met for the first time. Input contributions were received from individuals affiliated with Consensii LLC, ETRI, Nokia Siemens Networks, and WiMAX Forum. Based on the inputs and discussions, the Study Group proceeded in two directions:

• Following discussion of specific proposals related to heterogeneous networks incorporating multiple radio interface technologies, the Study Group issued a Call for Contributions on the Open Mobile Network Interface (OMNI) Standard for an IEEE 802 HetNet. Participants in the discussion developed a proposal for an IEEE 802 Tutorial entitled Heterogeneous Networking among the IEEE 802 Family: Proposal for an OMNI Standard. The tutorial has been scheduled for the evening of 16 July at the IEEE 802 Plenary in San Diego.
• Separately, the Study Group drafted PAR P802.16q on a Multi-Tier amendment to IEEE Std 802.16. This was forwarded by the WG to the IEEE 802 Executive Committee (EC) for review at the July 802 Plenary.

The Study Group issued a closing report

Metrology Study Group

The new IEEE 802.16 WG Study Group on Broadband Wireless Access Metrology (Metrology Study Group) met for the first time. Input contributions were received, from individuals affiliation with Consensii LLC, Georgia Tech, Google, Mobile Pulse, Inc., and NIST. Most contributions were related to network performance measurements. The Study Group concluded a draft PAR P802.16.3 on Mobile Broadband Network Performance Measurements, which was forwarded by the WG to the IEEE 802 Executive Committee (EC) for review at the July 802 Plenary. The Study Group remains open to investigation of other possible projects as well. It issued a Call for Contributions on Potential New Metrology Standardization Projects and summarized its work in a closing report

Machine-to-Machine Task Group

At Session #79, the Machine-to-Machine (M2M) Task Group resolved comments received during the first recirculations of the IEEE Sponsor Ballots regarding drafts P802.16p and P802.16.1b. In each case, a second recirculation will be requested and, if successful, the draft will be submitted to RevCom. The TG issued a closing report.

GRIDMAN Task Group

The Working Group’s GRIDMAN Task Group resolved comments received during the first recirculations of WG Letter Ballot #37 and WG Letter Ballot #38, in which drafts P802.16n and IEEE P802.16.1a are under review. In each case, a second 30-day recirculation will follow. The TG issued a closing report.