IEEE 802.16’s Session #80 was held on 16-19 July 2012 in San Diego, California, USA. This was an IEEE 802 LMSC Plenary Session and co-located with sessions of the other IEEE 802 Working Groups and Technical Advisory Groups. The attendance was 32 (Editors Note: attendance was way down from previous sessions for obvious reasons). 

HetNet Study Group

The new IEEE 802.16 WG Study Group (SG) on the WirelessMAN Radio Interface in Heterogeneous Networks (HetNet Study Group) met for the second time. The IEEE 802 EC renewed the Study Group though Session #82. Following activities during the session, the HetNet SG is now proceeding with three separate topics:

Work toward an “OmniRAN” project using an Open Mobile Network Interface (OMNI) was advanced by presentation of an IEEE 802 Tutorial on OmniRAN the evening of 16 July.

The HetNet SG issued a Call for Contributions:
OmniRAN Standard for an IEEE 802 HetNet, which includes a Call for Comments on draft text toward an OmniRAN Project Authorization Request (PAR).

Following comment resolution, the Study Group’s PAR P802.16q, on a Multi-Tier amendment to IEEE Std 802.16, was concluded and then forwarded by the 802.16 WG and the IEEE 802 Executive Committee (EC). It is on the 29 August
NesCom agenda and could be authorized by the IEEE-SA Standards Board on 30 August. The SG issued a Call for
Contributions on the topic. 

In response to contributions, the SG issued a Call for Contributions: Small-Cell Backhaul (SCB) Enhancements to WirelessMAN-OFDMA soliciting input with an intent to develop a PAR and Five Criteria at Session #81.

Metrology Study Group

The IEEE 802.16 WG Study Group on Broadband Wireless Access Metrology (Metrology Study Group) met for the second time. Following comment resolution, the Study Group’s PAR P802.16.3 on Mobile Broadband Network Performance Measurements was forwarded by the 802.16 Working Group and the IEEE 802 EC. PAR P802.16.3 is on the 29 August NesCom agenda and could be authorized by the IEEE-SA Standards Board on 30 August. The IEEE 802 EC renewed the Study Group though Session #82, and it remains open to investigation of other possible projects as well. The SG issued a Call for Contributions on Broadband Network Performance Measurements and drafted a second such Call for Contributions, withholding release pending action of the IEEE-SA Standards Board regarding the PAR. The SG summarized its work in a closing report and minutes.

GRIDMAN Task Group

The Working Group’s GRIDMAN Task Group resolved comments received during the second 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 15-day confirmation ballot will run from 27 July through 11 August. Based on conditional approval granted by the 802 EC, both drafts may proceed to Sponsor Ballot, closing prior to Session #81, dependent on successful recirculation. The TG issued a closing report and minutes.

Machine-to-Machine Task Group

The Machine-to-Machine (M2M) Task Group did not meet at Session #80. The 802.16 WG approved comment resolutions agreed by the TG at an earlier teleconference and agreed to initiate a third Sponsor Ballot recirculation. The
802 EC granted conditional approval to forward both M2M drafts (P802.16p and P802.16.1b) to RevCom. Both have been submitted for the 29 August RevCom agenda, pending successful recirculation, and could be authorized by the IEEE-SA Standards Board on 30 August. The TG Chair issued a closing report.

Maintenance Task Group

The P802.16Rev3/D6 and P802.16.1/D6 drafts were approved as, respectively, IEEE Std 802.16-2012 and IEEE Std 802.16.1, on 8 June. The Maintenance Task Group met informally to review a pre-publication editor’s draft of IEEE Std 802.16-2012. Volunteers are invited to participate in a similar exercise regarding IEEE Std 802.16.1. Publication of both standards is expected this summer. The TG Chair issued a closing report and minutes.

ITU-R Liaison Group

The ITU-R Liaison Group drafted contributions to ITU-R Working Party 5D (WP 5D) regarding IMT-2000 and IMT-Advanced updates. The two drafts were approved by the 802.16 Working Group, the 802.16 Radio Regulatory TAG, and
the IEEE 802 EC. The ITU-R Liaison Group also completed liaison statements to its partner organizations regarding the IMT-2000 and IMT-Advanced activities.

One of these statements (802.16-12-0515) solicits input regarding IMT-Advanced sharing parameters prior to Session #81, in response to an invitation from WP 5D to address activity in preparation for the 2015 World Radiocommunications Conference. The Liaison Group will meet at Session #81 to prepare the resultant contribution to WP 5D. For more details,
see the closing report.

Project Planning Committee

The WG’s Project Planning Committee met for one period during Session #80. It confirmed the IEEE 802.16 Ballot Schedules. The committee began review of two input contributions on direct mobile communication for proximity-based
applications. The Committee issued a closing report.

Future Meetings

Session #81 will take place on 17-20 September 2012 in Indian Wells, CA, USA in conjunction with the IEEE 802 Wireless Interim. The GRIDMAN TG, HetNet Study Group, Metrology Study Group, ITU-R Liaison Group, and Project Planning Committee will meet.

Session #82 will take place on 12-15 Nov 2012 in San Antonio, TX, USA in conjunction with the IEEE 802 Plenary 

Session #83 will take place on 14-17 Jan 2013 in Vancouver, BC, Canada in conjunction with the IEEE 802 Wireless Interim.

Complete report with links to meeting reports and minutes is at:

http://ieee802.org/16/meetings/mtg80/report.html

Session #84 will take place on 18-21 Mar 2013 in Orlando, FL, USA in conjunction with the IEEE 802 Plenary Session.