March 2006
doc.: IEEE 802.11-06/491r2
IEEE P802.11
Wireless LANs
TGs Proposal Confirmation Press Release
Date: 2006-03-09
Author(s):
Name
Donald Eastlake 3rd
Company
Motorola
Address
111 Locke Drive,
Marlborough, MA
01752
Phone
email
+1-508-786-7554
Donald.Eastlake@motorola.com
Abstract
This document is a proposed Press Release on the confirmation of the Joint SEE Mesh and Wi-Mesh
proposal as the baseline for TGs work. This version has already been reviewed by the IEEE.
Notice: This document has been prepared to assist IEEE 802.11. It is offered as a basis for discussion and is not binding on the
contributing individual(s) or organization(s). The material in this document is subject to change in form and content after
further study. The contributor(s) reserve(s) the right to add, amend or withdraw material contained herein.
Release: The contributor grants a free, irrevocable license to the IEEE to incorporate material contained in this contribution,
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Standards publication even though it may include portions of this contribution; and at the IEEE’s sole discretion to permit
others to reproduce in whole or in part the resulting IEEE Standards publication. The contributor also acknowledges and
accepts that this contribution may be made public by IEEE 802.11.
Patent Policy and Procedures: The contributor is familiar with the IEEE 802 Patent Policy and Procedures <http://
ieee802.org/guides/bylaws/sb-bylaws.pdf>, including the statement "IEEE standards may include the known use of patent(s),
including patent applications, provided the IEEE receives assurance from the patent holder or applicant with respect to patents
essential for compliance with both mandatory and optional portions of the standard." Early disclosure to the Working Group of
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process and increase the likelihood that the draft publication will be approved for publication. Please notify the Chair
<stuart.kerry@philips.com> as early as possible, in written or electronic form, if patented technology (or technology under
patent application) might be incorporated into a draft standard being developed within the IEEE 802.11 Working Group. If you
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Submission
page 1
Donald Eastlake 3rd, Motorola
March 2006
doc.: IEEE 802.11-06/491r2
DRAFT: 3/9/06
Contact:
Stuart J. Kerry, 802.11 Working Group Chair
+1 408-474-7356, stuart.kerry@philips.com
or
Karen McCabe, IEEE Senior Marketing Manager
+1 732-562-3824, k.mccabe@ieee.org
MESH NETWORKING PROPOSAL SELECTED
FOR IEEE 802™ WIRELESS LANs
PISCATAWAY, N.J., USA, 10 March 2006 – The IEEE 802.11 Working Group has passed a major
milestone in the development of IEEE 802.11s™, “Wireless LAN Medium Access Control (MAC) and
Physical Layer (PHY) Specifications: Extended Service Set Mesh Networking”, by voting to confirm a
single proposal as the initial basis for the IEEE 802.11s standard. Many additional steps, which will
include technical changes, are necessary before this standard becomes final; but this vote sets the baseline
from which the group will work.
Once completed, IEEE 802.11s will provide an interoperable and secure wireless distribution
system between IEEE 802.11™ mesh points. This can reduce backhaul and installation costs. It also will
extend mobility to access points in IEEE wireless local area networks (WLANs), enabling a new class of
IEEE 802.11 applications that require untethered infrastructure.
The working group winnowed the 15 proposals presented in July 2005 for this amendment down
to two in January 2006. The two final concepts were then merged to create the Joint SEE-Mesh Wi-Mesh
Alliance proposal, which the group confirmed as a baseline for this amendment. The evaluation process
considered five relevant use cases, i.e., those concerning the residential, office, public safety, military, and
campus/community/public access sectors.
“From wireless video distribution in the home to battlefield communications, mesh networking
can improve data rates, reliability and range.” says Stuart J. Kerry, IEEE 802.11 Working Group Chair.
Submission
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Donald Eastlake 3rd, Motorola
March 2006
doc.: IEEE 802.11-06/491r2
Donald E. Eastlake 3rd, Mesh Networking Task Group Chair, says “Mesh networking features
will help keep IEEE 802.11, already dominant in the WLAN arena with over a hundred million chip sets
shipping annually, at the cutting edge of technology for the maximum benefit of its users. Final approval
of the new amendment is targeted for 2008.”
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# # #
Submission
page 3
Donald Eastlake 3rd, Motorola
March 2006
doc.: IEEE 802.11-06/491r2
References:
Submission
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Donald Eastlake 3rd, Motorola