IEEE 802.15.3 Conformance PAR Background

1. Project: IEEE P802.15 Working Group for Wireless Personal Area Networks (WPANs) Submission Title: Conformance PAR Background Date Submitted: 19 January 2005 Source: James D. Allen, Appairent Technologies. Address: 150 Lucius Gordon Drive, Rochester, NY, 14586 Voice:585-214-2465, FAX: 585-214-2461, E-Mail: allen at appairent.com Re: [] Abstract:Background and motion to approve the 802.15.3 conformance PAR Purpose: For the purpose of supporting and making a motion Notice: This document has been prepared to assist the IEEE P802.15. 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 acknowledges and accepts that this contribution becomes the property of IEEE and may be made publicly available by P802.15. NOTE: Update all red fields replacing with your information; they are required. This is a manual update in appropriate fields. All Blue fields are informational and are to be deleted. Black stays. After updating delete this box/paragraph. James Allen, Appairent Technologies

2. 802.15.3 Conformance PAR Background March 2005 Atlanta, CA James Allen, Appairent Technologies

3. Background • In Monterey, this motion received several comments and advice to explain the purpose and limitations of a Conformance PAR. • Those comments are addressed below: James Allen, Appairent Technologies

4. “…[do not] believe that the expertise [is] here and the IEEE should not provide conformance testing.” • This Conformance PAR has only one purpose: • A document to explain how to determine that the MAC conforms to the Standard by establishing a test procedure (e.g. inputs) and expected results (a.k.a. "the methodology"). • …while the authors (experts) of the 15.3 Standard are still around and know what they intended. • Neither the document nor the IEEE do 15.3 conformance testing. James Allen, Appairent Technologies

5. “…that this might conflict with other conformance testing efforts.” • Doesn’t this replace or conflict with existing industry organizations? • It is NOT a test authority or organization. • It does NOT compete with other groups such as WiMedia-MBOA, USB Forum, CEA activities, USB-Forum, CWAVE, or any other SIG, industry alliance or test-house. • It has NO implementation, verification, or certification authority. James Allen, Appairent Technologies

6. This document does NOT have to be used to implement, verify, or certify the 15.3 standard. • That is up to the Marketing organization(s) that use the Standard. • E.g.: BT, Zigbee, Wi-fi and others have complete control over their certification processes • They often decide to implement products that are derivatives or subsets of a Standard. • The Conformance document has no control over that. James Allen, Appairent Technologies

7. “… expressed a concern that this might increase the requests for interpretations.” • 802.16 has shown that a conformance document can help reduce the product implementation time and to educate readers the authors intended. • It is expected that conformance documents will reduce the requests for interpretations, not increase them. James Allen, Appairent Technologies

8. It’s just a Document It can not ADD or Remove any of the Standard’s content. James Allen, Appairent Technologies

9. Background • The 802.15 standard does not specify how to test the interfaces so that solutions between vendors interoperate. • Conformance testing will be important to 3/3a/3b/3c to promote success of the standards. • Between manufacturers • Between other interfaces such as 1394 • For new PHYs like 5 GHz • Especially for systems that can use same MAC but different PHYs in different applications or locations. • Doing inside of the IEEE keeps it open, visible and not controlled by any specific industry entity. James Allen, Appairent Technologies

10. Purpose • This PAR (document 04-0463-01-0000) supports the creation of : (snip) • “ScopeThis standard defines the conformance test procedures and results necessary to validate compliance of a system to the 802.15.3 standards. It may include multiple interfaces such as Air-PHY, MAC-PHY, and application-MAC so that conformance of partial systems can be determined. • Purpose: The purpose of this standard is to provide a methodology to certify device conformance to IEEE Std. 802.15.3-2003 • Reason: The IEEE std. 802.15.3-2003 does not specify a methodology to ensure device conformance to the standard. Conformance promotes interoperability, which is essential for broad market adoption. Target users are device implementers, system integrators and certification authorities. James Allen, Appairent Technologies

11. WG Motion • To ask the Chair of 802.15 to submit the 802.15 Conformance PAR and 5C (captured in document 15-04-0463-01-000 and to be submitted by the internet and in paper form) to the SEC and NESCOM for approval in a timely fashion. • Moved: Jim Allen, Seconded: James Gilb • For____, Against_____, Abstain____ James Allen, Appairent Technologies