IEEE 802.15 WPAN Task Group Seeks Input On Coexistence Mechanisms

Contact:
Steve Shellhammer, WPAN TG2 Chair, shell@symbol.com

Ian Gifford, 802.15 Vice-Chair, +1 978 442 4650 Voice, giffordi@ieee.org

Markus Plessel, Standards Mktg. Admin., +1 732 562 3989 Voice, m.plessel@ieee.org

For Release: Immediate

(PISCATAWAY, NJ, 4 October) The IEEE 802.15 Wireless Personal Area Network (WPAN) Task Group 2 seeks input from affected parties on Coexistence Mechanisms for WPANs and Wireless Local Area Networks (WLAN) devices, as they move forward in developing an industry standard that will improve coexistence with other WLAN systems operating in the same band. The group is gathering information that addresses both collaborative and non-collaborative mechanisms, to fully characterize and understand the effects of mutual interference so as to ensure that devices will be able to coexist in the same location.

A wireless personal area network, or WPAN, is a low-cost networking scheme that enables computing devices such as PCs, laptop computers, printers and personal digital assistants (PDAs) to wirelessly communicate with each other over short distances. Borne out of industry concern whether various wireless devices based on several standards or specifications can peacefully coexist within the same 2.4 GHz band, the 802.15 Coexistence Task Group (TG2) is actively addressing coexistence between WPANs and other wireless devices.

The 802.15 WPAN TG2 is charged with developing a Coexistence Model that quantitatively models the effects of the mutual interference of WPAN and WLAN devices on each other in the same location. In addition, the Task Group is to develop Coexistence Mechanisms that will facilitate coexistence of WPAN and WLAN devices in the same locale. Both Coexistence Model and the Coexistence Mechanisms are to be documented in an IEEE Recommended Practice.

Guidelines for submission to the 802.15 WPAN TG2 are located at http://www.ieee802.org/15/pub/TG2-CFP.html. The deadline for submissions is 1 November 2000.

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