1. Thoughts on the 802.1AM PAR Date: 2005-09-19 Authors: Sept 2005
doc.: IEEE /0940r0
Sept 2005
Thoughts on the 802.1AM PAR
Date:
Authors:
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Darwin Engwer, Nortel
Darwin Engwer, Nortel

2. Sept 2005
doc.: IEEE /0940r0
Sept 2005
Abstract
“I've flown from one side of the network to the other. I've seen a lot of strange stuff, but I've never seen anything to make me believe there's one all-powerful force that can control everything.”
Darwin Engwer, Nortel
Darwin Engwer, Nortel

3. Sept 2005
The field is very broad
A: not clear whether 802.1AM will address over-the-air mgmt or over-the-backhaul network mgmt, or both
poor scope definition in in the 802.1AM PAR
B: Technical feasibility is greatly in question
Darwin Engwer, Nortel

4. Technical Feasibility
Sept 2005
Technical Feasibility
over-the-air management
over-the-backhaul network management
Darwin Engwer, Nortel

5. over-the-air "management”
Sept 2005
over-the-air "management”
there is no common framework for over-the-air "management" between different RF technologies (within let alone within 802)
it is not viable bcus the devices operate in difference frequency bands using different modulation types and no single radio can (simultaneously) operate across all those bands/ modulation types.
perhaps a SDR could perhaps do something in this regard by altering it's operational mode over time. But doing so on the fly is [today] impossible.
needs to be real-time to address temporal aspects of the issue
Darwin Engwer, Nortel

6. over-the-air "management” (cont’d)
Sept 2005
over-the-air "management” (cont’d)
well, unless you have a universal wideband transceiver.
maybe this is a "subspace" communication [vs. today’s "ether" space communications] and we don't know how to do that today
subspace communication would need to occur outside space and time; currently that is only science fiction
hence my updated position is not that over-the-air "management” is impossible, but that the fundamental support technologies required to make it work don't yet exist.
Darwin Engwer, Nortel

7. over-the-backhaul network management
Sept 2005
over-the-backhaul network management
there is no common framework for over-the-backhaul network management between different types of RF networks
the backhaul networks are different types, and are not interconnected
even if they were interconnected they are likely in different administrative domains
e.g. the hotel network is isolated from the 802 meeting net
even if not isolated; which network has higher authority?
e.g. hotel net does what our network tells it to do or vice versa?
Darwin Engwer, Nortel

8. over-the-backhaul network management (cont’d)
Sept 2005
over-the-backhaul network management (cont’d)
further, some RF network types have no backhaul component at all (e.g and IBSS/ ad hoc networks)
Darwin Engwer, Nortel

9. Summary Feasibility remains in question
Sept 2005
doc.: IEEE /0940r0
Sept 2005
Summary
Feasibility remains in question
this is not addressed by the 802.1AM PAR
not yet responded to by 802.1
therefore the question remains open
could be addressed by a supporting document if space in the PAR document is unduly constrained
Value proposition is also unclear
i.e. what is the value or benefit vs. the required effort?
Darwin Engwer, Nortel
Darwin Engwer, Nortel

10. Sept 2005
Darwin Engwer, Nortel

11. Sept 2005
Darwin Engwer, Nortel

12. Q & A Q: Is there a useful partial solution?
Sept 2005
Q & A
Q: Is there a useful partial solution?
because RF is a shared medium, solving part of the problem essentially doesn't solve the problem
a partial solution would be like arranging things so you can be partially not pregnant
I'm an optimist so I won't say that's impossible
but any partial proposal should indicate how it will avoid the "9 month surprise"
Darwin Engwer, Nortel

13. References 11-05-0892-01-0wng-dot1am-work-sizing.xls
Sept 2005
References
wng-dot1am-work-sizing.xls
wng-dot1am-management-plane.ppt
wng-dot1am-management-par-5c.doc
Darwin Engwer, Nortel