May March 20065doc.: IEEE 802.11-06/0812r0doc.: IEEE 802.11-06/000r0doc.: IEEE 802.11-05/456r0
IEEE 802.11™
Wireless Local Area Networks (WLANs)
Policies and Procedures of IEEE Project 802
Working Group 802.11, Wireless LANs
Date:
MayMarch 174, 20065
Author:
Stuart J. Kerry
Chair, IEEE 802.11 WLANs WG
Philips Semiconductors, Inc.
Email:
Approved July 18, 20052006
IEEE® Project 802 Wireless LAN Working Group 802.11™
1 / 11-00-331r0-0000 / September 2000
2 / 11-00-331r1-0000 / November 2000
3 / 11-01-331r2-0000 / February 2001
4 / 11-01-331r3-0000 / May 16, 2002
5 / 11-01-331r4-0000 / September 11, 2002
6 / 11-03-331r5-0000 / May 1, 2003
7 / 11-03-331r6-0000 / July 20, 2003
8 / 11-03-331r7-0000 / November 13, 2003
9 / 11-04-0510-00-0000 / March 15, 2004
10 / 11-05-0456-00-0000 / March 14, 2005
11 / 11-06-081200-00-0000 / MayMarch 170,2006
Copyright (c) 20065 by the Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers, Inc.
345 East 47th Street
New York, NY10017, USA
All rights reserved.
Contents
Contents
Table of Figures
References
Acronyms
1Overview
2Working Group
2.1Function
2.2Precedence of Policies and Procedures
2.3Working Group Officers
2.3.1Working Group Chair
2.3.2Working Group Vice-Chair(s)
2.3.3Working Group Secretary
2.3.4Working Group Technical Editor
2.3.5Working Group Treasurer
2.3.6Working Group Officer Election Process
2.3.7Working Group Chair Succession
2.3.8Public Relations and Marketing Communications
2.3.9Liaisons
2.3.9.1Liaison Roles and Responsibilities:
2.3.10Recommended Activities for Working Group Officers
2.3.10.1WG Chair
2.3.10.2WG Vice-Chair(s)
2.4Working Group Chair Advisory Committee
2.4.1Function
2.4.2Membership
2.5Documentation
2.5.1Types
2.5.2Format
2.5.3Layout
2.5.4Timing of Submissions
2.5.5Naming conventions
2.6Motions Regarding Drafts
2.7Membership
2.7.1Member Recommended Tools
2.8Working Group Sessions
2.8.1Plenary Session
2.8.2Interim Sessions
2.8.3Session Meeting Schedule
2.8.3.1WG Reading Hours
2.8.4Session Logistics
2.8.4.1Attendance
2.8.4.2Meeting Etiquette
2.9Draft WG Balloting
2.9.1Draft Standard Balloting Group
2.9.2Draft Standard Balloting Requirements
2.9.3Formatting Requirements for Draft Standard and Amendments
2.10Maintenance of Policies and Procedures
2.10.1Availability
2.10.2Policy and Procedure Document Number Assignment
2.10.3Requesting Changes
2.10.4Change Process
2.11Working Group Financial Operations
3Task Groups
3.1Function
3.2Task Group Chair
3.3Task Group Vice-Chair
3.4Task Group Secretary
3.5Task Group Technical Editor
3.6Task Group Membership
3.6.1Rights
3.6.2Meetings and Participation
3.6.3TeleConferences
3.7Operation of the Task Group
3.7.1Task Group Chair's Functions
3.7.1.1Task Group Chair and Task Group Vice-Chair Functions
3.7.2Voting
3.7.3Task Group Chair's Responsibilities
3.7.4Task Group Chair's Authority
3.7.5Precedence of Policies and Procedures
3.8Deactivation of a Task Group
4Study Groups
4.1Function
4.2Formation
4.3Continuation
4.4Study Group Operation
4.4.1Study Group Meetings
4.4.2Voting at Study Group Meetings
4.4.3Attendance List
5802.11™ Standing Committee(s)
5.1Function
5.2Membership
5.3Formation
5.4Continuation
5.5Standing Committee Operation
5.5.1Standing Committee Meetings
5.5.2Voting at Standing Committee Meetings
5.6Standing Committee Chair
6Voting Rights
6.1Earning Voting Rights
6.1.1New Participant
6.1.2Aspirant
6.1.3Nearly Voter
6.1.4Potential Voter
6.1.5Voter
6.1.6Non-Voter
6.2Number of Sessions required to become a Voter
6.3Voting Tokens
6.4Voting Rights Dismissal
7Maintenance Task Group
8Inquiries and Interpretations
9IEEE 802.11 WG Assigned Numbers Authority
9.1.1WG ANA Lead
9.1.2ANA Document
9.1.3ANA Request Procedure
9.1.4ANA Revocation Procedure
9.1.5ANA Appeals Procedure
10Procedure Section (Informative)
10.1Overview of the Project Process
10.1.1Call for interest
10.1.2Study Group
10.1.3Task Group
10.1.4Working Group Ballot
10.1.5Sponsor ballot
10.1.6Standards Board Approval
10.1.7Publication
10.2Five Criteria
10.3Guidelines for secretaries of IEEE® 802.11™ groups and subgroups.
10.4Guidelines for Technical Editor’s of IEEE® 802.11™ WG and Task Groups
Contents...... 2
Table of Figures...... 4
References...... 5
Acronyms...... 6
1Overview...... 7
2Working Group...... 7
2.1Function...... 7
2.2Precedence of Policies and Procedures...... 8
2.3Working Group Officers...... 8
2.3.1Working Group Chair...... 8
2.3.2Working Group Vice-Chair(s)...... 9
2.3.3Working Group Secretary...... 9
2.3.4Working Group Technical Editor...... 9
2.3.5Working Group Treasurer...... 9
2.3.6Working Group Officer Election Process...... 9
2.3.7Working Group Chair Succession...... 10
2.3.8Public Relations and Marketing Communications...... 10
2.3.9Liaisons...... 10
2.3.9.1Liaison Roles and Responsibilities:...... 10
2.3.10Recommended Activities for Working Group Officers...... 11
2.3.10.1WG Chair...... 11
2.3.10.2WG Vice-Chair(s)...... 11
2.4Working Group Chair Advisory Committee...... 12
2.4.1Function...... 12
2.4.2Membership...... 12
2.5Documentation...... 13
2.5.1Types...... 13
2.5.2Format...... 13
2.5.3Layout...... 13
2.5.4Timing of Submissions...... 14
2.5.5Naming conventions...... 14
2.6Motions...... 14
2.7Membership...... 15
2.7.1Member Recommended Tools...... 15
2.8Working Group Sessions...... 15
2.8.1Plenary Session...... 15
2.8.2Interim Sessions...... 16
2.8.3Session Meeting Schedule...... 17
2.8.4Session Logistics...... 17
2.8.4.1Attendance...... 17
2.8.4.2Meeting Etiquette...... 18
2.9Draft WG Balloting...... 18
2.9.1Draft Standard Balloting Group...... 18
2.9.2Draft Standard Balloting Requirements...... 18
2.9.3Formatting Requirements for Draft Standard and Amendments...... 19
2.10Maintenance of Policies and Procedures...... 19
2.10.1Availability...... 19
2.10.2Requesting Changes...... 19
2.10.3Change Process...... 19
2.11Working Group Financial Operations...... 20
3Task Groups...... 20
3.1Function...... 20
3.2Task Group Chair...... 20
3.3Task Group Vice-Chair...... 20
3.4Task Group Secretary...... 21
3.5Task Group Technical Editor...... 21
3.6Task Group Membership...... 21
3.6.1Rights...... 21
3.6.2Meetings and Participation...... 21
3.6.3TeleConferences...... 22
3.7Operation of the Task Group...... 22
3.7.1Task Group Chair's Functions...... 22
3.7.1.1Task Group Chair and Task Group Vice-Chair Functions...... 22
3.7.2Voting...... 22
3.7.3Task Group Chair's Responsibilities...... 23
3.7.4Task Group Chair's Authority...... 23
3.7.5Precedence of Policies and Procedures...... 24
3.8Deactivation of a Task Group...... 24
4Study Groups...... 24
4.1Function...... 24
4.2Formation...... 24
4.3Continuation...... 24
4.4Study Group Operation...... 24
4.4.1Study Group Meetings...... 24
4.4.2Voting at Study Group Meetings...... 24
4.4.3Attendance List...... 24
5802.11™ Standing Committee(s)...... 25
5.1Function...... 25
5.2Membership...... 25
5.3Formation...... 25
5.4Continuation...... 25
5.5Standing Committee Operation...... 25
5.5.1Standing Committee Meetings...... 25
5.5.2Voting at Standing Committee Meetings...... 25
5.6Standing Committee Chair...... 25
6Voting Rights...... 25
6.1Earning Voting Rights...... 25
6.1.1New Participant...... 26
6.1.2Aspirant...... 26
6.1.3Nearly Voter...... 26
6.1.4Voter...... 26
6.1.5Non-Voter...... 26
6.2Number of Sessions required to become a Voter...... 26
6.3Voting Tokens...... 27
6.4Voting Rights Dismissal...... 27
7Maintenance Task Group...... 27
8Inquiries and Interpretations...... 27
9Procedure Section (Informative)...... 28
9.1Overview of the Project Process...... 28
9.1.1Call for interest...... 28
9.1.2Study Group...... 28
9.1.3Task Group...... 29
9.1.4Working Group Ballot...... 29
9.1.5Sponsor ballot...... 30
9.1.6Standards Board Approval...... 31
9.1.7Publication...... 31
9.2Five Criteria...... 31
9.3Guidelines for secretaries of IEEE® 802.11™ groups and subgroups...... 31
Table of Figures
Figure 1.1 – Project 802 Organizational Structure
Figure 2.1.1 – WG 802.11™ Organizational Structure
Table 2.5.5.1 – File Naming Convention
Figure 2.7.1.1 – Typical WG 802.11™ meetings during 802 Plenary Session
Figure 6.2.1 – New Participant Starting at a Plenary Session
Figure 6.2.2 – New Participant Starting at an Interim Session
Figure 9.1.4.1 – WG ballot process
Figure 9.1.5.1 – Sponsor Group ballot process
References
Policies and Procedures
[rules1]IEEE® Standards Board Bylaws
[rules2]IEEE-SA® Standards Board Operations Manual
[rules3]Policies and Procedures of IEEE project 802, LAN MAN Standards Committee (LMSC)
[rules4]Robert's Rules of Order Newly Revised (Latest Published Edition), by Henry M. Robert III (Editor),Sarah Corbin Robert,and William J. Evans (Editor), Perseus Publishing, ISBN0738203076.
Other References
[other1]IEEE® Standards Companion
[other2]Overview & guide to IEEE 802 / LMSC
overview.pdf
[other3]Adobe Acrobat Reader for viewing PDF files
[other4]ISO/IEC JTC1: International Standards Organization / International Engineering Consortium Joint Technical Committee 1
[other5]Wireless LAN Association (WLANA) and WiFi™ Alliance
[other6]IEEE® Standards Style Manual
Acronyms
802 ECLMSC executive committee
802 LMSCProject 802, LAN/MAN standards committee
ANAAssigned Numbers Authority
ANSIAmerican National Standards Institute
CACchair advisory committee
CSMA/CAcarrier sense multiple access / collision avoidance
CSMA/CDcarrier sense multiple access / collision detect
ECexecutive committee
IDidentification
IECInternational Engineering Consortium
IEEE®International Electrical and Electronics Engineers, Inc.
IEEE-SAIEEE® Standards Association
IPRintellectual property rights
ISOInternational Standards Organization
LANlocal area network
LMSCLAN/MAN standards committee
MANmetropolitan area network
MTGmaintenance task group
NesComnew standards committee (IEEE-SA)
PARproject authorization request
PCpersonal computer
PCMCIAPersonal Computer Memory Card International Association
PDFportable document format (Adobe Acrobat file format)
RevComreview committee (IEEE-SA)
SCstanding committee
SGstudy group
TAGtechnical advisory group
WLANwireless local area network
1Overview
The 802.11™ Working Group (WG) is responsible for developing Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN) standards under the auspices of the IEEE® Project 802 LAN/MAN Standards Committee (802 LMSC). The 802.11™ WG is one of several WGs reporting to the 802 LMSC. The 802.11 WG operates under the Policies and Procedures of IEEE® Project 802, LAN/MAN Standards Committee (ref. [rules3]) and the hierarchy of rules policies under which IEEE® Project 802 operates. In the event of any conflict between the Policies and Procedures of 802.11™ and the Policies and Procedures of IEEE® Project 802, the Policies and Procedures of IEEE® Project 802 take precedence.
The 802 LMSC Executive Committee (802 EC) directs the 802 LMSC. The 802 EC serves as the EC for both the sponsor ballot groups as well as the Standards Development Groups. 802 LMSC has been divided into WGs, Technical Advisory Groups (TAGs) and, on a temporary basis, Executive Committee Study Groups (EC SGs) to standardize technologies applicable to local and metropolitan area networks as shown in Figure 1.1.
Figure 1.1 – Project 802 Organizational Structure
A brief overview of the standards development process is provided in subclause 10.19.1 of this document. See also refs. [other1] and [other2].
2Working Group
2.1Function
The 802.11™ WG's charter is to develop Physical layer and MAC sub-layer specifications for wireless Local Area Networks (LANs) carried out under Project Authorization Requests (PAR) approved by the IEEE Standards Board and assigned to 802.11™ WG. Since the scope of standards work which comprises 802.11™ WG activity is widely dispersed in time, technology and structure, individual standards activities within 802.11™ WG are, at the discretion of the 802.11™ WG, carried out by Task Groups (TG) operating under, and reporting to, the 802.11™ WG. A TG may create sub-task groups (sub-committee) as specified in the latest version of Robert Rules of Order as necessary to accomplish the work of the TG.
The 802.11™ WG is chartered to:
- Maintain and revise the 802.11™ standard, amendments and recommended practices.
- Develop new standards in a reasonable time frame within the scope of the 802 LMSC.
- Forward these standards to International Standards Organization / International Engineering Consortium (ISO/IEC) JTC1.
- Maintain liaisons with other groups within 802 LMSC, and other relevant standards setting bodies and Radio Spectrum regulatory bodies.
The 802.11™ WG activities are administered by the WG Chair who is assisted in this task by the WG Chair Advisory Committee (CAC; see subclause 2.4).
The structure of 802.11™ WG is illustrated in Figure 2.1.1
Figure 2.1.1 –WG 802.11™ WG Organizational Structure
2.2Precedence of Policies and Procedures
The rules governing WG Functions, Chair and Vice-Chair, Membership, meetings and the operation of a WG are provided by the Policies and Procedures of IEEE® Project 802 and the hierarchy of rules under which IEEE® Project 802 operates. These rules are all included in this document by reference and are not reproduced here; however the reader is encouraged to become familiar with these rules in addition to the rules provided in this document. If 802.11™ WG Policies and Procedures conflicts with the 802 Policies and Procedures, then the 802 Policies and Procedures shall take precedence.
The WG has its own Policies and Procedures and Bylaws as detailed above, and also adheres to Robert's Rules of Order for parliamentary procedures whilst running each session. Currently, we use the Robert's Rules of Order Newly Revised (Latest Published Edition), by Henry M. Robert (Editor),Sarah Corbin Robert,and William J. Evans (Editor) (ref. [rules4]). This book is available in paperback or hardback. The WG does not solely recommend or exclusively endorse this book, or any supplier. Other books on the subject are available commercially.
2.3Working Group Officers
The rules and procedures for the election of, and the terms served by, the WG Chair and Vice-Chair(s) are contained in the Policies and Procedures of IEEE® Project 802 (see ref. [rules3], 5.1.2). Removal of the WG Chair or Vice-Chair(s) is also covered by this document (see ref. [rules3], 5.1.4.5). The activities of the officers are described in subclause 2.3.10.
2.3.1Working Group Chair
As stated in 802 rules, the Chair of the WG is responsible for presiding over WG Plenary sessions. As specified in Robert’s Rules of Order, tThe Chair only votes on matters before the WG in cases where a deciding vote must be cast.
2.3.2Working Group Vice-Chair(s)
In the event that there are multiple WG Vice-Chairs, the WG Chair shall designate a first WG Vice-Chair at the time of election of the WG Vice-Chair(s). Unlike the WG Chair, except when acting in the capacity of the Chair, the WG Vice-Chair(s) normally vote and comment on issues with the same rights as all other voting members. Specific responsibilities of each WG Vice-Chair are designated by the WG Chair.
2.3.3Working Group Secretary
The WG Secretary is appointed by the WG Chair and confirmed by the WG. The minutes of meetings taken by the Secretary (or designee) are to be provided to the WG Chair in time to be available to the membership one week after close of each session.
The minutes of the meeting are to include documents produced by the voting process and document list. See Standards Companion (ref. [other1]) for details on content and form of minutes.
2.3.4Working Group Technical Editor
The WG Technical Editor is responsible for:
- Organizing, maintaining the draft standards in the format used by the IEEE® standards department.
- Prepare technical drafts following the editor’s guidelines in subclause 9.4
- Prepare an update of the draft standard as soon after a session as possible, as directed by the WG.
- Proof read and coordinates changes of documents edited by IEEE® staff.
- Send the WG Chair the following:
- The Adobe Acrobat portable document format (PDF) file of the standard. (ref.[other3])
- A word processing document file in a format that is acceptable by the IEEE® standards department.
2.3.5Working Group Treasurer
The WG Treasurer is responsible for the financial operations of the Working Group and the Working Group treasury. This shall include, but is not limited to overseeing the collection, disbursal and retention of all Working Group funds, the creation and supervision of budgets for Working Groups hosted interim sessions, ensuring that disbursements are made only for approved expenses and the generation and submission of all financial reports and audit packages.
2.3.6Working Group Officer Election Process
The election of the IEEE 802.11 WG Officers (Chair and Vice-Chairs) is held in March of each even-numbered year. The nominations for the election shall be held at the WG Opening Plenary meeting. The WG Chair shall designate one of the WG Vice-Chairs as an Acting Chair Pro Tem if the WG Chair is running for re-election. If not running for re-election, the WG Chair shall conduct the election process. This election process shall be used for each WG officer election.
- The Acting Chair shall open the floor for nominations.
- The Acting Chair shall close nominations after the nominations have been made..
- Each candidate shall be given a short time (nominally, two minutes) for an introductory statement of acceptance that should nominally contain the candidate’s:
- Summary of qualifications
- Commitment to participate and accept duties and responsibilities
- Vision for the WG.
- The floor shall be opened for discussion (nominally for five-ten minutes total).
- The Acting Chair should limit the duration of comments and promote open participation, both pros and cons. If only one candidate is nominated, the Acting Chair may choose to sharply limit the debate.
- The discussion shall be repeated, with the WG Chair leading the process for the nomination(s) of the WG Vice-Chair(s).
- At the Mid-Plenary meeting, the WG Officers shall conduct the election, count the votes, and notify the membership of the results.
- Voting tokens shall be used to cast valid votes during the session.
- In order to be elected, any candidate must receive a simple majority (over 50%) of the votes cast in the election for the respective position.
- Should no candidate receive a majority in the election, a runoff election shall be held at the WG Closing Plenary meeting. The process shall be similar to the initial election, except that:
- New nominations shall not be permitted.
- In the runoff election, the nominated candidate having received the fewest votes in the previous election round shall not be an eligible candidate (in case a tie prevents this possibility, all the nominated candidates shall remain eligible).
- If the process is inconclusive, another runoff shall be held, as in the point above.
- Should a runoff process not lead to the election of a Vice-Chair, the election may be deferred to the next WG session, at the Chair’s discretion. However, every reasonable effort should be made to conclude the election of the Chair.
2.3.7Working Group Chair Succession
In the event that the WG Chair is unable to perform the duties, and has not designated a temporary proxy from the WG Vice-Chair(s), the first WG Vice-Chair shall take the lead and perform all duties of the WG Chair until such time that the WG Chair can return to his post or an election is held if the WG Chair is permanently unable to return to the post. The Acting Chair will consult with the 802 LMSC Chair regarding the election process to verify the 802 LMSC rules that may apply. The new election will be held for the remaining portion of the current WG Chair’s Term at the first plenary session.
2.3.8Public Relations and Marketing Communications
The Chair and Vice-Chairs shall be the sole point of contact for all official IEEE 802.11 marketing communications and public relations with industry technical journals, editors, press, other industry media bodies, and government bodies. The Chair will be assisted in these duties by the WG Publicity Chair.
2.3.9Liaisons
Liaison relationships are established with other groups within 802 LMSC, other relevant standards setting bodies, industry promotional bodies, Special Interest Groups (SIGs), and Radio Spectrum regulatory bodies (liaison groups). Liaisons shall be recommended by the WG Chair and confirmed by the vote of the WG. Liaisons shall be reconfirmed each year at the July 802 plenary. Liaisons will be granted voting rights upon confirmation of their liaison status in 802.11™ and will seek to be granted voting rights in their respective liaison groups.
2.3.9.1Liaison Roles and Responsibilities:
- Liaisons are responsible for providing updates and status reports to the WG at plenary and interim sessions. If a liaison does not provide this in two consecutive sessions, then the WG Chair may withdraw the liaison responsibility from the concerned individual. The WG Chair recommends a replacement as necessary.
- Liaisons cannot pass on responsibilities, nor have other individuals represent their post without having WG or WG Chair approval.
- Liaisons have the same voting rights, privileges and obligations as 802.11™ voting members. Liaisons are given 802.11™ WG attendance credit for attending liaison group meetings that are concurrent with 802.11™ WG sessions.
- Liaisons shall be empowered to report status of the WG developments to their respective liaison groups, and shall report back to the WG the status of the liaison group at interim and plenary sessions.
2.3.10Recommended Activities for Working Group Officers
2.3.10.1WG Chair
Before session tasks, but not limited to:
- Submit agenda items for the opening Executive Committee meeting (a week before the meeting).
- Attend the opening Executive Committee meeting.
- Report the status of the WG to the plenary 802 meeting.
During session tasks, but not limited to:
- Conduct full WG meetings.
- Assign task of document control and collection.
- Check the mailbox for Executive Committee members regularly.
- Keep Executive Committee members informed as early as possible about 802.11™ matters requiring approval at their closing 802 EC night meeting.
- Submit the list of voters to the meeting organizers.
Update Mailing list on computer and prepare attendance list for distribution on the file server by the day before the closing plenary of the WG.