IEEE 802.11 Research Engagement Summary 2021

September 2021 doc.: IEEE 802.11-21/1423r0 802/802.11 and Research engagement Date: 2021-09-09 Authors: Name Dorothy Stanley Affiliations HP Enterprise Address Phone email dorothy.stanley@hpe.com stephen.mccann@ieee.org Stephen McCann Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd Futurewei Technologies, Inc. Qualcomm lei.wang1@futurewei.com Lei Wang jlansfor@qti.qualcomm.com Jim Lansford Submission Slide 1 D. Stanley, HP Enterprise

September 2021 doc.: IEEE 802.11-21/1423r0 Abstract This document provides - A summary of the 802 related discussion on research engagement, and the 802.11 focused discussion. - Objective: Obtain 802.11 WG input to 802 discussions. Submission Slide 2 D. Stanley, HP Enterprise

September 2021 doc.: IEEE 802.11-21/1423r0 Motivation for 802 level research engagement discussion (EC) Belief that 802 needs to be more proactive in engaging researchers It will benefit the 802 community to being in new ideas, researchers to increase innovation. Discussion initiated by Paul Nikolich (802 LMSC Chair), see See https://mentor.ieee.org/802-ec/dcn/21/ec-21-0171-00-00EC-notes-802-restructuring-ad-hoc- meeting-20-july-2021.docx : Nikolich noted that he has been working with Jim Lansford, George Zimmerman, and Francesco Restuccia (of Northeastern University) on ideas to consider long-range planning processes in IEEE 802, in addition to the ongoing bottom-up driven approach, to identify and address new ideas in need of standardization. The proposed a coordinated 802 next-generation activity at the July Plenary, with details specified in slide 6 of ec-21-0168-01-00EC.pptx that would be organized by George Zimmerman. The meeting was not held due to insufficient time to prepare and organize it. There was discussion regarding how to structure such a meeting (time allocation, when to convene, etc.) and the strategic (coordination of 802 future looking activities across groups) and outreach (attract academic and industrial researchers) elements perhaps should be separated. There was further discussion on the long-term viability of such activity because the gap from research to product development is large and 802 activities are mostly driven by product development and near-term market needs. A coordinated 802 next generation activity is targeted to be convened during or around the November plenary session time frame, somewhat dependent if the session will be 100% electronic or mixed mode. 802 EC Status: Work for November 2021 session is ongoing. Submission Slide 3 D. Stanley, HP Enterprise

September 2021 doc.: IEEE 802.11-21/1423r0 802.11 WG research engagement 802.11 WG activities are primarily contribution driven. Have had research related presentations in the past, and continue to welcome them going forward. WLAN Sensing came in based on research work Full Duplex came into WNG, TIG was formed, no subsequent Study Group, as Full Duplex technology was deemed at that time not ready for specification. Look at Full Duplex again? Observations: 802.11 goals: Market driven features in products, not a research organization; however need to know initiatives, technologies on the horizon Interaction with researchers IS happening at a company level on an ongoing basis. Sweet spot is technology that is productizable in 3-5 years. More than 5 years out is usually not of high enough priority for 802 standardization. Submission Slide 4 D. Stanley, HP Enterprise

September 2021 doc.: IEEE 802.11-21/1423r0 Can 802.11 improve our outreach/engagement with the research community? Generally, always room for process improvement. Electronic meetings do offer greater accessibility to attend. Leverage the situation we are currently in (electronic) Primary venue is WNG SC; Focus on standardization that is needed Can use other fora, for example workshops, co-sponsor with an IEEE society Identify topics and consider call for interest on specific topics. Observation: Timing is a factor. Towards the later phases of a project (for example 11ax/11be), members start bringing in presentations of new mechanisms for standard consideration. Submission Slide 5 D. Stanley, HP Enterprise

September 2021 doc.: IEEE 802.11-21/1423r0 Thank you! Q&A/ Discussion Submission Slide 6 D. Stanley, HP Enterprise

September 2021 doc.: IEEE 802.11-21/1423r0 Potential Topics of interest. Others? Full Duplex Operation Revisit (a known challenge for low power devices) Using Artificial Intelligence to improve WLAN performance, management What components need 802.11 standardization? 802.11 IoT support extension beyond 11n, 11ac, 11ax, 11be, 11ah Lower channel bandwidths? 11ah, 11ba, lower power Terahertz operation (802.15.3d-2017 defines 300GHz fixed point-point links) Machine Learning for Receiver operation Evolution and directions for WLANs what is after TGbe? mmWave Beamforming technology (Francesco Restuccia (Northeastern University): DeepBeam: Deep Waveform Learning) 802.11 Private, dedicated spectrum networks Coexistence techniques and coexistence evolution Slide 7 Submission D. Stanley, HP Enterprise

September 2021 doc.: IEEE 802.11-21/1423r0 References Submission Slide 8 D. Stanley, HP Enterprise