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IEEE 802.3 launches three new projects to grow standard relevance

January 21, 2014 – IEEE has initiated three new standards-development projects and an IEEE Standards Association (IEEE-SA) Industry Connections activity that all intend to expand the capabilities and relevance of the IEEE 802.3 Standard for Ethernet. In particular, work is underway to amend the standard so that it is more useful in emerging application areas, said the organization.

Initially developed to standardize connectivity for devices inside a local area network (LAN), IEEE 802.3 touches on technologies, such as data centre networks, personal computers, laptops, tablets, smartphones, subscriber access, cellular backhaul, power infrastructure and smart meters, personal medical devices and the Internet of Things.

The three new standards-development projects are:

• IEEE P802.3br Draft Standard for Ethernet Amendment Specification and Management Parameters for Interspersing Express Traffic will address the market need in emerging IEEE 802.3 ethernet application areas such as audio/video, automotive, industrial automation and transportation to cost-effectively converge low-latency and best-effort traffic streams on the same physical connections. Currently, such functionality requires multiple networks with parallel links, but, when completed, IEEE P802.3br would amend the base standard to support interspersed express traffic, said IEEE.

• IEEE P802.3bt Draft Standard for Ethernet Amendment: Physical Layer and Management Parameters for DTE Power via MDI over 4-Pair will address the market need for more robust and efficient Power over Ethernet (PoE) capabilities. Applications such as pan/tilt/zoom security cameras, Internet Protocol (IP) videophones, kiosks, point-of-sale (POS) terminals, thin clients, multi-radio wireless nodes and access points, laptop computers, RFID readers and building management have demonstrated need for more power, said IEEE.

• IEEE P802.3bu Draft Standard for Ethernet Amendment: Physical Layer and Management Parameters for 1-Pair Power over Data Lines is being developed to extend PoE to data terminal equipment (DTE) via a single twisted pair IEEE 802.3 ethernet connection.

As well, the IEEE 802.3 Industry Connections NG-EPON Ad Hoc has been launched to explore the market potential and technology options for an NG-EPON operating at data rates beyond 10 Gigabit per second (10Gbps). EPON is deployed for various applications, including residential and commercial subscriber access (for voice, video and data) and mobile backhaul.