REPORT ON THE OPEN COMMISSION MEETINGS (BUSINESS MEETINGS)
Chair : Professor P.H. Wittke (Canada)
Vice-Chair : Professor B.J. Evans (United Kingdom)
Professor Wittke welcomed delegates and provided the agenda.
1. Introduction and report on 1994 - 96
Commsphere
Dr. J. Shapira presented the background to the Commsphere meetings.
This conference met in 1989, 1991 and 1995. It was never intended to become a
regular meeting, but rather a discussion forum which would endeavour to bring
different disciplines together. It aims to provide a bridge between
technologists and administrators, as well as between administrators and
industry.
It does aim to arrange plenary sessions on hot topics.
Typically:
This is a joint Commission C and D meeting in between two URSI General Assemblies. Meetings in 1989 Germany, 1992 Paris and 1995 San Francisco - typically 200 attendees. "C" allocated $4,000 and it made a profit which has been returned in the form of young scientist awards. Total budget is about $80,000. An Inter Commission Steering Committee was agreed upon, which would include three members each from from Commissions C and D. Commission Chairs would be ex-officio members of this Committee.
2. Elections
Chairmanship and Vice -Chairmanship.
There were four nominees for these functions : Bonek, Dutta Roy, Lucas and
Shishkov
Appointment of Tellers : Delogne and Geher
Were chosen : Chairman: Lucas,
Vice-Chairman: Bonek
3. Publications
Radio Science Bulletin : Professor Tartar has undertaken the responsibility of Associate Editor for Commission C.
Review of Radio Science 1999 : Professor Bonek has undertaken the responsibility of Editor for Commission C.
Feedback on publications - requested nationally.
Author Disc will depend on developments.
4. Terms of Reference for Commission C
There were no recommendations for change, but there was a general feeling that each meeting (General Assembly or in between) should have a definite focus.
5. Future General Assemblies
Length
Feeling ranged across the spectrum - consensus probably centred on a solid week
of business which could usefully include a weekend.
Session topics and convenors
Discussions have been held with Commission F with the likely aim for two joint
sessions on mobile radio topics which would NOT be paralleled by either
Commission.
There is the possibility of a joint session with Commission G on HF radio.
There are a number of international programs on Ionosphere propagation and
systems.
Commission F is keen for a session on Modulation techniques, with particular
emphasis on the suppression of intermodulation products.
6. Budget
Sponsorship of meetings
The Commission is really obligated to support meetings between General Assemblies, for example ISSSE, Commsphere and a possible joint workshop with F. The Commission is also interested in the possibility of sponsoring the presentation of a high power lecture in a number of developing countries.
7. Other Business
Professor Lucas proposed a motion of immense appreciation to Professor Wittke for his outstanding contributions during the triennium. This was passed with acclaim.
The goal of the new Chairman will be to thoroughly involve all national "C" representatives in developments and debates during the next triennium. He would like to see each of those representatives attend and contribute to the sessions at the next GA in Toronto.
The Commission will establish good e-mail contacts as well as develop a site for Commission C on the World Wide Web.
SCIENTIFIC PROGRAMME
At Lille the lecture program addressed the general status of issues associated
with mobile communication.
The program for Commission "C" commenced on Thursday August 29 with the
tutorial lecture by Professor R.L. Pickholtz, which provided a comprehensive
review of the state of the art of low earth orbiting satellites. This has been
included in the 1996 edition of Modern Radio Science edited by J. Hamelin.
"Multiple user satellite techniques" were then explored, and this topic was
followed by a lively session on mobile and personal communications. The
challenges and opportunities of personal communications in North America were
discussed with several standards vying for market share, specifically in the
1900 MHz band.
The opportunities of seamless mobile services which combine DECT at home and in
the workplace with GSM while on the move were discussed.
The new angular or space domain for multiple access was discussed with its
potential for a 300 to 400% increase in capacity. The associated problems and
limitations were described.
The achievement of the EC project "SAINT" in extending functionalities defined
for terrestrial mobile radio by project MONET to satellite services.
NTT plans for a 3rd generation mobile system which would employ a flexible high
bit rate CDMA interface were described.
The Korean CDMA system which is in commercial operation was discussed, together
with their plans for a new air interface to ITU-R.
ETSI's policy in the evolution of second generation GSM to third generation
UMTS was described. The enormous growth in the GSM customer base to some 20
million world wide was noed, together with and the way that Phase 2 GSM
developments will preempt many desirable features of UMTS/IMT 2000.
There is doubt whether standardisation procedures which have worked so well in
the past will be able to cope with the challenges of Internet development. An
important contribution was reported on development of ultra low power RF IC
technologies for mobile use.
New work on channel coding was discussed, together with proposals for new
modulation schemes.
A very interesting session considered recent developments in millimetre and sub
millimetre devices and their applications, which was later supported by
consideration of systems which integrate microwaves and light waves.
The program concluded with a joint session which considered the important
effects of Electromagnetic interference.
Commission C organised the following Scientific Sessions :
The Commission further participated in the following joint sessions :