During IETF 83 in Paris, France, six Internet Research Task Force (IRTF) research groups (RGs) held meetings:
• NCRG—Network Complexity
• MOBOPTS—IP Mobility Optimizations
• DTNRG—Delay-Tolerant Networking
• ICCRG—Internet Congestion Control
• SAMRG—Scalable Adaptive Multicast
• CFRG—Crypto Forum
In addition, the Network Management research group (NMRG) met at a one-day workshop on the “Usage of Netflow/IPFIX in Network Management” on the Saturday following the IETF meeting.
Since IETF 82, the Network Complexity research group (NCRG) was chartered. Its first meeting was held in Paris during IETF 83. The NCRG aims to define and analyze the complexity of IP-based networks. Areas of interest include defining “network complexity” and relevant metrics, methods, and ideas to contain, control, or reduce complexity in IP-based networks, as well as collecting use cases regarding specific network designs or failure cases where complexity played a role. The group’s charter is available at http://irtf.org/ncrg.
Also, the Network Virtualization (VNRG) research group has decided to close, due to lack of energy and participation.
On the IRTF RFC Stream, three new RFCs were published since IETF 82, one from the Anti-Spam research group (ASRG), and two from the Host Identity Protocol research group (HIPRG).
No IRTF open meeting was held at IETF 83. The IRTF open meeting is the venue where awardees of the Applied Networking Research Prize (ANRP) deliver their invited talks. Because no ANRPs were awarded for IETF 83, no award talks needed to be scheduled. As announced in the previous issue of this column, the ANRP selection committee has decided to move from a nomination/selection cycle per IETF meeting to a yearly nomination/selection cycle covering all the year’s IETF meetings. Consequently, 2012 is a transition year for the ANRP, and one effect of the transition was the decision to skip the award for IETF 83.
ANRPs will be awarded for IETF 84 in Vancouver, Canada, and IETF 85 in Atlanta, Georgia, U.S.A. The combined nomination/selection cycle for these two IETF meetings in 2012 has begun!
The ANRP is awarded for recent results in applied networking research that are relevant for transitioning into shipping Internet products and related standardization efforts. It is supported by the Internet Society in coordination with the IRTF. See http://irtf.org/anrp for details on the award and instructions for nominating researchers for the prize.
Finally, the IRTF has adopted guidelines for handling intellectual property rights in contributions. In a nutshell, the IRTF follows the IETF Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) disclosure rules. Please seehttp://irtf.org/ipr. In summary, the IPR rules for IRTF participants are:
• If you include your own or your employer’s IPR in a contribution to an IRTF research group, then you must file an IPR disclosure with the IETF.
• If you recognize your own or your employer’s IPR in someone else’s contribution, and you are participating in the discussions in the research group relating to that contribution, then you must file an IPR disclosure with the IETF. Even if you are not participating in the discussion, the IRTF still requests that you file an IPR disclosure with the IETF.
• Finally, the IRTF requests that you file an IPR disclosure with the IETF if you recognize IPR owned by others in any IRTF contribution.
In closing, please join the IRTF discussion list (http://www.irtf.org/mailman/listinfo/irtf-discuss) to stay informed about these and other happenings.