Liaison statement
Liaison to IETF Babel WG on Alternative Path Selection Protocol

The IEEE 802.11 WG understands that there is interest within the IETF BABEL
Working Group to specify a variation of the BABEL protocol and/or BABEL link
metrics for use in IEEE 802.11 standard based mesh systems.

While the IEEE 802.11 WG has no view on whether such an activity is justified
or not, the IEEE 802.11 WG has no objection to such work being undertaken in
the IETF. Such work is possible because the IEEE 802.11 standard was designed
to enable the development of a variety of mesh path selection protocols and/or
link metrics to extend the range of conditions for which an IEEE 802.11 mesh is
suitable.

It was intended that path selection protocols could be developed independently
of the IEEE 802.11 Working Group. If allocation of any IEEE 802.11 code points
is found to be beneficial for a BABEL based path selection protocol for mesh,
such code points must be allocated through the IEEE 802.11 ANA (Assigned Number
Authority) mechanism to avoid conflict. Approval of such allocations will be
considered by the IEEE 802.11 WG upon request.

The IEEE 802.11 WG appreciates the interest of the BABEL WG in IEEE 802.11
mesh. Should you undertake this work, please keep us appraised of your progress.

For your reference, IEEE Std 802.11-2020 is the current version of the IEEE
802.11 Standard.

Please contact me as chairman of the IEEE 802.11 Working Group and Peter Yee as
IEEE 802.11 to IETF Liaison Officer for further information.