Dear TC6 members,
This is a short report about the decisions taken in the IFIP Technical Assembly (TA) directly concerned with TC6. The TA took place in Beijing after our meeting. I send you the information directly extracted from the TA report written by the TA chair, Dr. Robert Aiken.
"Approved new name for WG6.1 - Architectures and Protocols for Distributed Systems. Approved restructuring for WGs 6.2, 6.4, 6.6, 6.7, 6.8 and 6.10. TC6 chair will revise statements of "Aims and Scope" for these WGs and submit them to Jack Rosenfeld for editorial review. These new "Aims and Scope" will be brought back to TA for final approval. Gave provisional approval for establishment of a new WG, WG6.11 on Electronic Commerce - Communication Systems.
Regarding WG6.11: TA provided a number of suggestions for the re-wording of the "Aims and Scope". It was agreed that the name and text should make it clear that this WG focuses on the communication issues of Electronic Commerce (EC), TC6 was encouraged to provide the re-worked document at the next TA (nb. Other TCs with an interest in EC were encouraged to identify in their name and "Aims and Scope" the distinctive features of their TCs involvment with EC)."
My comments: basically our proposals for restructuring of the WGs were approved. However, the problem we had already identified in our meeting was also referred in the TA, i.e. the need to have a uniform description of the WG' aims and scope. This will be done by TC6 in the near future. Concerning WG 6.11, we should focus on the Communication aspects of EC. TC8 announced they would like to have a WG on the Information Systems aspects of EC but it was not formally proposed yet. However, the collaboration among TC6, TC8 and TC11 for the joint conference is going on very well and I feel it is the way to go.
On the WCC'2002, the organisers agreed with our proposals for the Communications track. Therefore, I asked Lyman Chapin to chair that track, according to the recommendation of TC6 in Beijing, who kindly accepted and now he is in charge.
Best regards
Augusto