Internet Research Task Force

Internet Research
Task Force
AbbreviationIRTF
PurposePromoting research into the evolution of the Internet.
Region served
Worldwide
IRTF Chair
Colin Perkins
Parent organization
Internet Architecture Board
Websiteirtf.org

The Internet Research Task Force (IRTF) is an organization, overseen by the Internet Architecture Board, that focuses on longer-term research issues related to the Internet. A parallel organization, the Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF), focuses on the shorter term issues of engineering and standards making.

The IRTF promotes research of importance to the evolution of the Internet by creating focused, long-term research groups working on topics related to Internet protocols, applications, architecture and technology.[1][2][3] Unlike the IETF, the task force does not set standards[4] and there is no explicit outcome expected of IRTF research groups.

Organization

The IRTF is composed of a number of focused and long-term research groups. These groups work on topics related to Internet protocols, applications, architecture and technology. Research groups have the stable long-term membership needed to promote the development of research collaboration and teamwork in exploring research issues. Participation is by individual contributors, rather than by representatives of organizations. The list of current groups can be found on the IRTF's homepage.

Operations

The IRTF is managed by the IRTF chair in consultation with the Internet Research Steering Group (IRSG). The IRSG membership includes the IRTF chair, the chairs of the various Research Groups and other individuals (members at large) from the research community selected by the IRTF chair. The chair of the IRTF is appointed by the Internet Architecture Board (IAB) for a two-year term.

These individuals have chaired the IRTF:

The IRTF chair is responsible for ensuring that research groups produce coherent, coordinated, architecturally consistent and timely output as a contribution to the overall evolution of the Internet architecture. In addition to the detailed tasks related to research groups outlined below, the IRTF chair may also from time to time arrange for topical workshops attended by the IRSG and perhaps other experts in the field.

The RFC Editor publishes documents from the IRTF and its research groups on the IRTF stream.[5][6][7]

IRSG

The IRTF is managed by the IRTF chair in consultation with the Internet Research Steering Group (IRSG). The IRSG membership includes the IRTF chair, the chairs of the various IRTF research groups and other individuals (members at large) from the research or IETF communities. IRSG members at large are chosen by the IRTF chair in consultation with the rest of the IRSG and on approval by the Internet Architecture Board.

In addition to managing the research groups, the IRSG may from time to time hold topical workshops focusing on research areas of importance to the evolution of the Internet,[8] or more general workshops to, for example, discuss research priorities from an Internet perspective.

The IRSG also reviews and approves documents published as part of the IRTF document stream.[6]

See also

References

  1. ^ "Acronyms and Terms". www.icann.org. Retrieved 2021-07-13.
  2. ^ "Internet Research Task Force". Internet Society. Retrieved 2021-07-13.
  3. ^ "Definition of Internet Research Task Force". PCMAG. Retrieved 2021-07-13.
  4. ^ "Differences between IRTF and IETF Groups". IAB Thoughts on the Role of the Internet Research Task Force (IRTF). sec. 2.1. doi:10.17487/RFC4440. RFC 4440.
  5. ^ A. Weinrib; J. Postel (October 1996). IRTF Research Group Guidelines and Procedures. Network Working Group. doi:10.17487/RFC2014. BCP 8. RFC 2014. Best Current Practice.
  6. ^ a b A. Falk (December 2009). Definition of an Internet Research Task Force (IRTF) Document Stream. Internet Research Task Force (IRTF). doi:10.17487/RFC5743. ISSN 2070-1721. RFC 5743. Informational.
  7. ^ R. Housley; L. Daigle, eds. (February 2020). The RFC Series and RFC Editor. Internet Architecture Board. doi:10.17487/RFC8729. RFC 8729. Informational. Obsoletes RFC 4844.
  8. ^ Stevenson, Doug (2023-02-02). "Is Starlink as Fast as Fiber? What the Tests Show". blinqblinq.com. Retrieved 2023-04-16.