The document outlines the IEEE Conformity Assessment Program (ICAP) for Siepon, detailing the need for conformity assessments to ensure products meet standards and instill consumer confidence. It describes various testing models (1st, 2nd, and 3rd party) and the roles of entities involved in the certification process. Additionally, it discusses the importance of interoperability in digital communications and the steps for achieving consistent certification and product validation.

1. IEEE Conformity Assessment
Program (ICAP) for SIEPON
Ravi Subramaniam – Technical
Director, ICAP
20 April 2012
Prague, Czech Republic
20 April 2012 1

2. Why Does SIEPON need a Conformity Assessment Program?
• Conformity assessment is the accepted way of
demonstrating that a product adheres to a
standard
• Opportunity for participants to demonstrate
adherence to Testing requirements
• IEEE 1904.1 standards based
• New Technology – Instill consumer or end-user
confidence
• Supports free flow of SIEPON related products
and services across national boundaries
• Increased adoption

3. 3 possible models
• 1st Party – Vendor
• 2nd Party – Buyer or
Independent
Lab
User
Buyer
• 3rd Party –
Vendor Independent Entity
Conformity Assessment
System
20 April 2012 3

4. 2nd Party Testing
IEEE/SIEPON
Certified • Logo Usage with TMLA
Product
Buyer or • ICAP Review Prior to Certification
• ICAP to Determine Surveillance
Network Needs
Operator Tested
• 2nd Party Lab tested
Product • Authorized Tools

5. 3rd Party Testing
SIEPON
Certified • Logo Usage with TMLA
Product
• Independent lab recommends for
3rd
Party Certification
• ICAP Issues Certification
Declaration • ICAP to Determine Surveillance Needs
• Authorized Labs
Product • 3rd Party Lab tested
• Authorized Tools

6. Self vs. 3rd Party Certification
• Speed of Implementation
• Time to Market
• Cost of Test Tools
• Vendor Misrepresentation
• Regulatory Risks
• End-Buyer confidence

7. Why interoperability is hard in digital communications?
Are the “1”s
and “0”s
Interoperability right?
Performance
Conformance
“Can you
hear me
Is transmission now?”
and reception
good enough?
20 April 2012 7

8. Considerations for a harmonized technical approach
• Harmonized test procedures, use cases and derived test sets
may enhance confidence in fielded interoperability
• There may be no clear regulatory or coordinated marketplace
demand driver to drive technical harmonization
• Lots of choices and unique system implementation – I am
special!
• Testing – “to infinity and beyond”
• performance
• digital conformance (may be lots of permutations)
• interoperability testing (for all equipment models –
software changes)
28 April 2012 8

9. SIEPON Certification Scheme
ISO/IEC Guide
65 Best Practices
Certification Authority
(ICAP)
ISO/IEC 17025 +
competency
requirements
Laboratories
Performance/Design
Requirements
Products
20 April 2012 9

10. Roles of Entities
ICAP (Certification Authority)
•Entry/Exit Point for Certification Process
•Policies & Procedures
•TMLA
•Test Labs Facilitation
•Market Certification Program
•Certified Product Registry
•Committee of Experts
P1904 WG Test Laboratories
• IEEE 1904 Standard • Independent
• Test Specification • 2nd Party
• Test bed/tools
implementation
IEEE
1904/SIEPON
Certified
Products

11. A Scenario to consider
Vendor submits
application to ICAP
ICAP – Initiates
ICAP publishes on
Certification
Certified Product
Agreement &
Registry
invoices vendor
SIEPON
Certification
ICAP delivers
Vendors choose
certificate and
lab from list of
authorizes logo
approved labs
usage
Test Lab delivers
Test Program
Final Test Report
starts at Test Lab
to ICAP for Review
20 April 2012 11

12. Role of Committee of Experts
• Entity based participation
• Major responsibilities will include
– Determine compliance levels
– Act as advisors on test methods and interpretation of
standards
– Test Lab Requirements/Audits
– Test Tool Validation
– Time required for implementation
– Validate Test Report template
20 April 2012 12

13. Current Labs that participate in WG
• CableLabs (3rd Party)
• RITT (3rd Party)
• Shanghai Institute of China Telecom (2nd Party)
• University of New Hampshire –Interoperability
Lab (3rd Party)
• Future Lab in Japan
20 April 2012 13

14. SIEPON Brand Awareness
• Tested products will be awarded a certification mark
• The “SIEPON Certified” mark will convey trust in
the device and the certification program.
• Drive to ensure that End-Users are committed to
purchase certified products to minimize negative
impact on the network
• Certified Product Registry to be maintained
20 April 2012 14

15. Questions & Discussion
20 April 2012 15