PIMRC 2000
18-21 September 2000
PIMRC TODAY
Today our conference enjoys wide respect and represents a new trend in international conferences, one which is well suited to the evolving global market. PIMRC is uniquely identified by the following features:
- Balance among academia, industry, and governmental organisations
- Truly international technical program endorsed by IEEE, IEE, and IEICE
- Flexible organisation tailored to the conference venue
- Personal touch and care by the area coordinators, executive committee members and a group of faithful individuals
The major reason for the success of the conference is the simplicity and practicality of the organization, which has created a productive and friendly environment with minimal administrative delays. Our main goal is the continuing betterment of the conference and we believe we can achieve this only by respecting and rewarding those who have a proven record of positive contributions to PIMRC.
HOW DID PIMRC EVOLVE?
| PIMRC'95 | PIMRC'96 | PIMRC'97 | PIMRC'98 | PIMRC'99 |
Photo of the first PIMRC in London
The foundation for PIMRC was a 1989 workshop on Mobile Communications organized by Prof Aghvami of King's College London with the cooperation of the local IEEE Communication Society Chapter. Fewer than 100 people participated in that workshop, which offered one tutorial (by Prof K Pahlavan) and about thirty technical papers. The workshop was a successful experience for this new industry that was about to explode. In 1990, King's College organized a similar conference under the name ISSSTA. Two new tutorials were added, more papers were attracted, and the results were again very encouraging.
The first PIMRC, as an international symposium, also took place in King's College, with joint sponsorship of the local IEEE Communication Society Chapter and close cooperation with BT laboratories. Dr Rowbotham, director of BT Labs, was the honorary chairman, Prof Aghvami was the organizer and the TPC chair while Dr Kato and Prof Pahlavan were the area coordinators in Far East and North America, respectively. The presence of a general chair with a high position in the industry attracted more industrial participation and the area coordinators located in different continents helped to attract more geographically diversified participation and revealed a true international character for the conference. The conference attracted around 200 people and several prominent figures in the industry such as Don Cox, Thomas Haug, Jan Uddenfeldt, and Don Schilling. That year the industry had advanced significantly - GSM was passing the test phase, QUALCOMM had introduced its technology and digital cellular and PCS ideas were being debated all around the world. Several wireless LAN products were about to appear in the market, and RAM Mobile introduced the MOBITEX technology to the US.
In 1992, PIMRC was scheduled for Boston. Dr Decker, VP of research at GTE Laboratories (currently president of GTE labs) was the general chairman, Prof K Pahlavan was the organizer and TCP chair and Prof Aghvami and Dr Kato were the area coordinators. In addition to the famous figures which participated in the previous year, we were able to attract others such as: Viterbi, Buschulte, Mikolski, Kohyama, Russell, Freeburg, Falconer, Arnbak, and others. The conference attracted more than 500 people from more than 25 different countries and almost all the major figures in the cellular, PCS, wireless LAN, and mobile data industries participated in the conference. Direct cash contributions, secretarial and organizational help mainly from GTE labs, and to an extent from NYNEX Mobile, allowed us to organize a low cost and prestigious conference. This conference was sponsored by the IEEE Boston Section, which has a strong history in organizing successful conferences and WPI. To reflect the true international spirit of the conference we invited IEEE Communication Society, IEE and IEICE to cooperate with the conference. IEEE ComSoc started the ICUPC conference in Dallas that year and the two conferences addressed almost identical audiences. However, with the help of GTE Labs, area coordinators and regular contributors, and with the organizational expertise of the IEEE Boston Section PIMRC was successful, as was ICUPC.
The most challenging task for PIMRC'93 in Yokohama was to attract a large audience to a Far East conference. With the ceaseless efforts of Dr Kato, the generous support of Japanese industry, the help of the area coordinators and the growing group of faithful supporters, we attracted over 500 people from more than 25 countries to attend a first-class conference in Japan. The quality and diversity of the panel discussions, invited talks, technical papers, as well as the organization of the conference, were well beyond our initial expectations.
The major concern for PIMRC'94 was that for the first time the conference was to be organized by people who were not as deeply involved as the area coordinators. For the first time we had to evaluate the qualifications of the organizers and to assess their abilities to continue the success of the conference. Prof Arnbak and Prof Prasad showed interest in organizing the conference at the Hague. Prof Prasad had been active in our technical program from the very beginning and he was aware of the enormous effort which is involved in the organization of such a conference. Prof. Arnbak was and is a prominent figure in the European telecommunication industry. This combination and the reputation of Delft University of Technology provided adequate assurance of success. They merged the conference with WCN and attracted 500 participants. Prof Prasad was the TCP chair of PIMRC and Prof Arnbak was the TCP chair of WCN. The conference was another success due to the efforts of Prof. Prasad and Prof Arnbak, the support of local industry, the help from the area coordinators and the group of faithful supporters of the conference.
In 1995 we had two candidates for the site, Toronto and Boston. Since Boston was the site in 1992, the area coordinators suggested that Toronto was also a very popular venue for conferences. Dr Sousa was the organizer and the TPC chair. Dr Sousa had been a contributor to the conference for many years and was aware of the responsibility. We attracted 600 people from more than thirty countries to present about 270 technical papers. The conference was strongly supported by the industry. In addition to the technical program, marketing and organization was first class and we were able to organize a reasonable exhibition. Mr John Roth, president and COO of Nortel North America, was the general chairman. The conference was greeted by a welcoming message from the Premier of Canada and the Mayor of Toronto, reflecting the importance of the event. The continuing success of PIMRC captured the attention of the IEEE Communication Society and for the first time they participated as a sponsor of the conference.
The following year, PIMRC'96 was held in Taipei with Prof K C Chen, another long time contributor to PIMRC, as the TCP chair and organizer. The general chair was shared by Prof Lin-shan Lee of the National Taiwan University and Dr Shuzo Kato, at the time, CEO of Uniden. This conference attracted more than 600 people from more than 35 different countries. The government of Taiwan provided generous support to subsidise parts of the costs and the Ministry of Education, Ministry of Economic Affairs, National Research Council, Directorate General of Telecommunications and several other national organizations helped us in organizing an exceptionally successful event.
PIMRC'97 was held in Helsinki, Finland and was organized by Prof Pentti Leppanen. The TPC chair was Prof Savo Glisic and the general Chair Dr Yrjo Neuvo, Senior Vice President of Research in Nokia Mobile Phones. A record 440 papers were received and we were forced to reject a significant number of papers. The conference attracted 500 participants from around forty countries. A special book was printed to include 20 invited papers to the conference. The conference was financially supported by Nokia, Telecomm Finland, Elektrobit and the Academy of Finland
In 1998, after a six year period PIMRC was held once again in Boston, a favourite conference venue in the Northeast US. The general chair was Dennis F Strigl, the president and CEO of the multi billion dollar company Bell Atlantic Mobile. Prof Kaveh Pahlavan was the organizer and TPC chair. The conference was greeted by a welcoming message from the Governor of Massachusetts and the Mayor of Boston, reflecting the importance of the event. The industry showed once more their interest in the conference and besides Bell Atlantic Mobile, GTE Laboratories, Analog Devices and Nokia sponsored the event. More than 500 people gathered at the prestigious Marriott Hotel, Copley Place where 300 technical papers, 18 invited papers, and 15 tutorials were being presented. On Wednesday, the conference opened by messages from the general chair, the TPC chair and the president of WPI and a high note was reached when distinguished guests participated in an executive panel which replaced the traditional keynote speech. Panels on IMT-2000, Future of Wireless Data Communications, and Radio Access for Third-Generation Mobile Systems, and a special presentation on "Bluetooth" were also very successful. Also that year, the attendees could gain access to their email and to the internet through an ad-hoc wireless LAN which was available in the exhibition area of the conference. Another innovation was the introduction of CD-ROM as conference proceedings.
PIMRC'99 was held in Osaka, Japan and attracted 600 delegates. There was a demonstration of Digital Terrestrial Broadcasting in the Kansai area (Osaka, Kyoto, Nara, Hyogo, Wakayama and Shiga Prefectures), Japan.
PIMRC2000 in London, UK will be cosponsored by the IEEE Communications Society, the IEEE UK&RI Communications Chapter and King's College London with technical support from the IEE and ACM.