Association for Computing Machinery

Special Interest Group on Communications

Welcome to the World Wide Web Home page for ACM SIGCOMM

(If you wish to go directly to the CCR back issue archive, click directly on the SIGCOMM Logo Icon above)

SIGCOMM is a professional forum for the discussion of issues in the field of data communications and computer networks. Current emphases are on the architectures, protocols, design, analysis, measurement, maintenance, regulatory policy, standards, applications, and social impact of computer networks and computer communications systems.

MEMBERSHIP

The members of SIGCOMM are active in the development of new computer communication technologies and techniques. Participation in this community will provide you with access to current thinking and research and an opportunity to contribute to an ongoing discussion about the role of computers in communications and the role of communications in computing.

SIGCOMM has over 4000 members with a significant international constituency. About 10% of the membership are students.

If you would like to consider becoming a member of SIGCOMM, here is a membership form in postscript, which you can print, fill out, and mail to ACM Headquarters.

Members receive the Computer Communication Review (CCR) quarterly. CCR fills a unique niche in the spectrum of computer communications literature. Back Issues of CCR are available on this WWW archive from which you can retrieve papers which were submitted for publication in electronic form.

CCR has a strong emphasis on quick publication of interesting technical work, even if the work is still in progress, thereby keeping the SIGCOMM membership current with state-of-the-art research.
Despite the tight publication schedule, every CCR article is reviewed by experts in the field before publication.
As a regular feature, CCR tracks the status of major international standards in data networking.
CCR provides a variety of additional services, such as bibliographies of recent publications in other journals, book reviews, workshop reports, calls for papers, and general news of the data networking field.
CCR has a strong commitment to helping first-time authors with interesting research ideas get their work into print; new authors can get extra editorial assistance in preparing their paper for publication.
CCR features guest columns by experts in the field.

ANNUAL TECHNICAL SYMPOSIUM AND TUTORIALS:

The annual SIGCOMM Technical Symposium is recognized as the premier conference on computer networks and communications. As a SIGCOMM member, you will automatically receive a copy of the proceedings without charge. The Technical Symposium is a 3-day opportunity to hear thirty of the very best papers on the many subjects that span the area.

Several tutorials are offered in conjunction with the Technical Symposium. These provide a cost-effective way for conference participants and local professionals to learn about advances in the field.

ACTIVITIES SUPPORTED BY SIGCOMM

Additional conferences and journals are also sponsored by SIGCOMM to support the variety of interests in the field. Recent examples include:

Conference on Computers, Freedom, and Privacy,: an annual interdisciplinary conference that brings together experts, advocates, and interested people to discuss our rights and responsibilities in the use of computers and telecommunications.
Multimedia '93,: ACM's first international conference on multimedia in computing and communications, supported by six special interest groups.
Transactions on Networking,: a refereed professional journal, published by ACM in conjunction with two IEEE societies.

SIGCOMM AWARDS:

The annual SIGCOMM Award, presented at the SIGCOMM Technical Symposium, recognizes lifetime contribution to the field of communication networks. The past recipients are:

1989: Paul Baran,: in recognition of his early 1960s conception of packet switching as a foundation for an all- digital , computer-controlled, survivable nation- wide network.
1990: David D. Clark,: in recognition of his major contributions to internet protocol and architecture.
1990: Leonard Kleinrock,: in recognition of his seminal role in developing methods for analyzing packet network technology.
1991: Hubert Zimmerman,: for 20 years of leadership in the development of computer networking and the advancement of international standardization.
1992: Sandy Fraser,: for pioneering concepts, such as virtual circuit switching, space-division packet switching, and window flow control.
1993: Robert Kahn,: for visionary technical contributions and leadership in the development of information systems technology.

Student Paper Awards are also given to outstanding student papers accepted for the technical symposium.

PHILOSOPHY:

The ACM Special Interest Group on Data Communication had its origins in the early 1970s when computer communication was recognized as a major focus of research attention. It was in this era that packet switching emerged as the technology most favored to support terminal-host and host-host communication. In that same period, the cost and size of computers began a precipitous drop, culminating in the successive development of personal, laptop, notebook, and palmtop computers.

The members of SIGCOMM share a common interest in the use of networking to increase the utility and ubiquity of computing. Their interests are diverse, ranging from the theory, modelling, and analysis of computer networks and protocols, to the practical implementation and operation of local, metropolitan, and wide area computer networks. Applications are as much a part of the SIGCOMM interest as theory and practice of underlying network design.

SIGCOMM Executive Committee

A. Lyman Chapin: Chairman
Raj Jain: Vice Chairman
Chris Edmondson-Yurkanan: Secretary-Treasurer
David Oran: Editor
Vinton G. Cerf: Past Chairman

For more information about past officers, award winners, and other notables, click here for a one-page summary in postscript. __________________________________________________________________________

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