Overview
ISO 15662:2006 - "Intelligent transport systems - Wide area communication - Protocol management information" is an ISO/TC 204 guidance standard that defines a structured checklist of protocol management information (PMI) for ITS application services. It helps designers, integrators and service providers decide how to handle messages, initialize links, and select suitable wide area communication systems. The standard is intended as a framework for message headers, payload items, system design checklists and communication-system selection - not necessarily as a mandatory on-the-wire message format.
Key topics and technical requirements
- Definition of Protocol Management Information: PMI is a set of informational items to be considered when handling ITS messages and selecting communication resources. PMI items are described abstractly (location, granularity and encoding left to implementers).
- Selection of communication system: Core PMI elements to match service needs with communication capabilities:
- Responsiveness - required response time / allowable delay (examples: within 1 s, 30 s, 1 min, 15 min, ≥15 min).
- Directionality - unidirectional or bidirectional; symmetric or asymmetric (interactive large uplink / large downlink).
- Usage environment - transport mode and movement speed (examples: vehicle, public transport, pedestrian; speed categories: fast, medium, slow, stopped).
- Service area - spatial range and continuity (continuous area, linear continuity, non-continuous locations).
- Service time - start/end times or continuous availability.
- Bandwidth - required capacity and data format (text, audio, image, video).
- Other PMI domains: Application identifiers, addressing, priority, security and application execution requirements are specified as checklist items (structure in normative Annex A; data types in Annex B).
- Protocol artifacts: Example ASN.1 object identifiers are provided for PMI items; Annexes C–D cover usage examples and extraction guidance.
Practical applications
- Selecting and configuring wide area communication technologies to meet ITS service constraints (latency, throughput, coverage, directionality).
- Designing message headers and payloads that carry metadata required for service selection, handover and continuity.
- Creating system design checklists for Service Centres, terminals (smartphones, navigation units, in-vehicle systems) and network operators.
- Supporting handover and service provisioning decisions where users and terminals move across networks or change transport modes.
Who should use this standard
- ITS architects and system integrators
- Communication engineers and network planners
- ITS application working groups and service providers
- Equipment vendors implementing ITS message handling or header metadata
- Public authorities and regulators specifying ITS service requirements
Related standards
- Normative reference: ISO 14817 (ITS/TICS central Data Registry and Data Dictionaries)
- ISO 15662 is produced by ISO/TC 204 (Intelligent transport systems); implementers should align PMI use with other ISO/TC 204 application message specifications.
Keywords: ISO 15662:2006, intelligent transport systems, protocol management information, wide area communication, ITS application services, communication system selection, message headers, ASN.1.