IEEE的文章大体分为3类，letter,magazine,journal/transaction

IEEE letter: 属于快报形式，一般发表最新的研究成果，文章要求短小，理论推导要求不高。

IEEE Magazine: 这才是属于杂志类，一般要求用文字和图表来表述些最新研究成果，不允许有过多的公式推导。

IEEE Jour/Trans: 这两个属于同一类，期刊杂志，但两者面向的读者和表达方式上略有不同。两者都需要有很大的创新点，和比较详细的公式推导。

Trans: 具体到一个相对较细的专业方向上，如 IEEE Trans. Sign.Proc. 。

而 jour: 面向的读者群却更加广泛 , 如 IEEE J-SAC, 所以 jour 需要对背景知识有更加全面的介绍。

虽然 jour 没有 trans. 的专注度高，但是其理论深度的要求也很高，而且其影响因子往往远远高于 Trans.

稍微研究了一下ieee Transaction, Journal, Letter 的区别，仅供参考 
1 仅从目标来说， Transaction, Journal, Letter 仅仅是名称不同而已 
以 IEEE协会的出版物为例 
The mission of IEEE Transactions, Journals, and Letters is to provide archival publications that are of lasting value to the engineering community. These periodicals provide the profession with content that has been peer-reviewed and published with the objective of creating an historical account of progress in the field. 
兩個重點, 1. 是為了提供一個保存有長久價值的知識的出版品 
                  2. 經過 peer-review 的程序 
2 但是如果要更細分這三種出版品的話, 先以 IEEE Power Electronics Letters 和 
IEEE Transactions on Power Electronics 為例說明 Letter 和 Transaction的不同, 
IEEE Power Electronics Letters 
        This electronic publication will be devoted to the rapid publication of short manuscripts of archival value in the general area of power electronics. Power electronics is the underlying technology for a vast portion of electrical energy processing. 
IEEE Transactions on Power Electronics 
        The development of power electronics technology. This technology encompasses the effective use of electronic components, the application of circuit theory and design techniques, and the development of analytical tools toward efficient electronic conversion, control, and conditioning of electric power. 
可以看到的是, Letter 的內容通常是 Short Paper, 有即時性的, 
而 Transaction 收錄的內容則沒有這個在時間上的特性. 
3 至於 Journal 的內容, 是屬於比較雜的. 
Journal 所收錄的內容介於 Transaction 及 Letter 間,可收錄 Short Paper 也可收錄 Regular Paper. 
以 IEEE Journal of Quantum Electronics 為例, 
IEEE Journal of Quantum Electronics is published monthly.It comprises original contributions, both regular papers and letters, in the broad field of the science and technology of quantum electronics of either a device-, subject-, or system-oriented nature. IEEE Lasers and Electro-Optics Society Field of Interest Lasers, optical devices, optical fibers and associated lightwave technology and their application in systems and subsystems, in which the quantum electronic devices are key elements. The Society is concerned with the research,development, design, manufacture, and applications of materials, devices and systems, and with the various scientific and technological activities which contribute to the useful expansion of the field of quantum electronics and applications. 
除了 IEEE, 在資訊科學領域另一個重量級學會 ACM, 對於命名一個 New Publication 則有下列建議 
    Proposed name of new publication 
    If this is a peer-reviewed journal it will probably be called ACM Transactions on XXX (although there are some exceptions).Other ACM publications must use other names. You may propose a single name or several possible names for the Board to consider. 
在選擇名字時還要考慮到他的型態 
    Format and type of publication 
    Are you proposing a peer-reviewed journal, a magazine, an online newsletter, or some other type of publication? Are you proposing a print publication or an online-only publication? How frequently will this publication publish new articles? How long will a typical article be? How many articles will be included in each issue? Will this publication include something other than traditional articles (software, multimedia, message boards, etc.) 
另外, 在文章中有這麼一句話, 
    Please provide an overview of the proposed editorial process. 
    Will articles go through a full refereeing process, or a less 
    rigorous review process (transactions must use a refereeing process) 
這裡說明了 Transaction 必須經過 Refereeing 才可以 
如果有人對其他形式的 publication 如 magazine, newsletter, proceeding 有興趣 
IEEE 的 IEEE Policy 6.6 倒是有一些描述可供參考.