Optional and Mandatory in S

jmcgrath at qntm.com jmcgrath at qntm.com
Fri Mar 18 12:01:37 PST 1994


                      Subject:                              Time:  11:43 AM
  OFFICE MEMO         Optional and Mandatory in SAM         Date:  3/18/94
Below is the content of 94-081r0 (in the next mailing).  I would
appreciate your comments -- Jim

Background

SAM is a standard for standards, and yet it is very unclear to
me what is mandatory and what is optional within SAM, and
whether the referenced item is one within a standard claiming
SAM compliance or an implementation of that standard.


Proposal

I therefore suggest the following modifications to SAM (rev 12A):

(new item) Page 12: 2.1.28 implemented: The referenced item
|from a standard is realized in the actualization of the standard.
For standards complying with SAM, an implemented item is an
item in SAM realized within that standard.  For devices complying
with a standard (e.g. products), an implemented item is an item
in that standard which is realized within that device.

(new item) Page 13: 2.1.34 item: A feature defined within a
standard.  The fundamental element for claiming compliance
to a standard.

Page 13: 2.1.41 mandatory: The referenced item is required
to claim compliance with the specified standard.

page 13: 2.1.44 optional: The referenced item need not be
implemented to claim compliance with a specified standard.

(new item) page 13: 2.1.45 option set: A set of referenced items
which individually are considered to be optional.  If all of the
items are implemented, then the option set is implemented.
If any item is not implemented, then the option set is not implemented.

A new section should also be created (I suggest section 2.4) as follows:

Grounds for Compliance

SAM consists of a set of items, each of which is clearly
noted as being mandatory (either explicitly or implicitly
by the use of the word "shall") or optional (either explicitly 
or implicitly by the use of the word "may").  Optional items
may be further grouped into sets of options ("option sets").

All standards claiming compliance with SAM shall implement
within the standard all mandatory SAM items.  A standard
may implement optional SAM items.

All standards claiming compliance with SAM shall in turn
consist or a set of items, each of which is clearly noted
as being mandatory or optional.  Optional items may be grouped
together as optional sets.  Any implementation claiming
compliance with that standard shall implement all mandatory
items and may implement any optional items.

Any standard claiming compliance with SAM must provide a
facility to allow the determination of whether an implementation
of that standard implements specific optional items identified
in SAM.  This determination shall typically be done during a
configuration period.







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