I have finally surfaced. We have been very busy the last couple weeks finalizing the UN/CEFACT group responsible for the ebXML follow-on work--the business components of course. Anyway, let me turn my attention to the Concept of Operation discussion that we were having at the face-to-face. Jim Huges suggested at the meeting that we really needed to take a look at the contents of Sections 5 and 6 in the Version 1.0 specification. He was suggesting that we flesh out these to provide the additional information that was needed. I will attempt to put the discussion into context: 1. The current specificiation contains a design objectives section (5) and a system overview (6), but does not clearly address either issue. We asked some basic questions in Dallas. What is the purpose of the MSH? Where are the operational boundaries? 2. I suggested that we needed to have a Concept of Operation that provided that level of detail. I really was trying to get my arms around the requirements for the MSH; wanting to be able to determine what the requirements were, which were satisfied, which were yet to be satisfied, and which could not be satisfied based on current technology. 3. I promised to examine the IEEE Standard 1362 to see what changes could be made to the specification to help remove the ambiguity present in the current specification. I have examined the two documents (IEEE STD 1362 and the Messaging Spec, V1.0). Many areas of the IEEE document would be overkill for our specification; however, I think that we could add a couple changes to enhance and clarify the document. I recommend that sections 5 and 6 of the current specification be replaced with a new section 5. The new section 5 could be called the Concept of Operation for ebXML Messaging Services . I am not too concerned with the title. The new section would include the following subsections: 1. Background, Objective and Scope 2. Operational policies and constraints 3. Modes of operation 4. User classes and others involved This change would require that we relocate section 6.3 that deals with the Use of the version attribute . It really does not belong where it currently is. Those involved in the ebXML TRP group will remember that we did not realy have a good place to put this text. I hope that this message will awaken the ConOp discussion. I think the new sections 2 and 4 are the ones most needed based on our discussions in Dallas. I look forward to comments on this proposal. I have enclosed a copy of the IEEE document. Ralph Berwanger
http://standards.ieee.org/catalog/olis/se.html IEEE1362.pdf -->