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 Title (subject to be covered and type of standard, e.g. terminology,
 method of test, performance requirements, etc.):

 Conformance Testing Reference Model for Open Systems Environments.
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 Scope (and field of application):

 Those areas of standardisation covered by the ISO/IEC JTC1/SC22 Posix
 work item and other areas of standardisation within JTC1 that define
 Application Program Interfaces (APIs).  Platform External Interfaces
 (PEIs) are outside the scope of this work item.
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 Purpose and justification:

 GENERAL

 "POSIX" testing methodology is less mature than its OSI equivalent.
 Current IEEE work on conformance testing has concentrated on the issue
 of test suite derivation from base standards (test assertions, the concept
 of test suite conformance).  It is necessary to establish an overall model
 for OSE Conformance Testing which complements IEEE 1003.3-1991, and which
 is as far as possible compatible with existing OSE work.  The conformance
 testing of OSE profiles containing both OSI and non-OSI components must be
 handled in as coherant and consistent a way as possible, in order that users
 have confidence in procuring against such composite ISPs.  The production
 of an overall reference model will assist in this process.

 SPECIFIC AREAS FOR STANDARDISATION

 General Terminology
 One of the barriers to harmonisation of OSE Conformance Testing is the
 lack of a common vocabulary.  The first task should be to establish common
 terminology in as many areas as possible and to clearly identify unavoidable
 areas of difference.

 The Conformance Assessment Process
 IEEE 1003.3-1991 contains no overall model of the Conformance Assessment
 Process.  This is a quality hazard.  Without an overall model it is not
 obvious that test results are repeatable or reproduceable. Therefore this
 standard will define an overall model of the Conformance Assessment Process.

 Validation and Maintenance of Test Tools.
 IEEE 1003.3-1991 lays down conformance requirements for test tools
 but does not say how conformance can be established and maintained.  This
 is also a quality hazard. Therefore this standard will define methods for
 validation and maintenance of test tools.




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 Programme of work:

 A multi-part International Standard consisting of 3 parts, which will be
 Terminology, Conformance Assessment Model and Validation and Maintenance of
 Test Tools.

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 Relevant documents to be considered:

 The ISO 9646 series of standards, EN 45001 to EN 45014, IEEE 1000.3-1991
 and TR 10000.

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 Co-operation and liaison:
 ISO/IEC JTC1 SGFS
 ISO/IEC JTC1/SC22/WG15
 ISO/IEC JTC1/SC21/WG1
 IEEE P2003
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 Preparatory work offered with target dates:

 Working Draft Q2 1994
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 Will the services of a maintenance agency or registration
 authority be required? - No

 Are there any known requirements for coding? - No

 Does the proposed standard concern known patented items? - No
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