Interpretation Templates

This document contains templates for internal use by the Working Group, in order to facilitate consistent responses to Issue reports that require an Interpretation Request or Response.  The various templates are based on the Committee Maintenance Procedures document, "Pro Forma responses" section.

The unambiguous situation
The "defect" situation
The ambiguous situation
The unaddressed issue
Conditional interpretation based on other standard(s)
Substantially identical to previous interpretation
Substantially identical to prior request, but with critical new perspective
Request for interpretation of a different document
Request is unclear


THE UNAMBIGUOUS SITUATION:
Interpretation response
------------------------
The standard clearly states ____________ , and conforming implementations must conform to this.

Rationale:
-------------
<Place Rationale, if any, here.>

Notes to the Editor (not part of this interpretation):
-------------------------------------------------------
<Place notes, if any, here.>


THE "DEFECT" SITUATION (i.e. the balloting group appears to have gotten it wrong):
Interpretation response
------------------------
The standard states __________ , and conforming implementations must conform to this. However, concerns have been raised about this which are being referred to the sponsor.

Rationale:
-------------
<Place Rationale, if any, here.>

Notes to the Editor (not part of this interpretation):
-------------------------------------------------------
<Place notes, if any, here.>


THE AMBIGUOUS SITUATION:
Interpretation response
------------------------
The standard is unclear on this issue, and no conformance distinction can be made between alternative implementations based on this. This is being referred to the sponsor.

Rationale:
-------------
<Place Rationale, if any, here.>

Notes to the Editor (not part of this interpretation):
-------------------------------------------------------
<Place notes, if any, here.>

THE UNADDRESSED ISSUE:
Interpretation response
------------------------

The standard does not speak to this issue, and as such no conformance distinction can be made between alternative implementations based on this. This is being referred to the sponsor.

Rationale:
-------------
<Place Rationale, if any, here.>

Notes to the Editor (not part of this interpretation):
-------------------------------------------------------
<Place notes, if any, here.>


CONDITIONAL INTERPRETATION BASED ON OTHER STANDARD(S):
Interpretation response
------------------------

The required behaviour of this xxx standard is dependent on the requirements of the yyy standard. If yyy requires aaa then xxx requires bbb, whereas if yyy requires ccc then xxx requires ddd. A request for interpretation of the yyy standard is being forwarded to the yyy committee."

Rationale:
-------------
<Place Rationale, if any, here.>

Notes to the Editor (not part of this interpretation):
-------------------------------------------------------
<Place notes, if any, here.>


SUBSTANTIALLY IDENTICAL TO PREVIOUS INTERPRETATION:
Interpretation response
------------------------

This request is substantially identical to interpretation #aaa, and the resolution of that interpretation applies in this case.

Rationale:
-------------
<Place Rationale, if any, here.>

Notes to the Editor (not part of this interpretation):
-------------------------------------------------------
<Place notes, if any, here.>


SUBSTANTIALLY IDENTICAL TO PRIOR REQUEST, BUT WITH CRITICAL NEW PERSPECTIVE:
Interpretation response
------------------------

This request is substantially identical to interpretation #aaa, however in considering it appears that the previous interpretation should be superseded. The current interpretation for this situation, (which does affect the previous conclusion) is __________ .


Rationale:
-------------
<Place Rationale, if any, here.>

Notes to the Editor (not part of this interpretation):
-------------------------------------------------------
An attempt should be made to notify the previous requester.

<Place notes, if any, here.>


REQUEST FOR INTERPRETATION OF A DIFFERENT DOCUMENT (draft..):
Interpretation response
------------------------

This request is for interpretation of xxx, the approved standard is yyy, the requester is asked to re-submit this request if the question(s) are still pertinent to the approved standard.

Rationale:
-------------
<Place Rationale, if any, here.>

Notes to the Editor (not part of this interpretation):
-------------------------------------------------------
<Place notes, if any, here.>



REQUEST IS UNCLEAR :

This request is not sufficiently clear to permit an appropriate interpretation. The Requester is asked to submit a rephrased or more specific request.