Is behavior of a single element in scope

I have a question to pose:

Is a discussion of the behavior of a single element in
scope for discussion? For standardization?
For example, suppose we have an element called a Location Server,
which knew the location of many "targets".

Can we talk about what the Location Server can or
cannot do with the data?

In the IETF we do protocols. Even in a case,
like geopriv, where we are defining an object,
it is a protocol object, which goes between (at least)
two elements. We can talk about what information
is passed, and how. We can talk about how it is
protected in transit.

We can clearly talk about how an element MIGHT
use the information as background for why we
might need specific information elements or
protocol mechanism.

However, we don't standardize what a single
element does with the data.

Specifying behavior is a slippery slope,
and I'd like to stay away from it.

Brian
Received on Wed Mar 20 21:36:26 2002