SHOULD NOT return unknown

I suggested revised text on the consistency checker including this
paragraph:

> A consistency checker SHOULD NOT return Unknown. This requirement is to
> remind implementors that Unknown, while sometimes needed, is not
> a response desired by the user.
> This requirement also clarifies that techniques
> <link1>essential</link1> [Patent Policy] in non-trivial consistency
> checkers are <link2>normative</link2> in this recommendation.


The <link1> to the definition of essential is:
http://www.w3.org/TR/2003/WD-patent-policy-20030319/#def-essential-definitio
n
and <link2> to
http://www.w3.org/TR/2003/WD-patent-policy-20030319/#def-essential-requireme
nts

this is intended to better ensure that the royalty free status of the WG
covers the requirements of a consistency checker. (I am a little concerned
that without it, there is nothing essential in building a consistency
checker since
echo Unknown
is an alternative implementation). We might consider asking the patent
policy WG to review that paragraph as part of the last call process.



Jeremy

Received on Tuesday, 13 May 2003 07:15:30 UTC