TITLE:  Section 4, last paragraph content is too restrictive - policy element information items are processed in multiple contexts

TARGET:  Web Services Policy 1.5 - Framework

DESCRIPTION:  

The content in Section 4, last paragraph reads:

This specification does not define processing for arbitrary wsp:Policy Element Information Items in any context other than as an Element Information Item in the [children] property of an Element Information Item that is in the [children] property of an element Information Item defined in section 4.1 below.

This statement was intended to indicate that wsp:Policy elements embedded in assertion parameters or other extensions are not processed by the framework.  However, this statement is too restrictive.  It doesnt allow for processing the root wsp:Policy element.  Also, it doesnt allow for processing policy expressions in the compact form.


There is already text in section 4.3.2 [2] that clarifies that policy expressions within assertion parameters should not be processed:

Note: This specification does not define processing for arbitrary wsp:Policy Element Information Items in the descendants of an assertion parameter, e.g., in the [children] property of one of the [children] as in <Lorem><Ipsum><wsp:Policy>  </wsp:Policy></Ipsum></Lorem>.


JUSTIFICATION:

The current statement about the processing of wsp:Policy elements is inaccurate.

PROPOSAL:

Remove the last paragraph in Section 4

To add further clarity, we also suggest that the example in the Note in section 4.3.2 be broken out as a fully formatted example with a root wsp:Policy element:

Example ??
<wsp:Policy>
  <Lorem>
    <Ipsum>
      <wsp:Policy>  
      </wsp:Policy>
    </Ipsum>
  </Lorem>
<wsp:Policy>

Daniel Roth

[1] http://www.w3.org/TR/2006/WD-ws-policy-20061117/#rPolicy_Expression 
[2] http://www.w3.org/TR/2006/WD-ws-policy-20061117/#Policy_Assertion_Nesting