NEW ISSUE (3639) Which policy alternative was selected?

TITLE: Which policy alternative was selected?

DESCRIPTION:
A possible Policy processing model is as follows:  the two parties get access to each other policies (in a manner not specified in the framework) and select a Policy alternative that that appears in the Policies of both parties.  This Policy alternative is followed in both directions.  But there is no mechanism to communicate the selected alternative to either party.  Note that there may be more than one alternative in the two policies that matches and there is no simple algorithm to determine which alternative is selected.  There is also the problem of ensuring, in this case, that both parties select the same alternative from competing, matching alternatives.  This lack of knowledge makes it difficult for the Policy compliance engine check whether a message adheres to the Policy it is supposed to.


JUSTIFICATION:
The lack of knowledge of the policy alternative selected makes it difficult to write a Policy
compliance engine.  Also, if more than one Policy alternatives matches in the two policies, the 
two parties may select different alternatives.


TARGET:  Framework

PROPOSAL:
We need three things:
1. An algorithm to select a single alternative if more than one alternative in the two policies matches
2. A mechanism to indicate the selected alternative
3. An ability for the message to indicate the policy alternative it is following


All the best, Ashok

Received on Tuesday, 29 August 2006 14:37:04 UTC