The IEEE/PASC Interpretations Process

Have you ever wondered how to ask questions about content of approved IEEE/PASC standards? Well, a regular mail/paper procedure has existed for years, but that doesn't utilize existing technology. IEEE PASC has an electronic process for doing this, and this note gives an overview of the procedures.

NOTE: Any questions on this process should be addressed to the PASC Functional-Chair of Interpretations (FC/Int). See below for contact information.

What Standards are Covered by this process?

You may only request an interpretation of a finalised standard, requests for questions on draft standards are not accepted. The current list of approved standards, for which interpretations groups have been formed is below. (Note new groups are activated as needed for new approved standards).

IEEE PASC Standards with active Interpretations Groups

For POSIX 1003.1 See the Austin Group
AEP: POSIX Realtime Application Support: IEEE Std 1003.13-2003

Why would you want to raise an interpretation question?

Occasionally, questions arise regarding the meaning of portions of standards. Such requests for interpretations should ask for clarifications of the exact nature of the contents of the standard.

Interpretation requests are reviewed and evaluated by an official intepretations group. Interpretations are issued to explain and clarify the intent of the standard and are not intended to constitute an alteration to the original standard or to supply consulting information.

Changes to the standard are made only through revisions or supplements to the standard.

Requests are frequently received that are partially or totally requests for information rather than requests for an interpretation. In these cases it is inappropriate to issue an official interpretation.

Procedure for Requesting an Interpretation

Requests for interpretations should be addressed to 
	Secretary, IEEE Standards Board
	IEEE Standards Department
	445 Hoes Lane
	P.O. Box 1331
	Piscataway, NJ 08855-1331

A web form is available at

http://www.pasc.org/interps/interpform.html

to submit an interpretation for 1003.13. Electronic media is preferred medium and flat ascii format text the preferred format to permit committee circulation.

Requests for interpretations should include

  1. The specific designation of the standard, including the year of publication.
  2. The specific subsection being questioned.
  3. The applicable conditions for the case in question.
  4. A suggested correction, if applicable.
IF YOU ASK MULTIPLE QUESTIONS PLEASE ANNOTATE YOUR SUBMISSION WITH PARAGRAPH NUMBERS.

The Electronic Interpretations submissions process

Submissions by electronic means are processed as follows:
  1. The Interpretations requestor sends the request to stds-pasc-interp-request@ieee.org or submits a request via the Web interface.
  2. The PASC Functional Chair acknowledges receipt of the request to the requestor, with a cc of this acknowledgment to the IEEE.
  3. When the PASC FC/Int has assigned a number to the interpretation, he or she informs that the IEEE and the requestor of the assigned reference number.
  4. After consideration by the interpretations committee, which may involve many exchanges of correspondence, the inquirer will be notified by the PASC FC/Int of the decision of the subgroup. The PASC FC/Int includes a note to the requestor asking for their acknowledgment of receipt
  5. Decisions will be published from time to time in cumulative form and may be ordered from the IEEE.