Embedded capability relations to aid the industrial usability of telecommunications standards

Network operators are an important class of active users of telecommunications standards. They specify and co-design complex systems based on procured implementations of standardized protocols and services. However, unlike equipment manufacturers and testers, the Operators have been almost neglected by the standards their complex, expensive and error-prone task of developing Operator Requirements is still performed using ad hoc methods and is not directly supported by any specific part of a standard. Having spotted this deficiency, we propose that standards be extended with a new, focused part, called Embedded Capability Relations, that would constitute a common base for individual Operator Requirements. We present the rationale for introducing yet another part of a standard A concrete notation for ECRs / ORs is proposed and its features are discussed in the context of current paradigms and guidelines concerning theformulation of standards.