Overview
ISO/IEC 9646-6:1994 - "Information technology - Open Systems Interconnection - Conformance testing methodology and framework - Part 6: Protocol profile test specification" - defines requirements and guidance for producing Profile Test Specifications (PTS) used to assess conformance of OSI protocol profiles. The standard is focused on testing a profile implementation against static and dynamic conformance requirements of each referenced protocol and any included information objects by controlling and observing Protocol Data Unit (PDU) exchanges. Testing beyond conformance (e.g., performance, security) is explicitly out of scope.
Key topics and requirements
- Profile Test Specification (PTS): The complete set of documents needed to specify conformance testing for a profile.
- PTS-Summary: A standardized document that lists and references all elements of the PTS (it does not embed full test specification texts).
- Profile Specific Test Specification (PSTS): Contains profile-specific changes to the Abstract Test Suite (ATS) and any additional test cases required for profile testing. The PSTS is the single internationally harmonized PSTS for a given profile.
- Static vs Dynamic Conformance:
- Static conformance is expressed via the profile Implementation Conformance Statement (profile ICS) proforma and relates to the options and parameters adopted from base specifications.
- Dynamic conformance is largely defined by referenced base specifications, with profiles allowed to impose further constraining requirements (restrictions on transmission only).
- Implementation Extra Information for Testing (IXIT): Profiles express extra test-relevant information via the profile IXIT proforma.
- Relationship to base specifications: Profiles must reference base specifications’ conformance requirements; conformance to a profile implies conformance to the referenced base specifications, but not vice versa.
- Conformance testing method linkage: PTS elements must comply with ISO/IEC 9646-2 (Abstract Test Suite specification) and leverage ATS/Abstract Test Methods (ATMs) and ETS/Executable Test Suites.
Applications and users
Who uses ISO/IEC 9646-6:
- Protocol and profile specifiers preparing PTS and PSTS for standardized profiles (ISPs).
- Test developers who derive Executable Test Suites (ETS) from ATS/PSTS.
- Conformance test laboratories conducting assessments and producing Protocol Conformance Test Reports (PCTR).
- Implementers and vendors completing profile ICS and IXIT to demonstrate conformance and interoperability.
Practical uses:
- Producing harmonized test specifications for OSI profiles to ensure interworking.
- Structuring conformance test artifacts (PTS-Summary, PSTS, ICS, IXIT) for certification and lab testing.
- Controlling and observing PDU exchanges during conformance test executions.
Related standards
- ISO/IEC 9646-1 through -5 and -7 (general concepts, ATS, TTCN/TTcn notation, test realization, lab requirements, ICS).
- ISO/IEC TR 10000-1/2 (Framework and taxonomy of International Standardized Profiles).
Keywords: ISO/IEC 9646-6:1994, OSI conformance testing, Profile Test Specification, PTS, PSTS, PTS-Summary, profile ICS, IXIT, PDU testing, Abstract Test Suite, conformance assessment.
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