[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 19 (Friday, January 28, 1994)]
[Unknown Section]
[Page ]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-1820]


[Federal Register: January 28, 1994]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
[Docket No. 931103-3303]
RIN 0693-AB12


Proposed Federal Information Processing Standard Open Document 
Architecture Raster Document Application Profile

AGENCY: National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), 
Commerce.

ACTION: Notice; request for comments.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The purpose of this notice is to announce a proposed Federal 
Information Processing Standard (FIPS) for Open Document Architecture 
(ODA) Raster Document Application Profile (DAP). This proposed standard 
will enable Federal agencies to exercise more effective control over 
the production, management, and use of Government's raster graphics 
applications.
    This proposed FIPS will adopt the proposed Draft International 
Standard Profile (pDISP) FOD112 Open Document Architecture (ODA) 
Document Application Profile (DAP), ``ODA Raster DAP,'' which specifies 
the use of a subset of the Open Document Architecture (ODA) and 
Interchange Format Standard.
    Prior to the submission of this proposed FIPS to the Secretary of 
Commerce for review and approval, it is essential to assure that 
consideration is given to the needs and views of manufacturers, the 
public, and state and local governments. The purpose of this notice is 
to solicit such views.
    The proposed standard contains two sections: (1) An announcement 
section, which provides information concerning the applicability, 
implementation, and maintenance of the standard; and (2) a 
specifications section which deals with the technical requirements of 
the standard. Only the announcement section of the standard is provided 
in this notice. Interested parties may obtain copies of the technical 
specifications from the Standards Processing Coordinator (ADP), 
National Institute of Standards and Technology, Technology Building, 
room B-64, Gaithersburg, MD 20899, telephone (301) 975-2816.

DATES: Comments on this proposed FIPS must be received on or before 
April 28, 1994.

ADDRESSES: Written comments concerning this proposed FIPS should be 
sent to: Director, Computer Systems Laboratory, ATTN: Proposed FIPS for 
ODA Raster DAP, Technology Building, room B-154, National Institute of 
Standards and Technology, Gaithersburg, MD 20899.
    Written comments concerning this proposed FIPS will be made part of 
the public record and will be made available for inspection and copying 
in the Central Reference and Records Inspection Facility, room 6020, 
Herbert C. Hoover Building, 14th Street between Pennsylvania and 
Constitution Avenues NW., Washington, DC 20230.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Frank Spielman, National Institute 
of Standards and Technology, Gaithersburg, MD 20899, (301) 975-3257.

    Dated: January 24, 1994.
Samuel Kramer,
Associate Director.

Federal Information Processing Standards Publication

(Draft Date: October 8, 1993)

Announcing the Standard for Open Document Architecture (ODA) Raster 
Document Application Profile (DAP)

    Federal Information Processing Standards Publications (FIPS PUBS) 
are issued by the National Institute of Standards and Technology after 
approval by the Secretary of Commerce pursuant to section 111(d) of the 
Federal Property and Administrative Services Act of 1949 as amended by 
the Computer Security Act of 1987, Public Law 100-235.
    1. Name of Standard. Open Document Architecture (ODA) Raster 
Document Application Profile (DAP).
    2. Category of Standard. Software Standard, Graphics.
    3. Explanation. This Federal Information Processing Standard adopts 
the International Standard Profile (ISP) FOD112 Open Document 
Architecture (ODA) Document Application Profile (DAP), ``ODA Raster 
DAP,'' which specifies the use of a subset of the Open Document 
Architecture (ODA) and Interchange Format Standard.
    The ODA standard supports the interchange of compound documents 
containing up to three types of contents: Character (text), raster 
graphics, and geometric graphics. Developed by international standards 
organizations, the ODA standard specifies rules for describing the 
logical and layout structures of documents as well as rules for 
specifying character, raster graphics, and geometric graphics content 
of documents, thus providing for the interchange of complex documents. 
The ODA standard was developed primarily by the International 
Organization for Standardization (ISO/IEC JTC1) and the International 
Telecommunication Union (ITU) Telecommunication Standardization Sector 
(TSS), formerly the Consultative Committee on International Telephone 
and Telegraph (CCITT).
    A DAP is a functional subset of the ODA standard and facilitates 
the interchange of documents among different document systems by 
specifying the constraints on document structure and content according 
to the rules of the ODA Standard. The ODA Raster DAP specifies an 
interchange format suitable for the transfer of structured documents 
between systems designed for raster graphics applications. The 
documents supported by this standard are based on a paradigm of an 
electronic engineering drawing, illustration, or other electronic 
image. Only raster content in an ODA document is supported by this 
FIPS.
    The ODA Raster DAP was initially developed by an ad-hoc Continuous 
Acquisition and Life-Cycle Support (CALS) Tiling Task Group. CALS, 
formerly known as the Computer-aided Acquisition and Logistic Support, 
is a Department of Defense (DoD) initiative. The ODA Raster DAP was 
further developed by vendors and users of computer networks/systems 
participating in the Open Systems Environment Implementors' Workshop 
(OIW), and finally harmonized with the International organizations 
participating in the Profile Alignment Group for ODA (PAGODA). It has 
been submitted to ISO/IEC JTC1/Special Group on Functional Standards 
(SGFS) for processing of an International Standard Profile (ISP).
    4. Approving Authority. Secretary of Commerce.
    5. Maintenance Agency. U.S. Department of Commerce, National 
Institute of Standards and Technology (Computer Systems Laboratory).
    6. Cross Index.
    a. International Organization for Standardization (ISO) 8613-1993, 
Information Processing--Text and Office Systems Open Document 
Architecture (ODA) and Interchange Format Standard.
    b. NIST Special Publication 500-206, Stable Implementation 
Agreements for Open Systems Interconnection Protocols, Version 6, 
Edition 1, December 1992, with updates through September 1993.
    c. Military Specification MIL-R-28002B, Requirements for Raster 
Graphics Representation in Binary Format, 14 December 1992, Appendix A, 
ODA Raster DAP.
    7. Related Documents. Related ISO and ITU documents are listed in 
the normative reference section of the ODA Raster DAP. Other related 
documents are:
    a. ANSI/AIIM MS53-1993, Standard Recommended Practice--File Format 
for Storage and Exchange of Images--Bi-Level Image File Format.
    b. FIPS PUB 149, Telecommunications: Facsimile Coding Schemes and 
Coding Control Functions for Group 3 Facsimile Apparatus.
    c. FIPS PUB 150, Telecommunications: Facsimile Coding Schemes and 
Coding Control Functions for Group 4 Facsimile Apparatus.
    8. Objectives. The FIPS for ODA Raster DAP permits Federal 
departments and agencies to exercise more effective control over the 
production, management, and use of Government's raster graphics 
applications. The primary objectives of this standard are:

--To promote interchange of structured documents containing raster 
graphics images between image processing systems of different 
manufacturers,
--To facilitate the use of advanced technology by the Federal 
Government,
--To stimulate the development of commercial products compatible with 
the ODA Standard and with the GOSIP communications standards,
--To contribute to the economic and efficient use of image and document 
processing system resources, and
--To avoid the proliferation of vendor-unique solutions.

    9. Applicability. The ODA Raster DAP is available for use by 
Federal Government agencies when acquiring and developing raster 
graphics applications. This FIPS applies to systems processing, 
generating, and receiving raster graphics images. It specifies the 
structure and parameters for describing and interchanging bi-level 
compressed images as well as tiled raster images. Each system acquired 
or developed by Federal agencies shall include appropriate system-to-
DAP and DAP-to-system translators, such that incoming data streams are 
interpreted correctly and that outgoing data streams are generated 
correctly. Use of the standard is independent of the communications 
used to transfer documents produced by these applications, that is, 
this standard may be used within the existing framework of 
communication protocols.
    10. Specifications. This FIPS adopts all provisions of the FOD112 
ODA Raster DAP which is affixed. The document and raster layout 
specifications of ISO 8613 that are essential for raster graphics 
applications apply to the FIPS for ODA Raster DAP. The specifications 
for ODA data streams are also defined in ISO 8613 and apply to the FIPS 
for ODA raster DAP.
    All implementations claiming conformance to this FIPS must adhere 
to the specific requirements defined in the ``Conformance'' clause of 
the ODA Raster DAP and to the general rules below.
    Conformance Rules for Data Streams. A conforming data stream shall 
be syntactically, semantically, and structurally correct as defined in 
this standard.
    Conformance rules for Generators. A generator which claims 
conformance to this standard shall create only conforming data streams 
which correctly represent the raster graphics image which was input to 
the generator.
    Conformance Rules for Receivers. A receiver which claims 
conformance to this standard shall be capable of reading and correctly 
processing any conforming data stream without halting or aborting such 
that it produces the correct results.
    11. Implementation. The implementation of this standard involves 
three areas of consideration: acquisition of raster graphics 
implementations, interpretations of the standard, and validation of ODA 
Raster DAP implementations.
    11.1 Acquisition of Raster Graphics Applications. This standard is 
effective six months after date of publication of final document in the 
Federal Register. For a period of twelve (12) months after the 
effective date, agencies are permitted to acquire alternative software 
that provides equivalent functionality to the ODA Raster DAP. Agencies 
are encouraged to use this standard for solicitation proposals for new 
raster processing systems to be acquired after the effective date. This 
standard is mandatory for use in all solicitation proposals for new 
raster application products acquired twelve (12) months after the 
effective date.
    11.2. Interpretation of the Standard. NIST provides for the 
resolution of questions regarding FIPS for ODA Raster DAP 
specifications and requirements, and issues official interpretations as 
needed. Procedures for interpretations are specified in FIPS PUB 29-2. 
All questions about the interpretation of FIPS for ODA Raster DAP 
should be addressed to: Computer Systems Laboratory, ATTN: Raster 
Graphics Interpretation, National Institute of Standards and 
Technology, Gaithersburg, MD 20899.
    11.3. Validation of ODA Raster DAP Implementations. Validation of 
ODA Raster DAP implementations is not mandatory at this time. Future 
versions of this FIPS may mandate the validation of ODA Raster DAP 
implementations for government use. Testing of an implementation's 
conformance to this FIPS will be optional by the agency. Until a formal 
conformance testing service is available, government agencies acquiring 
implementations in accordance with this standard may wish to require 
testing for conformance, interoperability, and performance. The tests 
to be administered and the testing organization are at the discretion 
of the government agency.
    12. Waivers. Under certain exceptional circumstances, the heads of 
Federal departments and agencies may approve waivers to Federal 
Information Processing Standards (FIPS). The head of such agency may 
delegate such authority only to a senior official designated pursuant 
to section 3506(b) of title 44, U.S. Code. Waivers shall be granted 
only when:
    a. Compliance with a standard would adversely affect the 
accomplishment of the mission of an operator of a Federal Computer 
system, or
    b. Cause a major adverse financial impact on the operator that is 
not offset by Government wide savings.
    Agency heads may act upon a written waiver request containing the 
information detailed above. Agency heads may also act without a written 
waiver request when they determine that conditions for meeting the 
standard cannot be met. Agency heads may approve waivers only by a 
written decision that explains the basis on which the agency head made 
the required finding(s). A copy of each such decision, with procurement 
sensitive or classified portions clearly identified, shall be sent to: 
National Institute of Standards and Technology; Attn: FIPS Waiver 
Decision, Technology Building, Room B-154; Gaithersburg, MD 20899.
    In addition, notice of each waiver granted and each delegation of 
authority to approve waivers shall be sent promptly to the Committee on 
Government Operations of the House of Representatives and the Committee 
on Government Affairs of the Senate and shall be published promptly in 
the Federal Register.
    When the determination on a waiver applies to the procurement of 
equipment and/or services, a notice of the waiver determination must be 
published in the Commerce Business Daily as a part of the notice of 
solicitation for offers of an acquisition or, if the waiver 
determination is made after that notice is published, by amendment to 
such notice.
    A copy of the waiver, any supporting documents, the document 
approving the waiver and any supporting and accompanying documents, 
with such deletions as the agency is authorized and decides to make 
under 5 U.S.C. 552(b), shall be part of the procurement documentation 
and retained by the agency.
    13. Where to Obtain Copies. Copies of this publication are for sale 
by the National Technical Information Service, U.S. Department of 
Commerce, Springfield, VA 22161. When ordering, refer to Federal 
Information Processing Standards Publication XXXXX (FIPS PUB XXXXX), 
and title. Specify microfiche, if desired. Payment may be made by 
check, money order, or NTIS deposit account.

[FR Doc. 94-1820 Filed 1-27-94; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-CN-M