Network Working Group K. Tesink
Request for Comments: 4152 R. Fox
Category: Informational Telcordia Technologies
August 2005
A Uniform Resource Name (URN) Namespace
for the Common Language Equipment Identifier (CLEI) Code
Status of This Memo
This memo provides information for the Internet community. It does
not specify an Internet standard of any kind. Distribution of this
memo is unlimited.
Copyright Notice
Copyright (C) The Internet Society (2005).
Abstract
This document describes a Uniform Resource Name (URN) namespace
(RFC 3406) for the assignment of the Common Language Equipment
Identifier (CLEI) code, which is used in messages standardized by
ANSI. The URN namespace is managed by Telcordia Technologies, Inc.,
as the maintenance agent for ANSI T1.213. The CLEI code is a
globally unique, ten-character alphanumeric intelligent code assigned
by Telcordia Technologies at the request of equipment suppliers. The
CLEI code identifies communications equipment by specifying product
type and features. There is a one-to-one relationship between a CLEI
code and supplier's product ID (the manufacturer's name and the part
number along with its version number).
Table of Contents
1. Introduction ....................................................2
2. Specification Template ..........................................2
3. Examples ........................................................4
4. Namespace and Community Considerations ..........................4
5. Security Considerations .........................................5
6. IANA Considerations .............................................5
7. Acknowledgments .................................................5
8. Normative References ............................................5
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1. Introduction
Many circuit cards used in the global telecommunications network have
a CLEI code assigned and have a bar code or two-dimensional symbol on
a label affixed to the front. Service providers utilize the CLEI
code to:
o Track inventory, both working and spare
o Handle logistics (movement of circuit cards, along with the serial
number)
o Provision equipment
o Maintain asset records (accounting information)
The goal of the CLEI namespace is to ensure the stability and
uniqueness of the names of various (specific) items that are used
within the messages exchanged between equipment of the global
telecommunications network.
The assigned maintenance agent for the CLEI code, Telcordia
Technologies, is responsible for assigning certain equipment and
other identifiers (e.g., location, manufacturer/supplier) for the
telecommunications industry. The code assignment process identifies
the structure and intelligence of the CLEI code to identify the
circuit card's form, fit, functions, and features. Equipment may
exist in multiple physical locations with the exact same form, fit,
functions, and features; such equipment will have the same CLEI code
if their product ID is the same.
2. Specification Template
Namespace ID:
"CLEI"
Registration information:
Version 1
Date: 2004-12-31
Declared registrant of the namespace:
Telcordia Technologies, Inc.
Customer Support Center
8 Corporate Place
Piscataway, NJ 08854
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U.S.A.
+1.732.699.5577
http://www.commonlanguage.com
Declaration of syntactic structures:
The structure of the Namespace Specific String is a flat space of
10 characters, as defined in [T1.213][T1.213a].
Relevant ancillary documentation:
[T1.213] and [T1.213a].
Identifier uniqueness considerations:
Identifiers are assigned by Telcordia URN registration that
guarantees uniqueness for items with different form, fit,
functions, and features. This is achieved simply by comparing all
new proposed names to the already assigned names contained in a
database. If the name already exists, a new one is created per
the rules of the process. See [T1.213][T1.213a] for assignment
examples.
Identifiers persistence considerations:
The process defined by ANSI and the CLEI maintenance agent ensure
that the binding between the name and its resource is permanent,
and that names are not reassigned.
Process of identifiers assignment:
A CLEI code is an intelligent code that consists of 10
alphanumeric characters with 4 data elements. The first data
element is considered the basic code with the first 2 characters
indicating the technology or equipment type, and the third and
fourth characters denoting the functional sub-category. The
second data element represents the features, and its three
characters denote functional capabilities or changes. The third
data element has one character and denotes a reference to a
manufacturer, system ID, specification, or drawing. The fourth
data element consists of two characters and contains complementary
data. These two characters provide a means of differentiating or
providing uniqueness between the eight character CLEI codes by
identifying the manufacturing vintage of the product. Names are
assigned via procedures defined in [GR485].
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Process for identifier resolution:
Telcordia URNs are resolved via Telcordia resolvers run under
Telcordia responsibility. For further information see
www.commonlanguage.com.
Rules for lexical equivalence:
Lexical equivalence of two CLEI URN namespace specific strings is
defined as an exact, case-insensitive string match. CLEI codes
are assigned in a case-insensitive fashion, so that there will not
be two CLEI codes that differ only in case. See [T1.213] and
[T1.213a] for further information.
Conformance with URN syntax:
No special consideration.
Validation mechanism:
None specified.
Scope:
Global.
3. Examples
The following three examples are based on the examples provided in
[T1.213a], and correspond with three different sets of features by
three different manufacturers (Nortel Networks, Lear, and Lucent
Technologies) producing "D4CE" (a particular D4 channel bank type)
equipment. The fourth example refers to a SONET power unit convertor
of Alcatel.
URN:CLEI:D4CE18B7AA
URN:CLEI:D4CE4248AA
URN:CLEI:D4CE363PAB
URN:CLEI:SNPWBBC7AA
4. Namespace and Community Considerations
CLEI codes have historically been used in a variety of communications
equipment (see examples above and [T1.213a]). There are
circumstances in which entities with CLEI codes need to be managed or
exposed in a larger context, such as the general Internet. In these
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cases, the use of the CLEI URN namespace will provide general
interoperability benefits to the Internet at large, as well as to
specific internets.
5. Security Considerations
There are no additional security considerations other than those
normally associated with the use and resolution of URNs in general.
However, note that attempting to resolve a Telcordia URN through a
resolver other than the one provided by Telcordia is not considered
authoritative.
6. IANA Considerations
The IANA has registered the formal URN namespace CLEI within the IANA
registry of URN NIDs.
7. Acknowledgments
The contributions of the Entity MIB Working Group members are
gratefully acknowledged. Special thanks go to Mike Heard, Juergen
Schoenwaelder, Dave Perkins, and Dan Romascanu.
8. Normative References
[RFC3406] Daigle, L., van Gulik, D., Iannella, R., and P. Faltstrom,
"Uniform Resource Names (URN) Namespace Definition
Mechanisms", RFC 3406, October 2002.
[T1.213] ATIS T1.213-2001, Coded Identification of Equipment
Entities in the North American Telecommunications System
for Information Exchange, 2001, www.ansi.org.
[T1.213a] ATIS T1.213a, Supplement to T1.213-2001, Coded
Identification of Equipment Entities in the North American
Telecommunications System for Information Exchange, to
correct the representation of the Basic Code in Figure
B.1, 2001, www.ansi.org.
[GR485] GR-485-CORE, COMMON LANGUAGE Equipment Codes (CLEI Codes),
Generic Requirements for Processes And Guidelines, Issue
5, Telcordia Technologies, April 2004.
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Authors' Addresses
Kaj Tesink
One Telcordia Drive
Piscataway, NJ 08854
USA
Phone: +1 732 699-6068
EMail: kaj@research.telcordia.com
Robert H. Fox
3545 S.Ocean Blvd, #417
Palm Beach, FL 33480-5715
USA
Phone: +1 732 699-8968
EMail: rfox@telcordia.com
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Copyright (C) The Internet Society (2005).
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Acknowledgement
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Internet Society.
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