Internet-Draft Typed UNISON and Non-Collapse Boundaries October 2026
Watts Expires 3 May 2027 [Page]
Workgroup:
Network Working Group
Internet-Draft:
draft-watts-unison-noncollapse-01
Published:
Intended Status:
Experimental
Expires:
Author:
D. O. Watts
GoodShyt Group Inc.

Typed UNISON and Non-Collapse Boundaries for Evidence and Authorization Systems

Abstract

This document describes a transport-neutral model for bounded correspondence among distinct representations and explicit promotion boundaries between observation, evidence, authorization, and execution.

Status of This Memo

This Internet-Draft is submitted in full conformance with the provisions of BCP 78 and BCP 79.

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This Internet-Draft will expire on 3 May 2027.

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Table of Contents

1. Introduction

This document defines a typed correspondence model for comparing evidence and state representations without treating coordinate equality, semantic equivalence, scientific support, authorization, and execution as the same property.

2. Requirements Language

The key words "MUST", "MUST NOT", "REQUIRED", "SHALL", "SHALL NOT", "SHOULD", "SHOULD NOT", "RECOMMENDED", "NOT RECOMMENDED", "MAY", and "OPTIONAL" in this document are to be interpreted as described in BCP 14 [RFC2119] [RFC8174] when, and only when, they appear in all capitals, as shown here.

3. Typed Comparison Spaces

Each required comparison declares source representations, a common comparison space, bridge functions, units, snapshot alignment, uncertainty treatment, and tolerance. Missing required bridge data is indeterminate rather than pass.

4. Non-Collapse

Observation does not imply evidence qualification; evidence qualification does not imply authorization; authorization does not imply execution. Each promotion requires an explicit procedure and artifact.

5. Comparison Relations

Profiles distinguish strict invariance, covariant transformation, quotient equivalence, and tolerance-bounded equivalence. A comparison MUST state which relation is being tested.

6. Selection

An empty authorized set yields no selection. A tie without a declared tie rule yields no implicit selection. Feasibility does not imply attainment or progress.

7. Status of Validation

The v0.1 reference implementation reports 40 passing boundary checks, including fail-closed empty-set, missing-representation, unit-mismatch, uncertainty, tie, promotion, and finite quotient checks. Independent formal proof is not claimed.

8. Security Considerations

This document defines an architectural model. Implementations MUST fail closed when required authority, evidence, or enforcement state is unknown. The model does not establish closure outside a declared enforcement boundary.

9. Privacy Considerations

Capability and evidence graphs can reveal topology, identity relationships, and operational context. Implementations SHOULD minimize disclosure and use scoped identifiers and digests where possible.

10. IANA Considerations

This document has no IANA actions.

11. Normative References

[RFC8174]
Leiba, B., "Ambiguity of Uppercase vs Lowercase in RFC 2119 Key Words", BCP 14, RFC 8174, DOI 10.17487/RFC8174, , <https://www.rfc-editor.org/info/rfc8174>.
[RFC2119]
Bradner, S., "Key words for use in RFCs to Indicate Requirement Levels", BCP 14, RFC 2119, DOI 10.17487/RFC2119, , <https://www.rfc-editor.org/info/rfc2119>.

Appendix A. Changes since -00

This section is to be removed before publishing as an RFC.

Editorial and tooling-conformance changes only; no technical content was changed.

Author's Address

Deonté O'dell Watts
GoodShyt Group Inc.
San Francisco, CA
United States of America