Should in_and_out_of_band be renamed in_and_or_out_of_band?

[alabou]

• an enum used in a capability indicates "capable of"
• an enum used in an attribute indicates "configured for"

The definition for in_and_out_of_band for a Sender attribute (configured for) is : "The in-and-out-of-band mode implies that the Sender can optionally use the in-band path, the out-band path or both paths to transmit parameter sets. There is no requirement to use both paths simultaneously."

Should in_and_out_of_band be renamed in_and_or_out_of_band to remove the ambiguity of the "and" in the naming (an "or" alone is not an alternative)? This "and" does not mean an absolute requirement to simultaneously use of both paths but a possibility.

Please indicate your preference here after to resolve this issue.

[garethsb]

Since "or" in English is sometimes understood as exclusive-or and sometimes as inclusive-or, I agree there is some ambiguity, but I do think "and" on its own isn't right in a Sender attribute value.

"And/or" is clunky, but seems to be the most terse commonly used practice to make phrases like this clear - shorter than appending "or both" or prepending "at least one of".

If this were Boolean logic, "or" (rather than "xor") would be sufficient. Likewise, if this were JSON Schema, "anyOf" (rather than "oneOf"). But since it's not, I haven't thought of anything better than using ..._and_or_...!

[alabou]

A little Chat with an AI:

Question: If I say that information may travel in band using a the "in_band" tag or it may travail out of band using the "out_of_band" tag, when I use the "in_and_out_of_band" tag what would you say it mean?

Answer: If you use the "in_and_out_of_band" tag to describe how information may travel, it would typically mean that the information can be transmitted both in-band and out-of-band. In this context, "in-band" refers to the information being transmitted within the main communication channel or medium that is commonly used, while "out-of-band" refers to the information being transmitted through a separate or auxiliary channel.

Using the "in_and_out_of_band" tag suggests that the information has the flexibility to be transmitted through either the main communication channel (in-band) or a separate channel (out-of-band), depending on the specific requirements or circumstances. It implies that there may be multiple options or methods available for transmitting the information, and the choice between in-band and out-of-band transmission can be made based on various factors such as efficiency, reliability, or security considerations.

Question: Would it imply that both method must be used simultaneously?

Answer: If you use the "in_and_out_of_band" tag to describe the transmission of information, it implies that both methods, in-band and out-of-band, can be used as options for transmitting the information. However, it doesn't necessarily mean that both methods need to be used simultaneously.

Instead, it suggests that the sender or receiver has the flexibility to choose between the in-band and out-of-band methods based on the specific requirements, capabilities, or constraints of the system or communication scenario.

For example, if a system supports in-band and out-of-band communication, it means that information can be transmitted through the primary communication channel (in-band) or through a separate channel (out-of-band), depending on the needs or circumstances of the communication.

The choice between in-band and out-of-band transmission would depend on factors such as the nature of the information, the available resources, the desired level of reliability, security considerations, or the specific protocols and technologies being used.

[garethsb]

As we discussed in the last call, I think it depends on how you frame the definitions and question, i.e. does "in_band" mean information may be transported in-band, that in-band is supported, or does it mean in-band transport is being used.

Question: If I say that information travels in band using the "in_band" tag and it travels out of band using the "out_of_band" tag, when I use the "in_and_out_of_band" tag what would you say it means?

Answer: If you use the "in_and_out_of_band" tag to describe information transmission, it would typically imply that the information can travel both through the main communication channel (in-band) and through a separate or auxiliary channel (out-of-band) simultaneously or interchangeably. Essentially, it suggests that there are multiple pathways or modes for transmitting the information. ... Therefore, if you use the "in_and_out_of_band" tag, it suggests that the information can travel both within the primary communication channel and through a separate channel simultaneously or interchangeably, depending on the context or requirements of the communication system.

Question: Would it imply that both methods must be used simultaneously?

Answer: Yes, if you use the "in_and_out_of_band" tag, it implies that both in-band and out-of-band methods of information transmission are used simultaneously or concurrently. This means that the information is transmitted through both the main communication channel (in-band) and a separate or auxiliary channel (out-of-band) at the same time.

By utilizing both methods simultaneously, the system can benefit from the advantages of each approach. In-band transmission allows for communication within the primary channel used for regular communication, while out-of-band transmission provides a separate pathway for specific purposes or critical information.

Using both methods simultaneously can offer increased reliability, redundancy, or flexibility in transmitting information. It allows for the system to leverage the strengths of each method while compensating for any limitations or constraints that may exist in either channel.

[garethsb]

Question: If I say that information travels in band using the "in_band" tag and it travels out of band using the "out_of_band" tag, when I use the "in_and_or_out_of_band" tag what would you say it means?

Answer: If you use the "in_and_or_out_of_band" tag to describe information transmission, it would typically imply that the information can travel through multiple pathways, including both the main communication channel (in-band) and a separate or auxiliary channel (out-of-band). The choice between in-band and out-of-band transmission can vary depending on the specific circumstances, requirements, or capabilities of the communication system. ... Therefore, if you use the "in_and_or_out_of_band" tag, it suggests that the information can be transmitted through multiple pathways. It can travel within the primary communication channel (in-band), or it can be sent through a separate channel (out-of-band). The choice between in-band and out-of-band transmission can be based on factors such as bandwidth availability, reliability, security, and the specific needs of the communication protocol or application.

The "in_and_or_out_of_band" tag allows for flexibility in selecting the appropriate transmission pathway based on the system requirements or constraints. It means that the information can travel either within the primary communication channel, or through a separate channel, or potentially even both simultaneously, depending on the needs of the system or the specific context of the transmission.

Question: Would it imply that both methods must be used simultaneously?

Answer: Apologies for the confusion in my previous responses. If you use the "in_and_or_out_of_band" tag, it implies that the information can travel through either the main communication channel (in-band) or a separate or auxiliary channel (out-of-band). The choice between in-band and out-of-band transmission can vary depending on the specific circumstances, requirements, or capabilities of the communication system.

Unlike the "in_and_out_of_band" tag, which suggests that both in-band and out-of-band methods are used simultaneously, the "in_and_or_out_of_band" tag indicates that either method can be used individually, depending on the specific needs or constraints of the communication system.

Therefore, using the "in_and_or_out_of_band" tag means that the information can be transmitted through either the primary communication channel (in-band) or through a separate channel (out-of-band), but not necessarily both simultaneously. The choice between in-band and out-of-band transmission will depend on factors such as system requirements, available resources, bandwidth limitations, and the specific needs of the communication protocol or application.