Improvement to Working Methods

1. Introduction

This contribution addresses the incoming liaison S4-251685 from the previous SA4 meeting by identifying a "pain point" in the current working methods and proposing a test run approach using TR 21.905 to modernize the format and contribution process for TRs and TSs.

2. Problem Statement

Current Process Inefficiencies

• Inefficient Term/Acronym Management: Rapporteurs and specification editors are requested to include terms and acronyms not present in TR 21.905, but this mechanism is not efficient
• Infrequent Updates: The process to add new terms/acronyms to TR 21.905 is not triggered often by SA4, even for terms extensively used across SA4 specifications and other groups (e.g., XR)

Identified Discrepancies

The contribution references an existing tool developed by IoTconsultancy.nl (available at https://3gpp.guru/) that enables lookup of acronyms and definitions across all 3GPP TS/TR documents. This tool highlights several discrepancies in 3GPP specifications:

Example 1: "XR" Acronym

• Not defined in TR 21.905
• Used across multiple specifications with varying definitions
• The tool can point to exact locations where acronyms are defined in different TRs/TSs

Example 2: "IMS" Acronym

• Long list of specifications using the acronym as defined in TR 21.905
• Also a long list of specifications using IMS with different meanings, variations, or typos

Current Disclaimer Limitation

Most specifications include the disclaimer: "For the purposes of the present document, the abbreviations given in TR 21.905 [1] and the following apply. An abbreviation defined in the present document takes precedence over the definition of the same abbreviation, if any, in TR 21.905 [1]."

While strict alignment of abbreviations is not required, minimizing divergences would be desirable.

3. Proposal

Develop an Equivalent Tool Within 3GPP

The contribution proposes evaluating whether an equivalent tool could be developed within 3GPP with the following capabilities:

1. Online TR 21.905: Have an online version of TR 21.905 as the entry point
2. Online Development: Continue to develop TR 21.905 via online mechanism
3. Request Mechanism: Define a mechanism for WGs to provide requests for adding new acronyms or terms to the online version of TR 21.905
4. Search and Cross-Reference: Allow searching for acronyms and terms with pointers across specifications

Additional Benefits

• Harmonize acronyms and terms across specifications
• Identify typos that could be corrected more easily

Rationale for Using TR 21.905 as Test Case

• Universal Relevance: TR 21.905 is relevant to all WGs and to all TRs and TSs of 3GPP
• Engagement Opportunity: Allows engaging all WGs in evaluating online tools on one common specification
• Identify Common Needs: May highlight common needs and differences between WGs before attempting to use/define tools for development of more substantial TR/TS
• Uncertainty Management: It is not yet clear that if the TR/TS development process changes, all WGs would have the same needs