Here's a variation that references digital signatures:
A trust anchor represents an authoritative source of one or more types of information. Trust anchors are comprised of a public key and associated data. The public key is used to verify digital signatures and the associated data is used to constrain the types of information for which the trust anchor is authoritative. Relying parties use trust anchors to determine if digitally signed information objects are valid by verifying digital signatures using the trust anchor's public key and by enforcing the constraints expressed in the associated data.
> -----Original Message-----
> From: owner-ietf-trust-anchor@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
> [mailto:owner-ietf-trust-anchor@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of
> Diego R. Lopez
> Sent: Monday, August 20, 2007 2:40 PM
> To: ietf-trust-anchor@xxxxxxxx
> Subject: Re: Draft Charter
>
>
>
> On 20 Aug 2007, at 19:49, Stephen Kent wrote:
> > At 12:09 PM -0400 8/18/07, Turner, Sean P. wrote:
> >> ...
> >>
> >> The glossary's definition had more in the 1st sentence which
> >> basically said what the suggested second sentence said - so I get
> >> your point about mushy fruit. I agree that the authority
> is a central
> >> concept to TAM and that's what I was alluding to with my context
> >> comment. I think it ought to be in the definition. How about:
> >>
> >> A trust anchor is a public key and associated data that
> represents an
> >> authoritative source of some type of information.
> Associated data is
> >> used to define the scope of the use of the trust anchor
> including the
> >> authorized type of information.
> > I still find this too mushy :-). I'd like to see some mention of
> > digital signatures in the definition. That seems to be an essential
> > feature of TAs, irrespective of the use of certs (of any type) vs.
> > raw keys.
>
> Ditto. In despite of the format used (certificates or
> whatever), a TA deals with the verification of digital signatures.
>
>
>
> --
> "Esta vez no fallaremos, Doctor Infierno"
>
> Dr Diego R. Lopez
>
> Red.es - RedIRIS
> The Spanish NREN
>
> e-mail: diego.lopez@xxxxxxxxxx
> jid: drlopez@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
> Tel: +34 955 056 621
> Mobile: +34 669 898 094
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