[Vcon] vCon core issue #2: Attachements party

[Dan Petrie <[e-mail]>]

I discussed this issue at the Interim vCon meeting in Jan.  At the IETF meeting in Montreal, there were several discussions related to the Attachment Object.  One example was floated that an attachment might not have a Party Object reference (i.e. index).  Currently, in the Attachment Object:
   
   - Party Object reference in Attachment Object is NOT optional
   - Dialog Object reference in Attachment Object is NOT optional
I will discuss the Dialog Object reference in a separate issue/email thread.  I would like to re-assert that the Party Object reference is required.  Otherwise we have conversational element with no one to attribute them to.  This is distinct from redaction, anonymity or unknown.  There are constructs for anonymous or unknown parties defined in the current I-D for the Party Object.  In those cases you create an anonymous or unknown Party Object or each party in those categories and reference them in the Attachment Object. 

There was an example given for a consent Attachment Object where there is no party.  I would like to assert that there is indeed a party in that case and it is very important that we label who attached the consent declaration.  The Party Object may not have a name, tel or SIP URL, but it does at least have a company, department or division name.

The feed back that I am looking for is confirmation that the party index MUST be included in the Attachment Object or rational as to why we should allow an attachment which cannot be attributed to the contributing party.

Cheers,Dan