scope:

The present document defines the specifications for a Top Level Service (TLS). A TLS is a central root-node to resolve unique, hierarchic identifiers. Identifiers are prefixed with an International Code Designator (ICD) as a meta-identifier to provide unambiguous identification of organizations and entities thereof. Such an ICD value identifies a specific registration scheme which an Issuing Organization (IO) is responsible for. This IO vouches for a certain quality of its registration service. A specific TLS-provider cooperates with IOs, whose registrtion schemes fulfil its registration requirements. The TLS procedure is applicable to existing registration schemes and schemes to be defined.