ISO/IEC 8825-7:2021

INTERNATIONAL ISO/IEC
STANDARD 8825-7
Third edition
2021-06
Information technology — ASN.1
encoding rules —
Part 7:
Specification of Octet Encoding Rules
(OER)
Technologies de l'information — Règles de codage ASN.1 —
Partie 7: Spécification des règles de codage des octets (OER)
Reference number
ISO/IEC 8825-7:2021(E)
©
ISO/IEC 2021

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ISO/IEC 8825-7:2021(E)

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ISO/IEC 8825-7:2021(E)
Foreword
ISO (the International Organization for Standardization) and IEC (the International Electrotechnical
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Attention is drawn to the possibility that some of the elements of this document may be the subject of
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of any patent rights identified during the development of the document will be in the Introduction and/or
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see www.iso.org/iso/foreword.html. In the IEC, see www.iec.ch/understanding-standards.
This document was prepared by Joint Technical Committee ISO/IEC JTC 1, Information technology,
Subcommittee SC 6, Telecommunications and information exchange between systems, in collaboration
with ITU-T. The identical text is published as ITU-T X.696 (02/2021).
This third edition cancels and replaces the second edition (ISO/IEC 8825-7:2015), which has been
technically revised. It also incorporates ISO/IEC 8825-7:2015/Cor 2:2017, ISO/IEC 8825-7:2015/
Cor 3:2018, ISO/IEC 8825-7:2015/Cor 4:2018.
A list of all parts in the ISO/IEC 8825 series can be found on the ISO and IEC websites.
Any feedback or questions on this document should be directed to the user’s national standards body. A
complete listing of these bodies can be found at www.iso.org/members.html and www.iec.ch/national-
committees.

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ISO/IEC 8825-7:2021(E)
CONTENTS
Page
1 Scope . 1
2 Normative references . 1
2.1 Identical Recommendations | International Standards. 1
2.2 Additional references . 1
3 Definitions. 2
3.1 Specification of basic notation . 2
3.2 Information object specification . 2
3.3 Constraint specification . 2
3.4 Parameterization of ASN.1 specification . 2
3.5 Basic Encoding Rules (BER) . 2
3.6 Packed Encoding Rules (PER) . 2
3.7 Additional definitions . 2
4 Abbreviations . 4
5 Convention . 4
6 Encodings specified by this Recommendation | International Standard . 4
7 Conformance . 5
8 General provisions . 5
8.1 Use of the type notation . 5
8.2 Constraints . 5
8.3 Type and value model used for encoding . 7
8.4 Types to be encoded . 7
8.5 Production of a complete OER encoding. 7
8.6 Length determinant . 7
8.7 Encoding of tags . 8
9 Encoding of Boolean values . 8
10 Encoding of integer values. 8
11 Encoding of enumerated values . 9
12 Encoding of real values . 10
13 Encoding of bitstring values . 11
13.1 General . 11
13.2 Encoding of bitstring types with a fixed size . 11
13.3 Encoding of bitstring types with a variable size . 11
14 Encoding of octetstring values . 11
15 Encoding of the null value . 12
16 Encoding of sequence values . 12
17 Encoding of sequence-of values . 13
18 Encoding of set values . 13
19 Encoding of set-of values . 13
20 Encoding of choice values . 13
21 Encoding of object identifier values . 14
22 Encoding of relative object identifier values . 14
23 Encoding of values of the internationalized resource reference type . 14
24 Encoding of values of the relative internationalized resource reference type . 14
25 Encoding of values of the embedded-pdv type . 14
26 Encoding of values of the external type . 14
27 Encoding of values of the restricted character string types . 15
28 Encoding of values of the unrestricted character string type . 15
Rec. ITU-T X.696 (02/2021) iii
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ISO/IEC 8825-7:2021(E)
Page
29 Encoding of values of the time types . 16
29.1 General . 16
29.2 Optimized encoding of time subtypes with the Basic=Date property setting . 17
29.3 Optimized encoding of time subtypes with the Basic=Time property setting . 18
29.4 Optimized encoding of time subtypes with the Basic=Interval property setting . 19
30 Encoding of open type values . 20
31 Canonical Octet Encoding Rules. 20
32 Object identifier values referencing the encoding rules . 21
Annex A – Example of OER encodings . 21
A.1 ASN.1 description of the record structure . 22
A.2 ASN.1 description of a record value . 22
A.3 BASIC-OER and CANONICAL-OER representation of this record value . 22
A.3.1 Hexadecimal view . 23
A.3.2 Descriptive view . 23
Annex B – Interoperability with NTCIP 1102:2004 . 26
Bibliography . 26

iv Rec. ITU-T X.696 (02/2021)
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ISO/IEC 8825-7:2021(E)
Introduction
The publications Rec. ITU-T X.680 | ISO/IEC 8824-1, Rec. ITU-T X.681 | ISO/IEC 8824-2, Rec. ITU-T X.682 |
ISO/IEC 8824-3, Rec. ITU-T X.683 | ISO/IEC 8824-4 together describe Abstract Syntax Notation One (ASN.1), a
notation for the definition of messages to be exchanged between peer applications.
This Recommendation | International Standard defines encoding rules that may be applied to values of ASN.1 types
which have been defined using the notation specified in the above-mentioned publications. Application of these
encoding rules produces a transfer syntax for such values. It is implicit in the specification of these encoding rules that
they are also to be used for decoding.
There are more than one set of encoding rules that can be applied to values of ASN.1 types. This Recommendation |
International Standard defines two sets of Octet Encoding Rules, so-called because the encoding of every type takes a
whole number of octets. Encoding and decoding data with the Octet Encoding Rules is usually faster than encoding and
decoding the same data with the Basic Encoding Rules (described in Rec. ITU-T X.690 | ISO/IEC 8825-1) or the
Packed Encoding Rules (described in Rec. ITU-T X.691 | ISO/IEC 8825-2).
NOTE – The encoding rules specified in this Recommendation | International Standard derive from the Octet Encoding Rules
(OER) published by American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO), Institute of
Transportation Engineers (ITE) and National Electrical Manufacturers Association (NEMA) as NTCIP 1102:2004. In most
practical cases, an implementation of this Recommendation | International Standard can interoperate with an implementation of
NTCIP 1102.
Clauses 8 to 30 specify the BASIC-OER encoding of ASN.1 types.
Clause 31 specifies the CANONICAL-OER encoding of ASN.1 types.
Annex A is informative and contains examples of BASIC-OER and CANONICAL-OER encodings.
Annex B is informative and addresses the Interoperability of the encoding rules with NTCIP 1102:2004.

 Rec. ITU-T X.696 (02/2021) v
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ISO/IEC 8825-7:2021 (E)
INTERNATIONAL STANDARD
ITU-T RECOMMENDATION
Information technology – ASN.1 encoding rules: Specification of
Octet Encoding Rules (OER)
1 Scope
This Recommendation | International Standard specifies a set of Basic Octet Encoding Rules (BASIC-OER) that may be
used to derive a transfer syntax for values of the types defined in Rec. ITU-T X.680 | ISO/IEC 8824-1,
Rec. ITU-T X.681 | ISO/IEC 8824-2, Rec. ITU-T X.682 | ISO/IEC 8824-3, Rec. ITU-T X.683 | ISO/IEC 8824-4. This
Recommendation | International Standard also specifies a set of Canonical Octet Encoding Rules (CANONICAL-OER)
which provides constraints on the Basic Octet Encoding Rules and produces a unique encoding for any given ASN.1
value. It is implicit in the specification of these encoding rules that they are also to be used for decoding.
The encoding rules specified in this Recommendation | International Standard:
– are used at the time of communication;
– are intended for use in circumstances where encoding/decoding speed is the major concern in the choice
of encoding rules;
– allow the extension of an abstract syntax by addition of extra values for all forms of extensibility
described in Rec. ITU-T X.680 | ISO/IEC 8824-1.
2 Normative references
The following Recommendations and International Standards contain provisions which, through reference in this text,
constitute provisions of this Recommendation | International Standard. At the time of publication, the editions indicated
were valid. All Recommendations and Standards are subject to revision, and parties to agreements based on this
Recommendation | International Standard are encouraged to investigate the possibility of applying the most recent
edition of the Recommendations and Standards listed below. Members of IEC and ISO maintain registers of currently
valid International Standards. The Telecommunication Standardization Bureau of the ITU maintains a list of currently
valid ITU-T Recommendations.
NOTE – This Recommendation | International Standard is based on ISO/IEC 10646:2003 and the Unicode standard version
3.2.0:2002. It cannot be applied using later versions of these two standards.
2.1 Identical Recommendations | International Standards
– Recommendation ITU-T X.680 (2021) | ISO/IEC 8824-1:2021, Information technology – Abstract
Syntax Notation One (ASN.1): Specification of basic notation.
– Recommendation ITU-T X.681 (2021) | ISO/IEC 8824-2:2021, Information technology – Abstract
Syntax Notation One (ASN.1): Information object specification.
– Recommendation ITU-T X.682 (2021) | ISO/IEC 8824-3:2021, Information technology – Abstract
Syntax Notation One (ASN.1): Constraint specification.
– Recommendation ITU-T X.683 (2021) | ISO/IEC 8824-4:2021, Information technology – Abstract
Syntax Notation One (ASN.1): Parameterization of ASN.1 specifications.
– Recommendation ITU-T X.690 (2021) | ISO/IEC 8825-1:2021, Information technology – ASN.1
encoding rules: Specification of Basic Encoding Rules (BER), Canonical Encoding Rules (CER) and
Distinguished Encoding Rules (DER).
– Recommendation ITU-T X.691 (2021) | ISO/IEC 8825-2:2021, Information technology – ASN.1
encoding rules: Specification of Packed Encoding Rules (PER).
NOTE – The references above shall be interpreted as references to the identified Recommendations | International Standards
together with all their published amendments and technical corrigenda.
2.2 Additional references
– ISO/IEC 2375:2003, Information technology – Procedure for registration of escape sequences and
coded character sets.
– ISO International Register of Coded Character Sets to be Used with Escape Sequences.
– ISO/IEC 10646:2003, Information technology – Universal Multiple-Octet Coded Character Set (UCS).
 Rec. ITU-T X.696 (02/2021) 1
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ISO/IEC 8825-7:2021 (E)
3 Definitions
For the purposes of this Recommendation | International Standard, the following definitions apply.
3.1 Specification of basic notation
For the purposes of this Recommendation | International Standard, all the definitions in Rec. ITU-T X.680 |
ISO/IEC 8824-1 apply.
3.2 Information object specification
For the purposes of this Recommendation | International Standard, all the definitions in Rec. ITU-T X.681 |
ISO/IEC 8824-2 apply.
3.3 Constraint specification
This Recommendation | International Standard makes use of the following terms defined in Rec. ITU-T X.682 |
ISO/IEC 8824-3:
a) component relation constraint;
b) table constraint.
3.4 Parameterization of ASN.1 specification
This Recommendation | International Standard makes use of the following term defined in Rec. ITU-T X.683 |
ISO/IEC 8824-4:
– variable constraint.
3.5 Basic Encoding Rules (BER)
This Recommendation | International Standard makes use of the following terms defined in Rec. ITU-T X.690 |
ISO/IEC 8825-1:
a) data value;
b) dynamic conformance;
c) encoding (of a data value);
d) receiver;
e) sender;
f) static conformance.
3.6 Packed Encoding Rules (PER)
This Recommendation | International Standard makes use of the following terms defined in Rec. ITU-T X.691 |
ISO/IEC 8825-2:
a) canonical encoding;
b) composite type;
c) composite value;
d) known-multiplier character string type;
e) outermost type;
f) relay-safe encoding;
g) simple type;
h) textually dependent.
3.7 Additional definitions
For the purposes of this Recommendation | International Standard, the following definitions apply.
2 Rec. ITU-T X.696 (02/2021)
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ISO/IEC 8825-7:2021 (E)
3.7.1 abstract syntax value: A value of an abstract syntax (defined as a set of values of a single ASN.1 type)
which is to be encoded by BASIC-OER or CANONICAL-OER, or which is generated by BASIC-OER or
CANONICAL-OER decoding.
3.7.2 effective value constraint (of an integer type): The smallest integer range that includes all the values of the
integer type that are permitted by the OER-visible constraints (see 8.2.7).
3.7.3 effective size constraint (of a string type): The smallest integer range that includes the lengths of all the
values of the string type that are permitted by the OER-visible constraints (see 8.2.8).
3.7.4 fixed-size signed number: A word (see 3.7.13) representing a negative, zero or positive whole number
encoded as a signed integer encoding (see 3.7.9).
NOTE 1 – The least significant bit of the whole number is stored in bit 1 of the last octet of the word.
NOTE 2 – The range of integers that can be encoded as fixed-size signed numbers is −128 to 127 for a one-octet word,
−32768 to 32767 for a two-octet word, −2147483648 to 2147483647 for a four-octet word, and
−9223372036854775808 to 9223372036854775807 for an eight-octet word.
3.7.5 fixed-size unsigned number: A word (see 3.7.13) representing a zero or positive whole number encoded as
an unsigned integer encoding (see 3.7.10).
NOTE 1 – The least significant bit of the whole number is stored in bit 1 of the last octet of the word.
NOTE 2 – The smallest integer that can be encoded as fixed-size unsigned numbers of any size is 0. The largest integer that can
be encoded as a fixed-size unsigned number is 255 for a one-octet word, 65535 for a two-octet word, 4294967295 for a four-octet
word, and 18446744073709551615 for an eight-octet word.
3.7.6 length determinant: A group of one or more consecutive octets encoding the length of a series of octets
(see 8.6).
3.7.7 octet: A group of eight consecutive bits, numbered from bit 8 (the most significant bit) to bit 1 (the least
significant bit).
NOTE – Within an OER encoding, each octet starts at a location that is a whole multiple of eight bits from the first bit of the
encoding.
3.7.8 OER-visible constraint: An instance of use of the ASN.1 constraint notation that affects the OER encoding
of a value.
3.7.9 signed integer encoding: The encoding of a whole number into a group of consecutive octets of a specified
length as a 2's-complement binary integer, which provides representations for whole numbers that are equal to, greater
than or less than zero.
NOTE – The value of a signed integer encoding is derived by numbering the bits in the octets of the group, starting with bit 1 of
N
the last octet and ending the numbering with bit 8 of the first octet. Each bit is assigned a numerical value of 2 , where N is its
position (starting from 0) in the above numbering sequence. The value of the signed integer encoding is obtained by summing the
numerical values assigned to each bit for those bits which are set to one, excluding bit 8 of the first octet, and then reducing this
value by the numerical value assigned to bit 8 of the first octet if that bit is set to one.
3.7.10 unsigned integer encoding: The encoding of a whole number into a group of consecutive octets of a
specified length as an unsigned binary integer, which provides representations for whole numbers that are equal to or
greater than zero.
NOTE – The value of an unsigned integer encoding is derived by numbering the bits in the octets of the group, starting with bit 1
N
of the last octet and ending the numbering with bit 8 of the first octet. Each bit is assigned a numerical value of 2 , where N is its
position (starting from 0) in the above numbering sequence. The value of the unsigned integer encoding is obtained by summing
the numerical values assigned to each bit for those bits which are set to one.
3.7.11 variable-size signed number: A group of one or more consecutive octets containing a negative, zero, or
positive whole number encoded as a signed integer encoding, with the least significant bit of the binary number stored
in bit 1 of the last octet of the variable-size signed number.
NOTE – There are no restrictions to the length of such a group of octets. In particular, the Basic Octet Encoding Rules (but not
the Canonical Octet Encoding Rules) allow the presence of redundant octets set to 0 (for zero or positive values) or 255 (for
negative values) at the beginning of the group.
3.7.12 variable-size unsigned number: A group of one or more consecutive octets containing a zero or positive
whole number encoded as an unsigned integer encoding, with the least significant bit of the binary number stored in
bit 1 of the last octet of the variable-size unsigned number.
NOTE – There are no restrictions to the length of such a group of octets. In particular, the Basic Octet Encoding Rules (but not
the Canonical Octet Encoding Rules) allow the presence of redundant octets set to 0 at the beginning of the group.
3.7.13 word: A group of one, two, four or eight consecutive octets containing the encoding of a whole number,
where the first octet contains the most significant part of the number and the last octet contains the least significant part
of the number.
 Rec. ITU-T X.696 (02/2021) 3
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ISO/IEC 8825-7:2021 (E)
NOTE 1 – A single octet is also a word according to this definition. The octet ordering of words consisting of 2, 4 or 8 octets is
big-endian.
NOTE 2 – Within an OER encoding, a word can start at any location within the encoding that is a whole number of octets from
the beginning of the encoding (that is, there is no requirement that a word should start on a word boundary).
4 Abbreviations
For the purposes of this Recommendation | International Standard, the following abbreviations apply:
ASN.1 Abstract Syntax Notation One
BER Basic Encoding Rules of ASN.1
ITS Intelligent Transportation Systems
NTCIP National Transportation Communications for ITS Protocol
OER Octet Encoding Rules of ASN.1
PER Packed Encoding Rules of ASN.1
PDU Protocol Data Unit
5 Convention
For the purposes of this Recommendation | International Standard, the bits of an octet are numbered from 8 to 1, where
bit 8 is the most significant bit and bit 1 is the least significant bit.
6 Encodings specified by this Recommendation | International Standard
6.1 This Recommendation | International Standard specifies two sets of encoding rules (together with their
associated object identifiers) which can be used to encode and decode the values of an abstract syntax defined as the
values of a single (known) ASN.1 type. This clause describes their applicability and properties.
6.2 Without knowledge of the type of the value encoded, it is not possible to determine the structure of the
encoding. In particular, the end of the encoding cannot be determined from the encoding itself without knowledge of the
type being encoded.
6.3 OER encodings are always relay-safe provided the abstract values of the types EXTERNAL, EMBEDDED PDV
and CHARACTER STRING are constrained to prevent the carriage of OSI presentation context identifiers.
6.4 The most general set of encoding rules specified in this Recommendation | International Standard is
BASIC-OER, which does not in general produce a canonical encoding.
6.5 A second set of encoding rules specified in this Recommendation | International Standard is
CANONICAL-OER, which produces encodings that are canonical. This is defined as a restriction of implementation-
dependent choices in the BASIC-OER encoding.
NOTE 1 – CANONICAL-OER produces encodings that have applications when authenticators need to be applied to abstract
values.
NOTE 2 – Any implementation conforming to CANONICAL-OER for encoding is conformant to BASIC-OER for encoding.
Any implementation conforming to BASIC-OER for decoding is conformant to CANONICAL-OER for decoding. Thus,
encodings made according to CANONICAL-OER are encodings that are permitted by BASIC-OER.
6.6 If a type encoded with BASIC-OER or CANONICAL-OER contains EXTERNAL, EMBEDDED PDV or
CHARACTER STRING types, then the outer encoding ceases to be relay-safe unless the transfer syntax used for all the
EXTERNAL, EMBEDDED PDV or CHARACTER STRING types is relay-safe. If a type encoded with CANONICAL-OER
contains EXTERNAL, EMBEDDED PDV or CHARACTER STRING types, then the outer encoding ceases to be canonical
unless the encod
...