The IEC 61968 series, taken as a whole, defines interfaces for the major elements of an interface architecture for Distribution Management Systems (DMS). IEC 61968-1 identifies and establishes requirements for standard interfaces based on an Interface Reference Model (IRM). The IEC 61968 series is limited to the definition of interfaces and is implementation independent. It provides for interoperability among different computer systems, platforms, and languages. Methods and technologies used to implement a functionality conforming to these interfaces are considered outside of the scope of the IEC 61968 series; only the interface itself is specified in these standards. This part specifies the information content of a set of message types that can be used to support many of the business functions related to network operations. Typical uses of the message types defined in this part include data acquisition by external systems, fault isolation, fault restoration, trouble management, maintenance of the plant, and the commissioning of the plant.