International Telemetering Conference Proceedings / October 13-16, 1986 / Riviera Hotel, Las Vegas, Nevada / Transaction messages are those which control action at a remote point. They are used in communication networks for such functions as surveillance of alarms, performance monitoring, administration of data bases and tests of leased circuits. Generic interface requirements permit full compatibility of a wide range of telecommunications equipment with common operations systems. The specifications cover all aspects of the interface, from connectors to messages. Existing commercial standards are used where appropriate, including those of the Open System Interconnection (OSI) model. This paper covers the methods used to define the requirements and reports on the status of work in various standards groups.