items and groups

We are introducing "groups" into the abstract 
protocol.  Currently we have the abstract request parameters 
"startPosition" and "maximumItems".    A server might serve records by group and/or item, 
so we want to introduce the request parameter "startGroup".   Or 
"group".

 

Question: if a client requests by group, say it 
asks for group 3, does it also indicate a number of groups?

 

I asked this question at the call and thought I 
heard the answer "no", that if it ask for a group, it is asking for just that 
group.   However according to my notes (and the minutes) the server 
response should include "number of groups returned" - though I think that should 
be number of groups" (not "returned", just the number created).

 

So we want to do one of the following:

 

-  if the client is allowed to request 
multiple groups:

    -- add request parameter 
startGroup

    -- add request parameter 
maximumGroups

   --  add response parameter 
numberOfGroups (in either case)

 

-If not

     -- add request parameter 
group

   --  add response parameter 
numberOfGroups

 

Which one?

 

--Ray