Question: When encoding information elements for the SGsAP protocol, how should spare bits be handled by both the sender and the receiver?
Option 1: The sender sets them to one, and the receiver corrects them if necessary.
Option 2: The sender randomly assigns values, and the receiver interprets them as additional data.
Option 3: The sender ignores them, and the receiver assumes a default value.
Option 4: The sender sets them to zero, and the receiver ignores them.
Explanation: This is the correct approach to handle spare bits in protocol encoding for efficient and error-free communication. Setting spare bits to zero by the sender ensures consistency, while ignoring them by the receiver prevents potential misinterpretation of unused bits, maintaining compatibility with future updates that might utilize these bits. This practice aligns with standard protocols' robustness and forward compatibility principles.