def METHOD_NAME(cls):
    """
    Schema for options validation and assignment of default values.
    """
    return {
        "hosts": Or(*make_iterables([str, ContextValue])),
        "ports": Or(*make_iterables([int, ContextValue])),
        ConfigOption("message_pattern", default=zmq.PAIR): Or(
            zmq.PAIR, zmq.REQ, zmq.SUB, zmq.PULL
        ),
        ConfigOption("connect_at_start", default=True): bool,
    }