A PLT FLYING A CE182RG FOLLOWS A STAR BUT DSNDS AT HIS OWN DISCRETION. HE CONFUSES THE STAR INTO THE LAX; CA; AREA WITH A PROFILE DSCNT.

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WAS ON AN IFR FLT PLAN FROM SQL TO BUR AT 9000 FT. AT LAKE HUGHES VOR; BEGAN EXECUTION OF THE LYNXX 7 ARR; TURNING TO 170 DEGS AND COMMENCING DSCNT TO 7800 FT WITHIN 5 DME AS DEPICTED ON THE STAR. AT ABOUT 7800 FT; THE CTLR ASKED WHAT I WAS DOING. I RESPONDED THAT I WAS EXECUTING THE LYNXX 7 ARR. HE ADVISED THAT I WAS TO REMAIN AT THE ASSIGNED ALT (9000 FT) UNTIL TOLD TO DSND BY A CTLR; THAT I WAS TREATING THE STAR AS A PROFILE DSCNT WHICH WAS NOT AUTH. I THEN CLBED BACK TO 9000 FT AND THE FLT CONTINUED TO DEST WITHOUT FURTHER INCIDENT. FLYING FROM SMALL TWRED AND NON TWRED ARPTS; I HAVE USED SIDS OCCASIONALLY BUT NOT STARS; HENCE; I REVIEWED THE LYNXX 7 ARR CAREFULLY BEFORE THE FLT; INCLUDING THE DEFINITION FROM THE COMMERCIAL CHART MANUAL AND A BOOK ON INST FLT. COMMERCIAL CHART DEFINES A STAR AS 'A PREPLANNED INST FLT RULE ATC ARR PROC PUBLISHED FOR PLT USE IN GRAPHIC AND/OR TEXTUAL FORM. STARS PROVIDE TRANSITION FROM THE ENRTE STRUCTURE TO AN OUTER FIX OR AN INST APCH....' THE BOOK STATES; 'THE STAR PROVIDES RTES AND ALTS FROM THE ENRTE STRUCTURE TO THE ARPT.' NOWHERE ON A SID OR STAR IS AN INSTRUCTION TO REMAIN AT AN ASSIGNED ALT UNTIL TOLD OTHERWISE BY A CTLR. SINCE MY CLRNC HAD INCLUDED THE LYNXX 7 ARR; I THOUGHT THAT I WAS SUPPOSED TO EXECUTE THE PUBLISHED PROC. THIS EXPERIENCE HAS TAUGHT ME OTHERWISE.