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authorThomas Voss <mail@thomasvoss.com> 2024-11-27 20:54:24 +0100
committerThomas Voss <mail@thomasvoss.com> 2024-11-27 20:54:24 +0100
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+Network Working Group E.I. Ancona
+Request for Comments: 42 M.I.T. Lincoln Laboratory
+ 31 March 1970
+
+
+ Message Data Types
+
+
+ Proposal:
+
+ We propose that the first eight bits of a normal message be reserved
+ for a message data type. Adoption of this convention does not in any
+ way signify agreement as to the actual data types to be used. It
+ merely establishes the convention that the first eight bits of every
+ normal message are not available for user data.
+
+ Discussion:
+
+ Socket Port
+ | | | ____________
+ | V V / \
+ V / \
+ |=| /==| |
+ -------(+)->|Y|-->< | |
+ |=| \==| |
+ | PROCESS |
+ | |
+ |=| /==| |
+ -------(-)->|X|<--< | |
+ |=| \==| |
+ \ /
+ \____________/
+
+ It is important that conventions regarding the contents of messages
+ be set up early so that there will not be a large proliferation of
+ such conventions between every pair of programs running on the
+ network.
+
+ As network usage grows, network languages may develop for specifying
+ both the syntax and semantics of messages. However, even before such
+ conventions are developed, a simple way of describing such a
+ specification is by means of a message type which both sender and
+ receiver know how to interpret.
+
+ It is important that currently running programs still run with this
+ convention; thus, we propose that two system programs be written
+ which initially put in and test and remove the type information from
+ the message. Let us call these two programs X and Y, for lack of
+
+
+
+Ancona [Page 1]
+
+RFC 42 Message Data Types March 1970
+
+
+ better names. In general, X and Y will perform transformations on
+ the data, e.g., change character sets or number formats. As network
+ usage grows, X and Y might become table driven with the table
+ specified by the user.
+
+ Standard Types and Local Types:
+
+ We propose to distinguish between two kinds of message data types:
+ standard and local.
+
+ Since our two transformation programs cannot be expected to perform a
+ transformation between every possible data representation and the
+ data representation of the machine they are running on, and also
+ since the addition of a data representation should not necessarily
+ involve a change to X or Y, we propose that only a fixed number of
+ message types have meaning throughout the network. These are
+ standard types.
+
+ There are two classes of local types: MYLOCAL and YOURLOCAL. A
+ message type MYLOCAL n implies: this is type n of the set of types of
+ the sending host. YOURLOCAL n implies: this is type n of the set of
+ types of the receiving host.
+
+ Conventions:
+
+ A possible implementation of standard and local types is to define
+ standard type 0 to be YOURLOCAL and standard type 1 to be MYLOCAL. In
+ these cases, the second byte would be the local type number.
+
+ Local type 0 would mean user-specified, i.e., the message contents
+ are unchanged and unchecked. Installations would define their own
+ local type numbers and these would normally be available from the
+ Network Information Center.
+
+ Thus initially, all messages sent to currently running programs will
+ be type 0, n and all messages received from currently running
+ programs will be type 1, n where n is the local type number of the
+ character set of the installation.
+
+ Examples of Possible Standard Types:
+
+ 0. YOURLOCAL
+ 1. MYLOCAL
+ 2. U.S. Ascii
+ 3. EBCDIC
+ 4. Mod 33 TTY Ascii
+
+
+
+
+
+Ancona [Page 2]
+
+RFC 42 Message Data Types March 1970
+
+
+ 5. Load table driven translator table #n. If, in the
+ future, the X and Y transformation boxes are table
+ driven, this gives the table. The table number n is
+ stored in the second byte of the message.
+ 6. Use table driven translator table #n.
+ 7. Network standard graphics message.
+
+ Examples of Local Types:
+
+ 1. Local Character sets, e.g., Lincoln writer, DEC Ascii,
+ etc.
+ 2. Graphics local messages, e.g., TX-2 Apex display
+ executive calls, GSAM.
+
+
+
+ [ This RFC was put into machine readable form for entry ]
+ [ into the online RFC archives by Robbie Bennet 11/98 ]
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+Ancona [Page 3]
+