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+Network Working Group                                      T. P. Skinner
+Request for Comments: 58                                 MIT Project MAC
+                                                               June 1970
+
+                    Logical Message Synchronization
+
+
+At the last network meeting, the question of logical and physical
+message distinctions was raised.  An argument was made in favor of
+never running two logical messages together as one or more physical
+messages.  Another method of stating this is that a logical message
+must begin on a physical message boundary.  This did not, however,
+solve the problem of locating the end of a logical message.  A rather
+poor technique was suggested by myself which consisted of using the
+first partial physical message as an indication of the last physical
+message of the logical message.  This technique was thrown out for a
+number of very valid reasons.  The solution that seemed most pleasing
+was the inclusion of some sort of a bit count or data type
+specification to precede the logical message.  Most everyone seemed to
+like this even though it was stated in a very general way.
+
+As of this writing it appears that it is desired to completely sever
+the relation between physical and logical messages.  This certainly is
+aesthetically pleasing.  However, we are now forced to view the
+network as a virtually infinite bit stream with no physical
+delineations.  It may well do to transmit a logical header and bit
+count for each message as long as there are no errors along the line.
+If, however, a bit is dropped, the problem of synchronization is
+compounded by the fact that we have no ability to search for the
+beginning of a logical message other than brute force.  An error of
+this type could be introduced by faulty host or user software/hardware
+as well as the imp itself.  This would involve the shifting of the
+message bit by bit and seeing if the data looked reasonable.  This
+could certainly be time-consuming as well as introducing the
+possibility of false synchronism.
+
+I can think of several solutions to the problem at the moment.  None
+of them seems to be very good.  Upon losing synchronism, a user could
+send some form of error message to the other host.  The other host
+could then in return cease sending and wait for a message to continue
+from the troubled user.  This would allow the troubled user to flush
+out all waiting input.  He would then be assured that the next bit
+started a logical message.  The problems here are in assuring
+synchrony due to input/output buffering in the network and at both
+hosts.  How, for example, can the troubled host be assured he has all
+the pending data?  Once he is sure, he can then resume input assuming
+all is OK.
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+                                                                [Page 1]
+
+Another partial solution requires the original restriction that
+logical messages always start on physical boundaries.  A user then
+merely has to examine the beginning of each physical message to see if
+it fits the pattern of a logical message header.  This technique is a
+lot safer than examining the entire input stream as well as being
+quite a bit faster.
+
+I have not intended to suggest a solution to the problem, but merely
+bring it to light.  If we want to restrict logical messages to begin
+on physical boundaries we must plan this early in the game.  (It
+probably works out that way in most cases anyway.)  Other schemes can
+be tried later.  We must, however, face up to this problem fairly
+soon.
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+       [ This RFC was put into machine readable form for entry ]
+        [ into the online RFC archives by Carl Alexander 7/97 ]
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+                                                                [Page 2]
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