From 4bfd864f10b68b71482b35c818559068ef8d5797 Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001 From: Thomas Voss Date: Wed, 27 Nov 2024 20:54:24 +0100 Subject: doc: Add RFC documents --- doc/rfc/rfc42.txt | 171 ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ 1 file changed, 171 insertions(+) create mode 100644 doc/rfc/rfc42.txt (limited to 'doc/rfc/rfc42.txt') diff --git a/doc/rfc/rfc42.txt b/doc/rfc/rfc42.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..43c7c9f --- /dev/null +++ b/doc/rfc/rfc42.txt @@ -0,0 +1,171 @@ + + + + + + +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 ] + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Ancona [Page 3] + -- cgit v1.2.3