Is the initial sender a node?

I think this may have been covered before; if so, a pointer to the
discussion (which I couldn't find) would be appreciated.

Our definition of node is:

  A SOAP node processes a SOAP message according to the formal set of
  conventions defined by SOAP. The SOAP node is responsible for
  enforcing the rules that govern the exchange of SOAP messages and
  accesses the services provided by the underlying protocols through
  SOAP bindings. Non-compliance with SOAP conventions can cause a
  SOAP node to generate a SOAP fault (see also SOAP receiver and SOAP
  sender).

Here, I infer that 'processes a SOAP message according to the formal
set of conventions defined by SOAP' refers to the processing model in
2.5, "Processing SOAP Messages."

Our definition of initial sender is:
 
  The SOAP sender that originates a SOAP message as the starting
  point of a SOAP message path.

And a SOAP sender is defined as a SOAP node. 

Following these definitions, with the above interpretation of the
processing model, it appears that initial senders follow the
processing model. 

Is this the case?

My intuition is that our definition of node is based on the incorrect
criteria. I can see cases where it would be useful to target blocks
at the initial sender (e.g., 'encrypt the body and insert a
decryption block targeted at foo'), but I don't remember seeing
evidence of this in our discussions of how modules work, etc. (tho my
memory is notoriously bad).

-- 
Mark Nottingham
http://www.mnot.net/

Received on Wednesday, 17 October 2001 17:32:29 UTC