Re: How to add new "protocols" ?

> From http-wg-request@cuckoo.hpl.hp.com Tue Feb 18 16:54:32 1997
> Resent-Date: Wed, 19 Feb 1997 00:49:58 GMT
> Date: Tue, 18 Feb 1997 19:49:27 -0500 (EST)
> From: Simon Spero <ses@tipper.oit.unc.edu>
> On Tue, 18 Feb 1997, Larry Masinter wrote:
> 
> > I think the short answer to "how to add new protocols to HTTP"
> > is that "there isn't any way right now" and that if anyone
> > has a serious proposal for how to do so and under what circumstances
> > it would be a reasonable thing to do, they should write it up.
> 
> Techniques available:
> 
> 	1) try  alternate protocol, and use it if it works. Cache result
> 	   of test. 

Increases the connection latency. Bad in general. Besides, 
which protocol do you try?

> 	2) Use DNS records to get info on which protocol to use.

I can't do the DNS lookup until I can parse the //.../ location field,
which I can't do until I know the protocol. Circularity ensues.

> 	3) Use Upgrade: header

Two connections are better than one?

> 	4) Use invalid method to probe. 

Same?


The HTTP spec is just underpowered on this one.
The current URL starting with http: assumes TCP,
and makes lots of other assumptions about the
interpretation of the location id. 

Joe
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Joe Touch - touch@isi.edu		    http://www.isi.edu/~touch/
ISI / Project Leader, ATOMIC-2, LSAM       http://www.isi.edu/atomic2/
USC / Research Assistant Prof.                http://www.isi.edu/lsam/