Date: Fri, 26 Jun 92 16:04:23 -0400 From: timbl@zippy.lcs.mit.edu (Tim Berners-Lee) Message-Id: <9206262004.AA29919@zippy.lcs.mit.edu> To: ietf-udi@merit.edu, ietf@isi.edu, nir@nxoc01.cern.ch, Subject: IETF BOF on Universal Document Identifiers Cc: erik.huizer@surfnet.nl, mdavies@nri.reston.va.us Universal Document Identifiers UDI BOF Time: Monday 13th July 1992 1:30 pm Chair: Tim Berners-Lee Background document: file://info.cern.ch/pub/www/doc/udi2.ps Aim: To define some clear decisions to be made by a small WG to be formed. A skeleton charter for such a working group is appended, and may be discussed at the BOF. The overall aim is to standardize on one unifying printable representation for names and addresses of retrievable objects in existing and future name and address spaces. Those who have not been following the discussion are asked to read the background document first. An archive of some of the discussion is available as file://info.cern.ch/pub/www/doc/udi/discussion.mbox . The BOF will avoid philosophy and a discussion of the differences between names and addresses, or the relative merits of different naming schemes, or the combination of names in different spaces recommended to refer to an object. If new schemes are required, a separate effort may be forked off to create them. _________________________________________________________________ Provisional Charter: To define a printable string syntax to the allow 1. The expression of the address on the network of any accesable object using existing information retrieval protocols; 2. The expression of the name of any object held in a directory system or unique naming space on the network; 3. The distinction to be made easily in the syntax between such protocols and directories and name spaces; 4. New protocols, directories and naming schemes to be included as and when they are developed. The aim of the working group is to further the exchange of information between people and applications using the network by allowing an unambiguous reference to be cited to accessible units of information. The working group will build on experience with existing information retrieval protocols and will not invent new protocols or name spaces. The working group will note the properties of established name and address spaces. Deliverable: A Document describing: Overall syntax, character sets and limitations Formats for addresses of:- FTP files and directories WAIS documents and databases HTTP objects NNTP newsgroups and articles Gopher items. Standards track. B Appendices to document A for x500 distinguished name spaces C Appendices to document A for selected established unique identifier name spaces. (possible separate parallel working group). Milestones: Define at BOF.