A Simple Mode of Facsimile Using Internet Mail
RFC 2305
Document | Type |
RFC - Proposed Standard
(March 1998; No errata)
Obsoleted by RFC 3965
Was draft-ietf-fax-service (fax WG)
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Last updated | 2015-10-14 | ||
Stream | IETF | ||
Formats | plain text html pdf htmlized bibtex | ||
Stream | WG state | (None) | |
Document shepherd | No shepherd assigned | ||
IESG | IESG state | RFC 2305 (Proposed Standard) | |
Consensus Boilerplate | Unknown | ||
Telechat date | |||
Responsible AD | Ned Freed | ||
Send notices to | (None) |
Network Working Group K. Toyoda Request for Comments: 2305 H. Ohno Category: Standards Track J. Murai WIDE Project D. Wing Cisco March 1998 A Simple Mode of Facsimile Using Internet Mail Status of this Memo This document specifies an Internet standards track protocol for the Internet community, and requests discussion and suggestions for improvements. Please refer to the current edition of the "Internet Official Protocol Standards" (STD 1) for the standardization state and status of this protocol. Distribution of this memo is unlimited. Copyright Notice Copyright (C) The Internet Society (1998). All Rights Reserved. SUMMARY This specification provides for "simple mode" carriage of facsimile data over the Internet. Extensions to this document will follow. The current specification employs standard protocols and file formats such as TCP/IP, Internet mail protocols [1, 2, 3], MIME [4, 16, 17], and TIFF for Facsimile [5,6,19]. It can send images not only to other Internet-aware facsimile devices but also to Internet-native systems, such as PCs with common email readers which can handle MIME mail and TIFF for Facsimile data. The specification facilitates communication among existing facsimile devices, Internet mail agents, and the gateways which connect them. The key words "MUST", "SHOULD", "SHOULD NOT", and "MAY" in this document are to be interpreted as described in [7]. 1 SCOPE This specification defines a message-based facsimile communication over the Internet. It describes a minimum set of capabilities, taking into account those of typical facsimile devices and PCs that can generate facsimile data. Toyoda, et. al. Standards Track [Page 1] RFC 2305 Simple Mode of Facsimile March 1998 A G3Fax device has substantial restrictions due to specifications in the standards, such as for timers. This specification defines a profile for Internet mail, rather than creating a distinct "facsimile over the Internet" service. The semantics resulting from the profile are designed to be compatible with facsimile operation over the general switched telephone network, so that gateways between facsimile and Internet mail can operate with very high fidelity. The reason for developing this capability as an email profile is to permit interworking amongst facsimile and email users. For example it is intended that existing email users be able to send normal messages to lists of users, including facsimile-based recipients, and that other email recipients shall be able to reply to the original and continue to include facsimile recipients. Similarly it is intended that existing email software work without modification and not be required to process new, or different data structures, beyond what is normal for Internet mail users. Existing email service standards are used, rather than replicating mechanisms which are more tailored to existing facsimile standards, to ensure this compatibility with existing email service. 1.1 Services A facsimile-capable device that uses T.4 [8] and the general switched telephone network (GSTN) is called a "G3Fax device" in this specification. An "IFax device" is an Internet- accessible device capable of sending, receiving or forwarding Internet faxes. A message can be sent to an IFax device using an Internet mail address. A message can be sent to a G3Fax device using an Internet mail address; the message MAY be forwarded via an IFax offramp gateway. 1.2 Cases This specification provides for communication between each of the following combinations: Internet mail => Network printer Internet mail => Offramp gateway (forward to G3Fax) Network scanner => Network printer Network scanner => Offramp gateway (forward to G3Fax) Network scanner => Internet mail Toyoda, et. al. Standards Track [Page 2] RFC 2305 Simple Mode of Facsimile March 1998 2 COMMUNICATION PROTOCOLS The set of conventions necessary to achieve facsimile- compatible service covers basic data transport, document data formats, message (document) addressing, delivery confirmation, and message security. In this section, the first 4 are covered. The remainder are covered in following sections, along with additional details for addressingShow full document text