Terminology and Goals for Internet Fax
RFC 2542

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Network Working Group                                        L. Masinter
Request for Comments: 2542                             Xerox Corporation
Category: Informational                                       March 1999

                 Terminology and Goals for Internet Fax

Status of this Memo

   This memo provides information for the Internet community.  It does
   not specify an Internet standard of any kind.  Distribution of this
   memo is unlimited.

Copyright Notice

   Copyright (C) The Internet Society (1999).  All Rights Reserved.

Abstract

   This document defines a number of terms useful for the discussion of
   Internet Fax. In addition, it describes the goals of the Internet Fax
   working group and establishes a baseline of desired functionality
   against which protocols for Internet Fax can be judged. It
   encompasses the goals for all modes of facsimile delivery, including
   'real-time', 'session', and 'store and forward'.  Different levels of
   desirability are indicated throughout the document.

Table of Contents

   1. Introduction ..................................................  2
   2. Definitions and Operational Modes .............................  3
    2.1 User model of fax ...........................................  3
    2.2 Definition of Internet Fax ..................................  4
    2.3 Internet Fax Roles ..........................................  5
    2.4 Internet Fax Devices ........................................  5
    2.5 Operational modes ...........................................  8
   3. Goals for Internet Fax ........................................  8
   4. Operational Goals for Internet Fax ............................  9
    4.1 Functionality ...............................................  9
    4.2 Interoperability ............................................  9
    4.3 Confirmation ................................................ 10
    4.4 Quick Delivery .............................................. 11
    4.5 Capabilities ................................................ 12
    4.6 Simplicity .................................................. 12
    4.7 Security .................................................... 13
    4.8 Reliability ................................................. 14
    4.9 Fax-like use ................................................ 14
    4.10 Legal ...................................................... 15

Masinter                     Informational                      [Page 1]
RFC 2542         Terminology and Goals for Internet Fax       March 1999

   5. Functional Goals for Internet Fax ............................. 15
    5.1 Goals for image data representation ......................... 15
    5.2 Goals for transmission ...................................... 16
    5.3 Goals for addressing ........................................ 16
    5.4 Goals for security .......................................... 17
    5.5 Goals for capability exchange ............................... 17
   6. Security Considerations ....................................... 18
   7. Acknowledgements .............................................. 18
   8. Author's Address .............................................. 18
   9. References .................................................... 19
   10. Full Copyright Statement ..................................... 20

1. Introduction

   Facsimile (Fax) has a long tradition as a telephony application for
   sending a document from one terminal device to another.

   Many mechanisms for sending fax documents over the Internet have been
   demonstrated and deployed and are currently in use. The general
   application of using the Internet for facsimile is called "Internet
   Fax".

   This document defines a number of terms useful for the discussion of
   Internet Fax. In addition, it describes the goals for Internet Fax and
   establishes a baseline of desired functionality against which
   protocols for Internet Fax can be judged. It encompasses the goals for
   all modes of facsimile delivery, including "real-time", "session", and
   "store and forward" (terms defined in Section 2 of this document).

   1.1 Terminology used within this document

   Within this document, different levels of desirability for a protocol
   for Internet Fax are indicated by different priorities, indicated in
   {braces}:

      {1} there is general agreement that this is a critical
          characteristic of any definition of Internet Fax.
      {2} most believe that this is an important characteristic
          of Internet Fax.
      {3} there is general belief that this is a useful feature
          of Internet Fax, but that other factors might override;
          a definition that does not provide this element is
          acceptable.

Masinter                     Informational                      [Page 2]
RFC 2542         Terminology and Goals for Internet Fax       March 1999

   In addition, the following terms are used: