Delay-Tolerant Networking Metadata Extension Block
RFC 6258

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Internet Research Task Force (IRTF)                         S. Symington
Request for Comments: 6258                         The MITRE Corporation
Category: Experimental                                          May 2011
ISSN: 2070-1721

           Delay-Tolerant Networking Metadata Extension Block

Abstract

   This document defines an extension block that may be used with the
   Delay-Tolerant Networking (DTN) Bundle Protocol.  This Metadata
   Extension Block is designed to carry additional information that DTN
   nodes can use to make processing decisions regarding bundles, such as
   deciding whether to store a bundle or determining to which nodes to
   forward a bundle.  The metadata that is carried in a metadata block
   must be formatted according to the metadata type that is identified
   in the block's metadata type field.  One specific metadata type, for
   carrying URIs as metadata, is defined in this document.  Other
   metadata types may be defined in separate documents.  This document
   is a product of the Delay Tolerant Networking Research Group and has
   been reviewed by that group.  No objections to its publication as an
   RFC were raised.

Status of This Memo

   This document is not an Internet Standards Track specification; it is
   published for examination, experimental implementation, and
   evaluation.

   This document defines an Experimental Protocol for the Internet
   community.  This document is a product of the Internet Research Task
   Force (IRTF).  The IRTF publishes the results of Internet-related
   research and development activities.  These results might not be
   suitable for deployment.  This RFC represents the consensus of the
   Delay-Tolerant Networking Research Group of the Internet Research
   Task Force (IRTF).  Documents approved for publication by the IRSG
   are not a candidate for any level of Internet Standard; see Section 2
   of RFC 5741.

   Information about the current status of this document, any errata,
   and how to provide feedback on it may be obtained at
   http://www.rfc-editor.org/info/rfc6258.

Symington                     Experimental                      [Page 1]
RFC 6258              DTN Metadata Extension Block              May 2011

Copyright Notice

   Copyright (c) 2011 IETF Trust and the persons identified as the
   document authors.  All rights reserved.

   This document is subject to BCP 78 and the IETF Trust's Legal
   Provisions Relating to IETF Documents
   (http://trustee.ietf.org/license-info) in effect on the date of
   publication of this document.  Please review these documents
   carefully, as they describe your rights and restrictions with respect
   to this document.

Table of Contents

   1. Introduction ....................................................2
      1.1. Requirements Language ......................................4
   2. Metadata Block Format ...........................................4
   3. Metadata Block Processing .......................................5
      3.1. Bundle Transmission ........................................6
      3.2. Bundle Forwarding ..........................................6
      3.3. Bundle Reception ...........................................6
   4. Predefined Metadata Types .......................................6
      4.1. URI Metadata Type ..........................................6
      4.2. Private Metadata Types .....................................7
   5. Security Considerations .........................................7
   6. IANA Considerations .............................................8
      6.1. Metadata Type Codes ........................................8
      6.2. Block Type Code for the Metadata Block .....................9
   7. References ......................................................9
      7.1. Normative References .......................................9
      7.2. Informative References .....................................9

1.  Introduction

   This document defines an extension block that may be used with the
   Bundle Protocol [RFC5050] within the context of a Delay-Tolerant
   Networking architecture [RFC4838].  The DTN Bundle Protocol [RFC5050]
   defines the bundle as its protocol data unit.  This document defines
   a bundle block called a "metadata block".  This block is designed to
   carry additional information that DTN nodes can use to make
   processing decisions regarding bundles.

   The metadata block has been deliberately defined to be flexible
   enough that it would be capable of supporting a variety of metadata
   types and formats.  Indeed, the only restriction imposed on the
   metadata to be used is that its type and format be predefined and
   registered (if public) so that it can be parsed and processed by DTN
   nodes that support metadata of that type.  Section 4 defines a

Symington                     Experimental                      [Page 2]
RFC 6258              DTN Metadata Extension Block              May 2011