Delay-Tolerant Networking TCP Convergence-Layer Protocol
RFC 7242

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Internet Research Task Force (IRTF)                            M. Demmer
Request for Comments: 7242                                   UC Berkeley
Category: Experimental                                            J. Ott
ISSN: 2070-1721                                         Aalto University
                                                            S. Perreault

                                                               June 2014

        Delay-Tolerant Networking TCP Convergence-Layer Protocol

Abstract

   This document describes the protocol for the TCP-based convergence
   layer for Delay-Tolerant Networking (DTN).  It is the product of the
   IRTF's DTN Research Group (DTNRG).

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/rfc7242.

Copyright Notice

   Copyright (c) 2014 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.

Demmer, et al.                Experimental                      [Page 1]
RFC 7242                DTN TCP Convergence Layer              June 2014

Table of Contents

   1. Introduction ....................................................2
   2. Definitions .....................................................4
      2.1. Definitions Specific to the TCPCL Protocol .................4
   3. General Protocol Description ....................................5
      3.1. Bidirectional Use of TCP Connection ........................6
      3.2. Example Message Exchange ...................................6
   4. Connection Establishment ........................................7
      4.1. Contact Header .............................................8
      4.2. Validation and Parameter Negotiation ......................10
   5. Established Connection Operation ...............................11
      5.1. Message Type Codes ........................................11
      5.2. Bundle Data Transmission (DATA_SEGMENT) ...................12
      5.3. Bundle Acknowledgments (ACK_SEGMENT) ......................13
      5.4. Bundle Refusal (REFUSE_BUNDLE) ............................14
      5.5. Bundle Length (LENGTH) ....................................15
      5.6. KEEPALIVE Feature (KEEPALIVE) .............................16
   6. Connection Termination .........................................17
      6.1. Shutdown Message (SHUTDOWN) ...............................17
      6.2. Idle Connection Shutdown ..................................18
   7. Security Considerations ........................................19
   8. IANA Considerations ............................................20
      8.1. Port Number ...............................................20
      8.2. Protocol Versions .........................................20
      8.3. Message Types .............................................20
      8.4. REFUSE_BUNDLE Reason Codes ................................21
      8.5. SHUTDOWN Reason Codes .....................................21
   9. Acknowledgments ................................................21
   10. References ....................................................21
      10.1. Normative References .....................................21
      10.2. Informative References ...................................21

1.  Introduction

   This document describes the TCP-based convergence-layer protocol for
   Delay-Tolerant Networking.  Delay-Tolerant Networking is an end-to-
   end architecture providing communications in and/or through highly
   stressed environments, including those with intermittent
   connectivity, long and/or variable delays, and high bit error rates.
   More detailed descriptions of the rationale and capabilities of these
   networks can be found in "Delay-Tolerant Network Architecture"
   [RFC4838].

   An important goal of the DTN architecture is to accommodate a wide