Xref: utzoo comp.protocols.tcp-ip:9711 comp.org.usenix:1246
Path: utzoo!utgpu!jarvis.csri.toronto.edu!clyde.concordia.ca!uunet!datapg!sewilco
From: sewilco@datapg.MN.ORG (Scot E Wilcoxon)
Newsgroups: comp.protocols.tcp-ip,comp.org.usenix
Subject: Re: Networks considered harmful/Re: USENIX board studies UUCP
Message-ID: <24189@datapg.MN.ORG>
Date: 23 Dec 89 03:10:56 GMT
References: <8912200236.AA25652@ucbvax.Berkeley.EDU> <7375@ficc.uu.net> <106@van-bc.UUCP>
Reply-To: sewilco@datapg.MN.ORG (Scot E Wilcoxon)
Followup-To: comp.protocols.tcp-ip
Organization: Data Progress, Minneapolis, MN
Lines: 31

I thought "Networks considered harmful" suggested generalizing message
connections so any caller could deliver mail to any callee.

I think that some messages are best delivered by text, some by graphics,
and some by voice.  A "telephone" could answer with signals which tell
the calling "telephone" which types of messages can be handled, and the
local preference.  The "telephones" can be connected to voice answering
machines, e-mail computers, fax machines, handsets (for "live" voice
calls), and other devices.  Various translations (email to fax, email
to voice, etc) could be provided by "telephones" or connected devices.

Allowing uucico to be a front end for negotiating various protocols is
a step in the right direction, but before the uucico handshake there
should be another level of handshaking.  This connection-making front
end must know what type of work needs to be done and what type of
connection has been made (the latter at present by a combination of
the type of device being used and the call progress messages from
the modem, such as "CONNECT 2400" or "FAX 9600").  By knowing the
type of work, the connection-making front end can decide whether
to start uucico or translate email to fax.

The connection-making front end could also handle connection
negotiations for smart "telephones", but some negotiation protocols
should also be defined for popular technologies.  Specifically,
an asynchronous modem connection should begin with one or both
sides deciding what type of connection should be established (ie,
SL/IP, Zmodem, or uucico via a UNIX login).
-- 
Scot E. Wilcoxon  sewilco@DataPg.MN.ORG    {amdahl|hpda}!bungia!datapg!sewilco
Data Progress 	 UNIX masts & rigging  +1 612-825-2607    uunet!datapg!sewilco
	I'm just reversing entropy while waiting for the Big Crunch.