RFC 2229 (rfc2229) - Page 1 of 30


A Dictionary Server Protocol



Alternative Format: Original Text Document



Network Working Group                                           R. Faith
Request for Comments: 2229                U. North Carolina, Chapel Hill
Category: Informational                                        B. Martin
                                                     Miranda Productions
                                                            October 1997

                      A Dictionary Server Protocol


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 (1997).  All Rights Reserved.

Abstract

   The Dictionary Server Protocol (DICT) is a TCP transaction based
   query/response protocol that allows a client to access dictionary
   definitions from a set of natural language dictionary databases.

Table of Contents

   1.      Introduction .........................................    2
   1.1.    Requirements .........................................    3
   2.      Protocol Overview ....................................    3
   2.1.    Link Level ...........................................    3
   2.2.    Lexical Tokens .......................................    3
   2.3.    Commands .............................................    4
   2.4.    Responses ............................................    5
   2.4.1.  Status Responses .....................................    5
   2.4.2.  General Status Responses .............................    6
   2.4.3.  Text Responses .......................................    6
   3.      Command and Response Details .........................    7
   3.1.    Initial Connection ...................................    7
   3.2.    The DEFINE Command ...................................    9
   3.3.    The MATCH Command ....................................   10
   3.4.    A Note on Virtual Databases ..........................   12
   3.5.    The SHOW Command .....................................   13
   3.5.1.  SHOW DB ..............................................   13
   3.5.2.  SHOW STRAT ...........................................   13
   3.5.3.  SHOW INFO ............................................   14
   3.5.4.  SHOW SERVER ..........................................   14
   3.6.    The CLIENT Command ...................................   15



Faith & Martin               Informational