RFC 3428 (rfc3428) - Page 1 of 18
Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) Extension for Instant Messaging
Alternative Format: Original Text Document
Network Working Group B. Campbell, Ed.
Request for Comments: 3428 J. Rosenberg
Category: Standards Track dynamicsoft
H. Schulzrinne
Columbia University
C. Huitema
D. Gurle
Microsoft Corporation
December 2002
Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) Extension for Instant Messaging
Status of this Memo
This document specifies an Internet standards track protocol for the
Internet community, and requests discussion and suggestions for
improvements. Please refer to the current edition of the "Internet
Official Protocol Standards" (STD 1) for the standardization state
and status of this protocol. Distribution of this memo is unlimited.
Copyright Notice
Copyright (C) The Internet Society (2002). All Rights Reserved.
Abstract
Instant Messaging (IM) refers to the transfer of messages between
users in near real-time. These messages are usually, but not
required to be, short. IMs are often used in a conversational mode,
that is, the transfer of messages back and forth is fast enough for
participants to maintain an interactive conversation.
This document proposes the MESSAGE method, an extension to the
Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) that allows the transfer of Instant
Messages. Since the MESSAGE request is an extension to SIP, it
inherits all the request routing and security features of that
protocol. MESSAGE requests carry the content in the form of MIME
body parts. MESSAGE requests do not themselves initiate a SIP
dialog; under normal usage each Instant Message stands alone, much
like pager messages. MESSAGE requests may be sent in the context of
a dialog initiated by some other SIP request.
Campbell, et. al. Standards Track