RFC 2703 (rfc2703) - Page 1 of 20

Protocol-independent Content Negotiation Framework

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Network Working Group                                         G. Klyne
Request for Comments: 2703                    5GM/Content Technologies
Category: Informational                                 September 1999


           Protocol-independent Content Negotiation Framework

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 (1999).  All Rights Reserved.

Abstract

   A number of Internet application protocols have a need to provide
   content negotiation for the resources with which they interact.  MIME
   media types [1,2] provide a standard method for handling one major
   axis of variation, but resources also vary in ways which cannot be
   expressed using currently available MIME headers.

   This memo sets out terminology, an abstract framework and goals for
   protocol-independent content negotiation, and identifies some
   technical issues which may need to be addressed.

   The abstract framework does not attempt to specify the content
   negotiation process, but gives an indication of the anticipated scope
   and form of any such specification.  The goals set out the desired
   properties of a content negotiation mechanism.

Table of Contents

   1. Introduction.............................................2
     1.1 Structure of this document ...........................3
     1.2 Discussion of this document ..........................3
   2. Terminology and definitions..............................3
   3. Framework................................................7
     3.1 Abstract framework for content negotiation ...........8
        3.1.1 The negotiation process..........................9
     3.2 Abstract model for negotiation metadata .............10
     3.3 Text representation for negotiation metadata ........11
     3.4 ASN.1 description of negotiation metadata ...........11
     3.5 Protocol binding guidelines .........................11
   4. Goals...................................................12



Klyne                        Informational
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