RFC 3506 (rfc3506) - Page 1 of 15
Requirements and Design for Voucher Trading System (VTS)
Alternative Format: Original Text Document
Network Working Group K. Fujimura
Request for Comments: 3506 NTT
Category: Informational D. Eastlake
Motorola
March 2003
Requirements and Design for Voucher Trading System (VTS)
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 (2003). All Rights Reserved.
Abstract
Crediting loyalty points and collecting digital coupons or gift
certificates are common functions in purchasing and trading
transactions. These activities can be generalized using the concept
of a "voucher", which is a digital representation of the right to
claim goods or services. This document presents a Voucher Trading
System (VTS) that circulates vouchers securely and its terminology;
it lists design principles and requirements for VTS and the Generic
Voucher Language (GVL), with which diverse types of vouchers can be
described.
Conventions used in this document
The key words "MUST", "MUST NOT", "REQUIRED", "SHALL", "SHALL NOT",
"SHOULD", "SHOULD NOT", "RECOMMENDED", "MAY", and "OPTIONAL" in this
document are to be interpreted as described in [RFC 2119].
Table of Contents
1. Background ....................................................2
2. Terminology and Model .........................................3
2.1 Voucher ...................................................3
2.2 Participants ..............................................3
2.3 Voucher Trading System (VTS) ..............................4
3. VTS Requirements ..............................................5
3.1 Capability to handle diversity ............................6
3.2 Ensuring security .........................................6
3.3 Ensuring practicality .....................................7
Fujimura & Eastlake Informational