As per Relevance of the word technical, we have this rfc below:
Network Working Group K.
Request for Comments: 828
August 1982
DATA COMMUNICATIONS: IFIP'S INTERNATIONAL "NETWORK" OF
(This report has been written for IFIP by Kenneth Owen,
Technology Editor of The Times, London
[ This RFC is distributed to inform the ARPA Internet community of
activities of the IFIP technical committee on Data Communications,
to encourage participation in those activities. ]
A vital common thread which runs through virtually all current
in implementing and operating computer-based systems is that of
communications. The interconnection of the various elements of
systems in new ways has become the driving force behind a
research and development effort
In both national and international systems, a variety of new options
been opening up in recent years. Increasingly the development of
new systems involves people and groups from a variety
backgrounds--the computer industry, the telecommunications industry,
national telecommunications authorities and the national
international standards bodies
In an area where the formerly distinct technologies of computing
telecommunications have so clearly converged, the new
presents both opportunities and problems. And this convergence
technologies demands an "interconnection" also between the
groups mentioned above
For different purposes, and in different parts of the world,
specific technological solutions will vary, though drawing on the
basic research and development. Global, regional, national and
systems are all involved. Systems are being designed at a time when
technology itself is continuing to advance rapidly and there are
uncertainties in choosing the best directions fo follow. Nonetheless
international standards must be developed and agreed
This background -- of interacting elements of a complex,
advancing technology -- lies behind the work of Technical Committee 6
(TC 6) of the International Federation for Information
(IFIP). IFIP's membership consists of the appropriate
professional organizations, one per country, and its aims include
promotion of information science and technology and the advancement
international cooperation in this field
The broad field of information processing is subdivided for
purposes into a number of specialist areas, each of which is covered
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RFC 828 August 1982
one of the Federation's technical committees. TC 6 aims to promote
exchange of information about data communication; to bridge some of
gaps that exist between users, telecommunications administrations
the manufactures of computers and equipment; and to cultivate
contacts with other relevant international bodies
Chairman of the committee is Professor Andre Danthine of the
of Liege, Belgium. "The main interest of TC 6", he says, "is to have
real exchange of technical information, on an international basis,
two ways which are completely intermixed." In essence these two
reflect the respective needs of people in the developed and
developing nations
In the developed countries where the technology is advancing
rapidly, the basic need is for a full information exchange between
researchers and the professional practitioners. The research
include work which draws on voice and video communication; and
practitioners will come from the traditional computer
telecommunications industries (now competing with each other in
area) and from the new "telematics" industry
This interchange of ideas between experts in the developed nations
complemented by the second category of the work of TC 6:
interchange of information with the developing countries. "One of
main objectives as a technical committee chairman", says
Danthine, "is to try to keep a balance between meeting the needs of
expert, and the responsibility of the expert to explain the state of
art to people in the developing nations."
These "state of the art" or review conferences are an important part
the TC 6 programme. Each of IFIP's technical committees is made up
national representatives (plus working group chairmen, whose work
described later in this article); and the strength of the TC 6
membership is such that, when necessary, the committee can
comprehensive "state of the art" conference programmes with
drawn from its own ranks. In this role the committee is a
"travelling circus" -- one in which, as for IFIP activities generally
the performers receive no fees
The technical committee plans its overall programme of events and
as the driving mechanism for the TC 6 activity, Professor Danthine
out, but the programme is normally implemented by the committee'
various specialist working groups as appropriate. The TC 6
groups are not small subcommittees in the conventional sense of
term; each is a specialist community of perhaps 200 people who keep
touch by mail (including electronic mail).
The working groups embrace a range of activities. First, there is
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RFC 828 August 1982
basic, routine process of information dissemination between members
Each working group has a distribution system by which papers,
and notes can be "broadcast" to the group membership. This is
wider in scope and more flexible than the mechanism of meetings; it
be used to report research results, for example, prior to
publication
Secondly, the working groups hold informal discussion "workshops"
which a particular group of specialists will try to work towards
consensus. Often timed to take place at a very early stage in
development of a significant new technique or area of interest,
meetings attempt to clarify the relevant terminology and
that will be needed in moving towards a full understanding of
subject area
A third activity is to hold relatively small "working conferences" --
IFIP term which defines a meeting of invited experts, at which
participant presents a formal paper. The proceedings are
published to disseminate the results to the scientific world in general
To gain a wider interaction than is possible at a working conference
TC 6 pursues a fourth type of information exchange, that of
"in-depth symposium". This, as its name implies, is a highly
open conference on a well-defined topical subject, designed to
as large an attendance as possible. For TC 6 the in-depth symposium
an annual event
Professor Danthine stresses the broad range of technology and
interests that is represented on his technical committee. And
stresses that it is technology rather than science that interests
members
"We have very few people engaged in pure research in the sense
their work is not application-oriented. Even those who work in
verification have some application in mind. They try to find
methods in a way which may be characterized as basic applied research
On the other hand, when advances are happening rapidly in
science, something which is theoretical becomes useful very quickly."
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RFC 828 August 1982
LOCAL
Within data communications, no subject has aroused more general
in recent years than that of local computer networks, triggered by
radical possibilities opened up by the Xerox Ethernet system.
TC 6, the subject of local computer networks is addressed by
group WG 6.4, chaired by Greg Hopkins of Ungerman-Bass (while
Metcalfe, inventor of Ethernet, is the United States representative
the technical committee).
Local networks show all the signs of being a "bandwagon" subject at
present time, with many people and organizations running to jump aboard
The concept is not new; local networks were implemented in Canada,
United States and Britain in the 1960s. But the appearance of
started the bandwagon rolling. The message of Ethernet basically
that new kinds of network structure existed, quite different from
of large-area networks, which were appropriate to very high speeds
transmission and rather limited geographical areas; and that by
these high-speed networks one could reorganize the way that
interconnected all parts of a computing system in a particular ofice,
laboratory, or factory
The aims of WG 6.4 are "to organize interest and promote the exchange
information on networks of locally distributed digital computers"
"to develop recommendations for international standardization of
computer networking technology". A good example of what this means
practice was the international symposium on local computer networks
organized by WG 6.4 for TC 6, which attracted more than 500 delegates
Florence earlier this year
This was TC 6's "in-depth" event for 1982, covering such topics as
techniques, network reliability, voice distribution, LCN design
applications, performance evaluation, protocols, gateways and standards
Aspects of Ethernet, "slotted" ring networks such as the Cambridge Ring
and "token" rings (pioneered in Canada in the mid-1960s and now
subject of renewed interest) were discussed in detail. One of
interesting developments reported at Florence concerned work on
advanced token ring at IBM's research laboratories at Ruschlikon
Zurich, Switzerland
The relative characteristics of the Ethernet and ring categories
local networks are still very much a matter for technical debate.
the so-called broadband networks are a third competing category
carrying far more information (at the cost of losing some
simplicity), they offer the prospect of combining cable television
interactive computer-based services
Thus the present time is one of intense marketing activity by
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RFC 828 August 1982
proponents of the respective technologies--and so a time when
fullest international exchange of information on technical
is particularly important
As interpreted by WG 6.4 local computer networks are "local" in
they are concerned with communication over distances between ten
and 10,000 metres. Their "computers" are the devices which require
provide the transmission of data in terminals and in large
processing systems
The "networks" may employ a variety of transmission media,
twisted pairs, coaxial cable, fibre optics and local radio. Those
most interest to WG 6.4 will use data rates above 100 kilobits
second. Among the major topics tackled by the group are the role
protocols in local computer networks and the interconnection of
computer networks with remote networks
International computer message systems and services form another
developing topic, Messages may be processed, stored and
between users who may be within the jurisdiction of separate carriers
computer systems and/or computer networks. Technical, economic
political issues must be resolved if a viable international
message service is to develop. Within TC 6, this is the concern
working group WG 6.5, chaired by Ronald Uhlig of Bell-Northern Research
Ottawa, Canada
This working group concentrates on standards for data structures
addressing, and higher-level protocols to effect
computer-mediated message services, Such services could have an
on existing international postal and communication agreements, and
the economics of the worldwide communication system. Results of
group's work are made available to users, manufacturers,
carriers, PTTs, ISO and CCITT
One of the most comprehensive moves by TC 6 and WG 6.5 to influence
development of international computer-based message services was
publication of a set of policy recommendations which came out of
working-group workshop in Bonn in 1980 and was confirmed by
technical committee. These concerned the right to operate
services; restrictions on transborder data flow; and tariff issues
Organizations should be free to operate their own computer-based
services and to interconnect these services for messages
organizations through public networks, TC 6 stated. (The aim here
to preserve the basic freedom to communicate without entering into
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RFC 828 August 1982
more controversial subject of third-party traffic, which is
differently in different countries.)
No restriction should be placed on the transmission across borders
messages between persons. If restrictions were placed on the nature
computer-based messages transmitted across a country's borders (
forbidding of encipherment, for example), then the conditions should
be more severe than those placed on letter post. (It was
that restrictions on the flow of data across borders could be
as necessary to prevent the circumvention of national privacy laws
the use of databases abroad but, the committee argued, the remedy
be to rationalize the data privacy laws, not to restrict the data flow.)
On tarriff principles, TC 6 recommended that tariff levels should
discriminate against computer-based message services, whether public
private; there should be no heavy extra charge for
messages; the principles of charging should not discourage the sensible
expected pattern of usage; and charges for preparation and sending
messages should be separated. (Here the background danger was
public-service tariffs might be manipulated to achieve
objectives, such as discouraging the use of new services or exploiting
monopoly.)
Policy aspects such as these represent one of three main themes
are pursued within WG 6.5 in a formal structure of sub-groups.
other two themes are the systems environment (overall systems issues
computer messaging) and the user environment (the user interface and
other aspects of user involvement). European and North
sub-groups work in parallel in each of these two subject areas
"We started out with the realization that computer messge systems
coming along very rapidly, with many different systems appearing
different parts of the world, and we could see the day coming
people wree going to want all these systems to talk to each other",
Ronald Uhlig. "That wasn't going to happen unless we started to
people together. The first ones of the type we're talking about were
the Arpanet in the United States. For TC 6, computer messaging was
subject of the 1981 in-depth symposium which was held in Ottawa."
An important concept of mail messaging has emerged from WG 6.5's work
systems environment. This divides computer messages from the
point of view into two parts, known respectively as the message
agent and the user agent
The user agent acts on behalf of the individual user. When the
wishes to send a message he initially enters the user agent function
The "agent" is probably software, but the concept is broad. The
agent might be in a terminal, in a concentrator, in a PBX or in
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RFC 828 August 1982
network. It interacts with the user and handles everything up to
point of composing the message
The user then gives the user agent instructions to send the message.
that point the message is in effect placed inside an
envelope, and "posted" to a message transfer agent. The message
pass from one messge transfer agent to another before finally passing
the receiving user agent which handles functions concerned with
the message, filing it, etc
The work of WG 6.5's systems environment group led to the
consideration of message-handling standards by a study group of CCITT
The CCITT group is concentrating at present on devising standards fo
protocols for the transfer of messages between message transfer agents
"Once that becomes standardized", says Ronald Uhlig, "you've taken
major step towards allowing anybody's message system to communicate
anybody else's. Next we want to concentrate on obtaining some
for standards on compatible sets of functions in user agents. You
have many different kinds of user agents--those which will accept
text messages, or voice messages, for example."
Another important development within WG 6.5 which is just getting
way is concerned with messaging for developing nations. Here there
two dimensions -- national and international. The international
is how to enable scientists (and in particular computer scientists)
the developing nations to keep in touch with their colleagues in
more advanced countries. An international message system could be
solution
Within individual developing countries there is the possibility of
computer-based messaging as a superior type of internal
service. People sending telegrams would go to a local post office
dictate their messages. Post offices would be linked in a
system, and at the receiving office the message would be printed out
then hand-delivered
Dr. S. Ramani of India and Professor Liane Tarouco of Brazil
co-chairmen of WG 6.5's new subgroup on messaging for
nations. Dr. Ramani has suggested that India might launch a
satellite into a relatively low earth orbit, to be used for
transmission of messages within developing countries (and
internationally).
Another subgroup within WG 6.5, it has been suggested, might be
to discuss messaging for the hearing impaired. This has been
in principle, but has not yet generated sufficient active interest
it to move ahead
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RFC 828 August 1982
Thus working groups 6.4 and 6.5 have an active, continuing programme
well-defined subject areas. TC 6's other two working groups, 6.1
6.3, are each in a state of flux at present as they review their
in order to respond to changing needs
WG 6.1 has been concerned up to now with "international packet
for computer sharing". Formed in 1973 from the nucleus of an
non-IFIP international network working group (which itself had grown
of a United States network working group within the Arpanet community),
it played a key role in the development of communication protocols
computer networks
The working group defined its original scope as follows. The
would study the problems of the interworking of packet-switched
networks planned in various countries. The group's ultimate goal was
define the technical characteristics of facilities and
procedures which would make it possible and attractive to
such networks. In pursuit of this goal, the group would attempt
define and publish guidelines for the interconnection
packet-switching networks. Where possible, it would test the
with experimental interconnections between cooperating networks
Thus, the mainstream of WG 6.1 activity has been in the area
protocols, an area where the emphasis has now shifted from
investigative research and discussion of IFIP to the follow-on work
the international standards bodies. In 1978 an in-depth symposium
computer network protocols was held in Liege. In 1979 an in-
symposium on flow control in complex data networks was held in Paris
the subject of flow control and overall network design is now
as having largely moved out of the research area and into the area
commercial exploitation. In 1981 a workshop on formal description
verification techniques was held at the National Physical Laboratory
Teddington, England
For the outside scientific community, WG 6.1 has thus been the focus
significant research and information exchange. Within TC 6 it has
played a significant role as the parent of subgroups which have gone
to develop into working groups in their own right. For the future,
is the intention that WG 6.1 should continue this latter "umbrella
role, probably under a general "architecture and protocols for networks
title, with specific new areas being hived off into subgroups
appropriate
One such subgroup of the new 6.1 could well be concerned with
systems. At first sight it might appear a little late for a group
as TC 6 to begin to turn its attention to an established
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RFC 828 August 1982
medium such as satellite systems, but the committee has in
significant new variations on the satellite theme
"Satellites have been used up to now almost entirely to
telephone channels", says Dr. Donald Davies of the National
Laboratory, England, who is the recently elected vice-chairman of TC 6.
"What we want to do now is to develop satellite systems that will
voice and vision and data in such a way as to get the most use out
the channel. You can very often get the best use of the channel
mixing different types of traffic in this way. But you get
advantages only if you're prepared to design the multiplexing
around the requirements
"Satellite Business Systems does this already to a certain extent.
I believe that new types of multiplexing schemes will be developed
satellites which will make the future generation of mixed-
satellites much more powerful."
"Then there's the question: if you do have a satellite
integrated with a surface network, and then perhaps with a number
local networks, how do you set up the hierarchy of protocols to
all that together, in a way that actually works conveniently? That's
unsolved problem."
"We know how to make a satellite into a sort of substitute
line, but what we don't know is how to make one of these rather
intelligent satellite systems work in nicely with the local network
That's one of the functions of the Universe project in the UK."
Another possible new topic which could come under the WG 6.1 umbrella
that of data security, which is the area of research in which Dr.
is working at NPL. It presents a difficult technical problem, the
for standards, and above all a need to anaylze the user's requirements
Dr. Davies points out that ring networks, Ethernet systems and
systems all use broadcast transmissions, with obvious dangers of
insecurity
HUMAN
Working Group 6.3, whose title is "Human-computer interaction", is
being reviewed at present for rather different reasons. The group
formed in 1975, re-formed in 1981, and has been concerned
developing a science and technology of the interaction between
and computers. It was concerned in particular with computer users
especially those who were not computer professionals, and with how
improve the human-computer relationship for them
Identified areas for study included the problems people have
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RFC 828 August 1982
computers; the impact of computers on individuals and organizations;
determinants of utility, usability and acceptability; the
allocation of tasks between computers and people; modelling the user
an aid to better system design; and harmonizing the computer to
characteristics and needs of the user
Clearly the scope of 6.3 was deliberately set wide, with a
towards general principles rather than particular systems. But it
recognized that progress would be achieved only through specific
on practical issues--for example, on interface design standards,
language consistency, documentation, appropriateness of
communication media and human factors guidelines for dialogue design
Chairman of WG 6.3 in recent years has been Professor Brian Shackel
Loughborough University of Technology, UK, who played the leading
in re-forming the group in 1981.
The scope of 6.3 in fact goes beyond the scope of any single
committee. It is close to that of TC 9, for example, whose subject
the relationship between computers and society; and of TC 8, which
concerned with information systems. Activities which cut
boundaries in this way can be organized jointly by working groups from
number of TCs, but in the case of WG 6.3 the future status of the
is now the subject of an ad hoc review
THE
Looking ahead, Professor Danthine sums up: "I think that the
important developments that are ahead of us will involve local networks
the digital PBX, and the concept of the Integrated Services
Network (ISDN). It will be interesting to see what will finally
out of the various pressures, coming from different directions, for
same market. Some of the directions are technology-driven; some
marketing-driven. It is not at all clear what will happen
"The role of TC 6 -- or rather the working groups -- is to act as
forum where experts can advocate, and assess, the various alternatives
We do not restrict ourselves to the view of any one sector --
telecommunications authorities, say, or the manufacturers. We are
more open-minded, and exposed to the opinions of people who are
necessarily from our own domain of work."
One area in which TC 6 is seeking a fuller methodology and
is that of office automation. "It is surprising to see that, at
present time, we are only at the beginning of a real understanding
office work," says Professor Danthine, "We have no model."
Thus, following the modelling work which TC 6 did in protocols,
architectures and messaging systems, the committee chairman says, "
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RFC 828 August 1982
are now doing some modelling work in terms of office automation,
order to understand what the problems are. Very often a
appears for a problem which is not understood -- that is, not
defined. That happens more often than you might think in
science."
The next two years will be important ones for data communication: 1983
is World Communication Year, and 1984 will be important because of
CCITT Integrated Services Digital Network standards which are
to be announced then. These standards will indicate
telecommunication authorities' plans for their own "local networks" (
which they mean the distribution systems at local level from
telephone exchange out to the homes, offices and factories).
At present this local distribution is by multicore cable. In future
will be by glass fibres coupled with complex electronics at the
nodes. At the moment nobody knows what these nodes will look like,
what the actual mode of transmission will be. If the CCITT
are announced in 1984 they will affect everybody concerned with "
networks" in the computing sense. They will influence the design of
local computer networks of the late eighties
These various threads of development in data communication are
in TC 6's programme of meetings for 1982-85. Planned events include
international conference on data communications (a "state of the art
review) in Johannesburg, South Africa, in September 1982; a
conference on interconnected personal computing systems in Tromso
Norway, in 1983; an in-depth symposium on satellite and
communications in Paris, France, in 1983; and a working conference
data communications in ISDN in Israel in 1985. TC 6 is also active
providing speakers for the sixth International Conference on
Communication (ICCC '82) in September 1982 in London, England
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Published by the IFIP Secretariat, 3 rue du Marche, CH-1204
GENEVA,Switzerland, August 1982.
For further information, please contact your National Computer
or the IFIP Secretariat
11
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