A Simple Mode of Facsimile Using Internet Mail
RFC 3965
Document | Type |
RFC - Draft Standard
(December 2004; Errata)
Obsoletes RFC 2305
|
|
---|---|---|---|
Authors | Kiyoshi Toyoda , Jun Murai , Hiroyuki Ohno , Dan Wing | ||
Last updated | 2020-01-21 | ||
Stream | Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF) | ||
Formats | plain text html pdf htmlized (tools) htmlized with errata bibtex | ||
Stream | WG state | (None) | |
Document shepherd | No shepherd assigned | ||
IESG | IESG state | RFC 3965 (Draft Standard) | |
Action Holders |
(None)
|
||
Consensus Boilerplate | Unknown | ||
Telechat date | |||
Responsible AD | Scott Hollenbeck | ||
Send notices to | (None) |
Network Working Group K. Toyoda Request for Comments: 3965 H. Ohno Obsoletes: 2305 J. Murai Category: Standards Track WIDE Project D. Wing Cisco December 2004 A Simple Mode of Facsimile Using Internet Mail 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 (2004). Abstract This specification provides for "simple mode" carriage of facsimile data using Internet mail. Extensions to this document will follow. The current specification employs standard protocols and file formats such as TCP/IP, Internet mail protocols, Multipurpose Internet Mail Extensions (MIME), and Tagged Image File Format (TIFF) for Facsimile. It can send images not only to other Internet-aware facsimile devices but also to Internet-native systems, such as PCs with common email readers which can handle MIME mail and TIFF for Facsimile data. The specification facilitates communication among existing facsimile devices, Internet mail agents, and the gateways which connect them. This document is a revision of RFC 2305. There have been no technical changes. 1. Introduction This specification defines message-based facsimile communication over the Internet. It describes a minimum set of capabilities, taking into account those of typical facsimile devices and PCs that can generate facsimile data. Toyoda, et al. Standards Track [Page 1] RFC 3965 A Simple Mode of Facsimile December 2004 A G3Fax device has substantial restrictions due to specifications in the standards, such as for timers. This specification defines a profile for Internet mail, rather than creating a distinct "facsimile over the Internet" service. The semantics resulting from the profile are designed to be compatible with facsimile operation over the general switched telephone network, so that gateways between facsimile and Internet mail can operate with very high fidelity. The reason for developing this capability as an email profile is to permit interworking amongst facsimile and email users. For example, it is intended that existing email users be able to send normal messages to lists of users, including facsimile-based recipients, and that other email recipients shall be able to reply to the original and continue to include facsimile recipients. Similarly, it is intended that existing email software work without modification and not be required to process new, or different data structures, beyond what is normal for Internet mail users. Existing email service standards are used, rather than replicating mechanisms which are more tailored to existing facsimile standards, to ensure this compatibility with existing email service. 1.1. Services A facsimile-capable device that uses T.4 [15] and the general switched telephone network (GSTN) is called a "G3Fax device" in this specification. An "IFax device" is an Internet-accessible device capable of sending, receiving or forwarding Internet faxes. A message can be sent to an IFax device using an Internet mail address. A message can be sent to a G3Fax device using an Internet mail address; the message MAY be forwarded via an IFax offramp gateway. 1.2. Cases This specification provides for communication between each of the following combinations: Internet mail => Network printer Internet mail => Offramp gateway (forward to G3Fax) Network scanner => Network printer Network scanner => Offramp gateway (forward to G3Fax) Network scanner => Internet mail Toyoda, et al. Standards Track [Page 2] RFC 3965 A Simple Mode of Facsimile December 2004 1.3. Key Words 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 [13]. 2. Communication Protocols The set of conventions necessary to achieve facsimile-compatible service covers basic data transport, document data formats, messageShow full document text