Location Types Registry
RFC 4589

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• 06

Network Working Group                                     H. Schulzrinne
Request for Comments: 4589                                   Columbia U.
Category: Standards Track                                  H. Tschofenig
                                                                 Siemens
                                                               July 2006

                        Location Types Registry

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 (2006).

Abstract

   This document creates a registry for describing the types of places a
   human or end system might be found.  The registry is then referenced
   by other protocols that need a common set of location terms as
   protocol constants.  Examples of location terms defined in this
   document include aircraft, office, and train station.

Table of Contents

   1. Introduction ....................................................2
   2. Terminology .....................................................3
   3. Location Types ..................................................3
   4. Schema ..........................................................6
   5. IANA Considerations .............................................7
      5.1. Registering Tokens .........................................7
      5.2. URN Sub-Namespace Registration for
           urn:ietf:params:xml:ns:location-type .......................8
      5.3. Schema Registration for Schema
           urn:ietf:params:xml:ns:location-type .......................9
   6. Internationalization Considerations .............................9
   7. Security Considerations .........................................9
   8. Acknowledgements ................................................9
   9. References .....................................................10
      9.1. Normative References ......................................10
      9.2. Informative References ....................................10

Schulzrinne & Tschofenig    Standards Track                     [Page 1]
RFC 4589                Location Types Registry                July 2006

1.  Introduction

   This document creates a registry for location type tokens.  We
   anticipate that the network, through configuration or management
   protocols, tells a mobile device what kind of location it finds
   itself in.  The device and associated software can then tailor its
   behavior to the environment.  For example, this document defines the
   terms "classroom", "place-of-worship", and "theater".  A considerate
   owner of a cell phone might program the device to switch from ringer
   to vibrate mode in such environments.  Just knowing the geographic
   location, be it as civic (street address) or geospatial coordinates,
   would generally not allow the device to make a similar decision.

   Naturally, the number of descriptive terms for physical environments
   is almost unbounded.  This registry tries to identify common terms
   that are likely to be useful for communications devices and for
   controlling and guiding communications behavior.  The terms roughly
   correspond to the level of details of location descriptions and icons
   found on geographic maps, for example, and are meant to be in common
   use across a variety of cultures and countries.  The registration
   process described in the IANA Considerations section allows this list
   to be extended as needed, while aiming to prevent an unnecessary
   explosion in the registry.

   The use of tokens (i.e., protocol constants) makes it easier to build
   systems across multiple languages.  A user interface can readily
   translate a finite set of tokens to user-appropriate textual or
   iconic representations.  Protocols using this registry are encouraged
   to provide additional mechanisms to accommodate location types not
   currently registered via free-text fields with appropriate language
   and character set labeling.

   The terms defined in this registry do not attempt to provide a
   hierarchy of location descriptions, except in certain special cases.
   For example, the term "restaurant" is defined to include the term
   "cafe", and the term "public" encompasses a range of descriptors, as
   noted below.  The registry makes these more generic terms available
   as often the more detailed distinctions may not be available, or
   privacy concerns suggest the use of less precise terms that are still
   sufficient to guide communications behavior or evaluate the source of
   a phone call or message, say.

   In many cases, a location might be described by multiple terms that
   apply at the same time.  For example, the combination of "restaurant"