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IETF RFC 2913
MIME Content Types in Media Feature Expressions
Last modified on Thursday, September 7th, 2000
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Network Working Group G. Klyne
Request for Comments: 2913 Content Technologies
Category: Standards Track September 2000
MIME Content Types in Media Feature Expressions
 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 © The Internet Society (2000). All Rights Reserved.
Abstract
In "A Syntax for Describing Media Feature Sets", an expression format
is presented for describing media feature capabilities using simple
media feature tags.
This memo defines a media feature tag whose value is a Multipurpose
Internet Mail Extensions (MIME) content type. This allows the
construction of feature expressions that take account of the MIME
content type of the corresponding data.
Table of Contents
1. Introduction .................................................. 2
1.1 Terminology and document conventions ...................... 2
2. Motivation and goals .......................................... 3
3. MIME content type feature tag ................................. 3
4. Examples ...................................................... 4
4.1 Simple text ............................................... 4
4.2 Fax image ................................................. 4
4.3 Voice message ............................................. 4
4.4 Web browser capabilities .................................. 5
5. IANA Considerations ........................................... 5
6. Security Considerations ....................................... 5
7. Acknowledgements .............................................. 5
8. References .................................................... 6
9. Author's Address .............................................. 6
Appendix A: 'Type' feature tag registration ...................... 7
Full Copyright Statement ......................................... 9
Klyne Standards Track PAGE 1 
RFC 2913 MIME Content in Media Feature Expressions September 2000
1. Introduction
In "A Syntax for Describing Media Feature Sets" [1], an expression
format is presented for describing media feature capabilities as a
combination of simple media feature tags, registered according to
"Media Feature Tag Registration Procedure" [2]. This provides a
format for message handling agents to describe the media feature
content of messages that they can handle.
This memo defines a media feature tag whose value is a MIME content
type. This allows the construction of feature expressions that take
account of the MIME content type of the corresponding data.
Note that a content type feature value may contain parameters, but
this is discouraged. See section 3 and appendix A, "Summary of the
media features indicated" for discussion of this point.
1.1 Terminology and document conventions
This section defines a number of terms and other document
conventions, which are used with specific meaning in this memo.
media feature
information that indicates facilities assumed to be available
for the message content to be properly rendered or otherwise
presented. Media features are not intended to include
information that affects message transmission.
feature set
some set of media features described by a media feature
assertion, as described in "A Syntax for Describing Media
Feature Sets" [1]. (See that memo for a more formal definition
of this term.)
feature set expression
a string that describes some feature set, formulated according
to the rules in "A Syntax for Describing Media Feature Sets"
[1] (and possibly extended by other specifications).
This specification uses syntax notation and conventions described in
RFC 2234, "Augmented BNF for Syntax Specifications: ABNF" [3].
NOTE: Comments like this provide additional nonessential
information about the rationale behind this document. Such
information is not needed for building a conformant
implementation, but may help those who wish to understand the
design in greater depth.
Klyne Standards Track PAGE 2
RFC 2913 MIME Content in Media Feature Expressions September 2000
2. Motivation and goals
The media feature expression syntax [1] and feature tags [2] were
designed with a view to providing content media information that
augments basic MIME content type information. There are some
situations where it is useful to be able include that content type
information in a media feature expression:
o Media feature details may depend upon the content type being used.
The media feature combining algebra and syntax [1] cannot apply to
content type information unless it appears in the feature
expression.
For example, in HTTP 1.1 [4] with Transparent Content Negotiation
(TCN) [5] acceptable content types and other media features are
indicated in different request headers, with no clear way to
indicate that they may be acceptable only in certain combinations.
o It is sometimes useful for all media capability information to be
included in a single expression. For example, DSN and MDN
extensions [6] that allow a recipient to indicate media
capabilities provide a single field for conveying this
information.
o When media features are used to describe a message content, they
may refer to inner parts of a MIME composite; e.g. the component
parts of a 'multipart', files in a compressed archive, or
encrypted message data.
3. MIME content type feature tag
Feature tag name Legal values
---------------- ------------
type <string>
containing a MIME content-type value.
Reference: this document, appendix A.
The 'type' feature tag indicates a MIME media content type (i.e.
that appears in a 'Content-type:' header of the corresponding MIME-
formatted data). It must be a string of the form "type/subtype",
where 'type' and 'subtype' are defined by the MIME specification [7].
Only lower-case letters should be used.
The content type must be given without any content-type parameter
values.
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RFC 2913 MIME Content in Media Feature Expressions September 2000
To include information in media feature expressions that is otherwise
conveyed in a MIME content-type parameter, a separate media feature
tag should be registered [2] and used in the media feature
expression. This is illustrated by the use of 'charset' in the
example at 4.1 below -- the 'charset' tag is defined by a separate
registration [10].
NOTE: Allowing content-type parameters to be part of a type tag
value was considered, but rejected because of concerns about
canonicalization, ordering, case sensitivity, etc. Only exact,
case-sensitive, character matching is defined for media feature
expressions [1].
4. Examples
4.1 Simple text
(& (type="text/plain") (charset=US-ASCII)
(color=binary) (paper-size=A4) )
4.2 Fax image
(& (type="image/tiff")
(color=binary)
(image-file-structure=TIFF-S)
(dpi=200)
(dpi-xyratio=[200/100,200/200])
(paper-size=A4)
(image-coding=MH) (MRC-mode=0)
(ua-media=stationery) )
4.3 Voice message
(& (type="multipart/voice-message")
(VPIM-version="3.0")
(audio-codec=[G726-32,GSM-610])
(audio-file-structure=[None,WAV])
(ua-terminal=mobile-handset)
(audio-channels=1) )
NOTE: in this case, some media features apply to MIME parts
contained within the declared 'multipart/voice- message'
content type. The goal here is not so much to mirror the MIME
structure as to convey useful information about the (possible)
message content.
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RFC 2913 MIME Content in Media Feature Expressions September 2000
4.4 Web browser capabilities
(& (pix-x<=800) (pix-y<=600)
(| (& (type="text/html") (charset=iso-8859-1)
(color=limited) )
(& (type="text/plain") (charset=US-ASCII) )
(& (type="image/gif") (color=mapped))
(& (type="image/jpeg") (color=full) ) ) )
This example describes an HTML viewer that can deal with a limited
number of color text tags, a gif viewer that supports mapped color,
and a jpeg viewer that supports color.
5. IANA Considerations
Appendix A of this document calls for registration of a feature tag
in the "IETF tree", as defined in section 3.1.1 of "Media Feature Tag
Registration Procedure" [2] (i.e. these feature tags are subject to
the "IETF Consensus" policies described in RFC 2434 [9]).
ASN.1 identifier 1.3.6.1.8.1.30 has been assigned by the IANA for
this registered feature tag and has been placed in the body of the
registration.
6. Security Considerations
This memo is not believed to introduce any security considerations
that are not already inherent in the use of media feature tags and
expressions [1,2].
7. Acknowledgements
This proposal draws from discussions in the IETF 'conneg' working
group. The voice message example is based on some ideas by Glen
Parsons.
The author would like to thank the following people who offered
comments that led to significant improvements: Ted Hardie, Larry
Masinter, Paul Hoffman, Jacob Palme, Ned Freed.
Klyne Standards Track PAGE 5
RFC 2913 MIME Content in Media Feature Expressions September 2000
8. References
[1] Klyne, G., "A Syntax for Describing Media Feature Sets", RFC
2533, March 1999.
[2] Holtman, K., Mutz, A. and T. Hardie, "Media Feature Tag
Registration Procedure", RFC 2506, March 1999.
[3] Crocker, D. and P. Overell, "Augmented BNF for Syntax
Specifications: ABNF", RFC 2234, November 1997.
[4] Fielding, R., Gettys, J., Mogul, J., Frystyk, H. and T.
Berners-Lee, "Hypertext Transfer Protocol -- HTTP/1.1", RFC
2068, January 1997.
[5] Holtman, K. and A. Mutz, "Transparent Content Negotiation in
HTTP", RFC 2295, March 1998.
[6] Wing, D., "Indicating Supported Media Features Using Extensions
to DSN and MDN", RFC 2530, March 1999.
[7] Freed, N. and N. Borenstein, "Multipurpose Internet Mail
Extensions (MIME) Part One: Format of Internet Message Bodies",
RFC 2045, November 1996.
[8] Freed, N. and N. Borenstein, "Multipurpose Internet Mail
Extensions (MIME) Part Two: Media Types", RFC 2046, November
1996.
[9] Narten, T. and H. Alvestrand, "Guidelines for Writing an IANA
Considerations Section in RFCs", RFC 2434, October 1998.
[10] Hoffman, P., "Registration of Charset and Languages Media
Features Tags", Work in Progress.
9. Author's Address
Graham Klyne
Content Technologies Ltd.
1220 Parkview,
Arlington Business Park
Theale
Reading, RG7 4SA
United Kingdom
Phone: +44 118 930 1300
Fax: +44 118 930 1301
EMail: GK@ACM.ORG
Klyne Standards Track PAGE 6
RFC 2913 MIME Content in Media Feature Expressions September 2000
Appendix A: 'Type' feature tag registration
- Media Feature tag name(s):
Type
- ASN.1 identifier associated with this feature tag:
1.3.6.1.8.1.30
- Summary of the media features indicated:
This feature tag indicates a MIME content type that a message
agent is capable of handling, or that is contained within some
message data.
The content type consists of the MIME media type and subtype,
presented using all lower case letters and with any whitespace
characters removed.
- Values appropriate for use with this feature tag:
String
- The feature tag is intended primarily for use in the following
applications, protocols, services, or negotiation mechanisms:
Any application that wishes to convey MIME content type
information in a media feature expression.
- Examples of typical use:
(type="image/tiff")
(& (type="text/plain") (charset=US-ASCII) )
- Related standards or documents:
MIME, RFC 2045 [7]
MIME, RFC 2046 [8]
Registration of Charset and Languages Media Features Tags [10]
- Considerations particular to use in individual applications,
protocols, services, or negotiation mechanisms:
(N/A)
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RFC 2913 MIME Content in Media Feature Expressions September 2000
- Interoperability considerations:
String feature matching is case sensitive, so consistent use of
case for content type values and parameters is essential if
content type value matching is to be achieved in a fashion
consistent with MIME content type matching.
Similarly, white space must be used consistently.
This registration specifies a canonical form to be used for
content type values (lower case letters and remove all
whitespace).
- Related feature tags:
(N/A)
- Intended usage:
Common
- Author/Change controller:
IETF
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RFC 2913 MIME Content in Media Feature Expressions September 2000
Full Copyright Statement
Copyright © The Internet Society (2000). All Rights Reserved.
This document and translations of it may be copied and furnished to
others, and derivative works that comment on or otherwise explain it
or assist in its implementation may be prepared, copied, published
and distributed, in whole or in part, without restriction of any
kind, provided that the above copyright notice and this paragraph are
included on all such copies and derivative works. However, this
document itself may not be modified in any way, such as by removing
the copyright notice or references to the Internet Society or other
Internet organizations, except as needed for the purpose of
developing Internet standards in which case the procedures for
copyrights defined in the Internet Standards process must be
followed, or as required to translate it into languages other than
English.
The limited permissions granted above are perpetual and will not be
revoked by the Internet Society or its successors or assigns.
This document and the information contained herein is provided on an
"AS IS" basis and THE INTERNET SOCIETY AND THE INTERNET ENGINEERING
TASK FORCE DISCLAIMS ALL WARRANTIES, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING
BUT NOT LIMITED TO ANY WARRANTY THAT THE USE OF THE INFORMATION
HEREIN WILL NOT INFRINGE ANY RIGHTS OR ANY IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF
MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.
Acknowledgement
Funding for the RFC Editor function is currently provided by the
Internet Society.
Klyne Standards Track PAGE 9
MIME Content Types in Media Feature Expressions
RFC TOTAL SIZE: 16095 bytes
PUBLICATION DATE: Thursday, September 7th, 2000
LEGAL RIGHTS: The IETF Trust (see BCP 78)
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