One document matched: draft-ietf-fax-implementers-guide-04.txt

Differences from draft-ietf-fax-implementers-guide-03.txt


IETF Fax Working Group                                             Vivian Cancio
Internet Draft                                                 Xerox Corporation
Category: Work-in-progress                                         Mike Moldovan
Intended Category: Informational                         G3Nova Technology, Inc.
                                                                  Hiroshi Tamura
                                                             Ricoh Company, LTD.
                                                                        Dan Wing
                                                                   Cisco Systems
 
                                                                 31 October 2000
                                                             Expires: April 2001


         Implementers Guide for Facsimile Using Internet Mail
             <draft-ietf-fax-implementers-guide-04.txt>


Status of this memo

  This document is an Internet-Draft and is in full conformance with
  all provisions of Section 10 of RFC 2026.

  Internet-Drafts are working documents of the Internet Engineering
  Task Force (IETF), its areas, and its working groups.  Note that
  other groups may also distribute working documents as Internet-
  Drafts.

  Internet-Drafts are draft documents valid for a maximum of six
  months and may be updated, replaced, or obsoleted by other
  documents at any time.  It is inappropriate to use Internet- Drafts
  as reference material or to cite them other than as "work in
  progress."


  The list of current Internet-Drafts can be accessed at
  http://www.ietf.org/ietf/1id-abstracts.txt

  The list of Internet-Draft Shadow Directories can be accessed at
  http://www.ietf.org/shadow.html.

 
  [[INTENDED STATUS: 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 2000.  All Rights Reserved.

Abstract

  This document is intended for the implementers of software which uses email
  to send to facsimiles using RFC 2305 and 2532.
  This is an informational document and its guidelines do not supersede the  
  referenced documents. 
  
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Table of contents

  1. Introduction     
     1.1 Organization of this document
     1.2 Discussion of this document                           
  2. Terminology 
  3. Implementation Issues Specific to Simple Mode 
     3.1 Simple Mode Fax Senders
       3.1.1 Multipart-alternative                               
     3.2 Simple Mode Fax Receivers
       3.2.1 Multipart-alternative and Storage Capacity
  4. Implementation Issues Specific to Extended Mode
     4.1 Multipart-alternative 
     4.2 Correlation of MDN with Original Message 
     4.3 Correlation of DSN with Original Message 
     4.4 Extended Mode Receivers
       4.4.1 Confirmation of receipt and processing from UA Clients
           4.4.1.1 Discrepancies in MDN [9] Interpretation
           4.4.1.2 Disposition-Type: "dispatched"
           4.4.1.3 "Subject" of MDN in Success and Failure Cases 
           4.4.1.4 "Body" of MDN in Success and Failure Cases 
       4.4.2 Extended Mode Receivers that are MTAs (or ESMTP servers)
           4.4.2.1 Success Case Example
           4.4.2.2 Failure Case Example 1
           4.4.2.3 Failure Case Example 2
       4.4.3 Extended Mode Receivers that are POP3/IMAP4 
           4.4.3.1 Success Case Example
           4.4.3.2 Failure Case Example
       4.4.4 Receiving Multiple TIFF-FX Attachments 
  5. Implementation Issues the File Format
     5.1 IFD Placement in TIFF file & Profile-S Constraints
     5.2 Precautions for implementers of RFC 2301 [4]
       5.2.1 IFD Entry Errors
       5.2.2 Strip Errors
       5.2.3 Image Errors
       5.2.4 Profile Specific Errors
  6. Implementation Issues for Internet Fax Addressing
  7. Security considerations 
  8. Acknowledgements  
  9. References 
  10. Authors' addresses 
  Full copyright statement 
  Revision history 











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1. Introduction

This document clarifies published RFCs which standardize facsimile 
communications using Internet Email. The intent is to prevent implementations 
that deviate in such a way as to cause interoperability problems. 

1.1 Organization of this document

See Section 2 for terminology.

   a) Simple mode clarifications
   b) Extended mode clarifications
   c) File format clarifications
   d) Fax Addressing Clarifications
   e) Open implementation issues


1.2 Discussion of this document

  Discussion of this document should take place on the Internet fax
  mailing list hosted by the Internet Mail Consortium (IMC).  Please
  send comments regarding this document to:

      ietf-fax@imc.org

  To subscribe to this list, send a message with the body 'subscribe'
  to "ietf-fax-request@imc.org".

  To see what has gone on before you subscribed, please see the
  mailing list archive at:

      http://www.imc.org/ietf-fax/

 
2. Terminology

The following terms are used throughout this document:

DSN           - RFC 1894 "An Extensible Message Format for Delivery Status
                Notifications" [7]
Extended Mode - RFC 2532, "Extended Facsimile Using Internet Mail" [3]
MDN           - RFC 2298 "An Extensible Message Format for Message Disposition
                Notifications" [9]
Simple Mode   - RFC 2305, "A Simple Mode of Facsimile Using Internet Mail" [2]
TIFF-FX       - RFC 2301, "File Format for Internet Fax" [4]

In examples, "C:" is used to indicates lines sent by the client, and "S:" to 
indicate those sent by the server.





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3. Implementation Issues Specific to Simple Mode

Issues specific to Simple Mode [2] are described below:

3.1 Simple Mode Fax Senders 

3.1.1 Multipart/alternative

Although a requirement of MIME compliance (16, Section 5.1.4), some 
email client implementations are not capable of correctly processing messages 
with a MIME Content-Type of "multipart/alternative". If a sender is unsure if 
the recipient is able to correctly process a message with a Content-Type of 
"multipart/alternative", the sender should assume the worst and not use this 
MIME Content-Type.


3.2 Simple Mode Fax Receivers

3.2.1 Multipart/alternative and Storage Capacity

Devices with little storage capacity are unable to cache previous parts of a 
multipart/alternative message.  In order for such devices to correctly process 
only one part of a multipart/alternative message, such devices may simply use 
the first process-able part of a multipart/alternative message. This is viable 
because the parts within a multipart/alternative are always sent in least-
fidelity to most-fidelity order [16, Section 5.1.4]. 

This behavior means that even if subsequent, higher-fidelity parts may have been 
process-able they will not be used.  

This behavior can cause user dissatisfaction because when two high-fidelity 
but low-memory devices are used with each other, the lowest-fidelity part of 
the multipart/alternative will be processed.

The solution to this problem is for the sender to determine the capability of 
the recipient and send only high fidelity. However a mechanism to determine the 
recipient capabilities prior to an initial message sent to the recipient doesn't 
yet exist on the Internet.

After an initial message is sent, the Extended Mode mechanism described in RFC 
2532 [3], Section 3.3 enables a recipient to include its capabilities in a 
delivery and/or a disposition notification:  in a DSN if the recipient device is 
an RFC 2532/ESMTP [3] compliant server or in an MDN if the recipient is a User 
Agent. 









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4. Implementation Issues Specific to Extended Mode

Issues specific to Extended Mode [3] fax are described below. Note that any 
Extended Mode device also needs to consider issues specific to Simple Mode as 
well (Section 3 of this document).

4.1 Multipart/Alternative

     Sections 3.1.1 and 3.2.1 are also applicable to this mode.

4.2. Correlation of MDN with Original Message

To re-iterate a paragraph from section 2.1, RFC 2298 [9], it is included here:

A message that contains a Disposition-Notification-To header SHOULD
      also contain a Message-ID header as specified in RFC 822 [10]. This 
      will permit automatic correlation of MDNs with original messages by
      user agents.

4.3 Correlation of DSN with Original Message

Similar to the requirement to correlate an MDN, above, DSNs also need to be 
correlated. This is best done using the ENVID parameter in the "MAIL" 
command. See Sections 3 and 5.4 of RFC 1891 [5] for details.


4.4 Extended Mode Receivers

Confirmation that the facsimile image (TIFF-FX attachment) was delivered and 
successfully processed is an important aspect of the extended mode of facsimile 
using Internet mail. This section describes implementation issues with several 
types of confirmations.

4.4.1 Confirmation of receipt and processing from User Agents

When a message is received with the "Disposition-Notification-To" header and the 
receiver has determined if the message is process-able, it may generate a:

a) Negative MDN in case of error, or
b) Positive MDN in case of success

but note that to send an MDN, the sender must have included the "Disposition-
Notification-To" header in the original message.
 
The advantage of receiving a requested MDN acknowledgement from an Extended Mode 
recipient is the indication of success or failure to process the TIFF-FX file 
attachment that was sent. The attachment constitutes the facsimile message and 
not the body-content of the message. Therefore an Extended Mode sender would 
expect, and it is recommended that the Extended Mode receiver will acknowledge 
(with an MDN) the success or failure to decode and process the TIFF file 
attachment.


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Implementers of the Extended Mode [3] should provide consistency in the feedback 
provided to senders in the form of error codes and/or failure/successful 
messages.

4.4.1.1 Discrepancies in MDN [9] Interpretation

An Extended Mode sender must be aware that RFC 2298 [9] does not distinguish 
between the success or failure to decode the body-content part of the message 
and the success or failure to decode a file attachment. 
Consequently MDNs may be received which do not reflect the success or failure to 
decode the attached TIFF-FX file, but rather to decode the body-content part of 
the message.


4.4.1.2 Disposition-Type: "dispatched".

If the receiver of an MDN request, is an RFC 2532 compliant device that 
automatically prints the received Internet mail messages and attachments, 
or forwards the attachment via GSTN fax, it should, in the case of success:

a)	Use "disposition-type" of "dispatched" (with no "disposition-modifier") in 
      the MDN, and
b)	Use the text similar to the following in the body of the message:

"This is a Return Receipt for the mail that you sent to [above, or below, or 
here address, etc]. The message and attached files[s] may have been printed, 
faxed or saved. This is no guarantee that the message has been read or 
understood". 

and in the case of failure:

a)	Use "disposition-type" of "processed" and disposition-modifier of 
      "error", and
b)	Use text similar to the following in the body of the message:

"This is a Return Receipt for the mail that you sent to [above, or below, 
or here address, etc]. An error occurred while attempting to decode the 
attached file[s]".

This recommendation adheres to the definition in RFC 2298 [9] and helps to 
distinguish the returned MDNs for proper handling.

Implementers may wish to consider sending messages in the language of the sender 
(by utilizing a header field from the original message) or including multiple 
languages by using multipart/alternative for the text portion of the MDN.








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4.4.1.3 "Subject" of MDN in Success and Failure Cases

Because legacy e-mail applications do not parse the machine-readable headers, e-
mail users depend on the human-readable parts of the MDN to recognize the type 
of acknowledgement that is received. For the sake of consistency and to help 
users visually distinguish a DSN from an MDN returned notification, it is 
suggested that the text 'disposition' be used for MDNs in the 'Subject' field.

Examples:
   Subject: Disposition Notification (MDN) - Success
   Subject: Disposition Notification (MDN) û Failure
   Subject: Delivery Status Notification (DSN) û Success 
   Subject: Delivery Status Notification (DSN) û Failure 


4.4.2 Extended Mode Receivers that are MTAs (or ESMTP servers)

It is strongly encouraged that SMTP server-based implementations should 
implement "SMTP Service Extension for Returning Enhanced Error Codes" [6]. This 
standard is easy to implement and it allows detailed standardized success and 
error indications to be returned to the sender by the submitting MTA.
 
The following examples are provided as illustration only. They should not be 
interpreted as limiting the protocol or the DSN form. If the examples conflict 
with the definitions in the standards (RFC 1891/1893/1894/2034), the standards 
take precedence. 


4.4.2.1 Success Case Example

In the following example the sender <jean@water.line.com> sends a message to 
receiver <ifax@copper.point.com> which is an ESMTP server and the receiver 
successfully decodes the message.


water.line.com
 +-------+
 | Mail  |
 | User  |
 | Agent |
 +-------+
     |
     V
+----------+      +--------+     +---------+
|   Mail   +      |  Mail  |     |  Mail   | 
|Submission|----->|Transfer|---->|Transfer |
|   Agent  |      | Agent  |     |  Agent  |
+----------+      +--------+     +---------+
                   foo.com     copper.point.com




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SMTP Sequence:

   S: 220 copper.point.com SMTP service ready
   C: EHLO water.line.com
   S: 250-copper.point.com
   S: 250-DSN
   S: 250 ENHANCEDSTATUSCODES
   C: MAIL FROM:<jean@water.line.com> RET=HDRS ENVID=MM123456
   S: 250 2.1.0 Originator <jean@water.line.com> ok
   C: RCPT TO:<ifax@copper.point.com> NOTIFY=SUCCESS,FAILURE ORCPT=rfc822;
      ifax@copper.point.com
   S: 250 2.1.5 Recipient <ifax@copper.point.com> ok
   C: DATA
   S: 354 Send message, ending in <CRLF>.<CRLF>
   S: Date: 1 June 1999 12:00:00 û0700
   S: MIME-Version: 1.0
   S: Content-Type: Image/Tiff
   S: Content-Transfer-Encoding: Base64
   S: From: Jean <jean@water.line.com>
   S: To: IFax Message Holder <ifax@copper.point.com>
   S: Message-ID: <12345@water.line.com>
   S:
   S: JEKFEJFKEJKFEJKFJKEJFKEJEJKFEJFKJEKFEE
   S: EJFJEKFJEKFJEKJFEKJFKEJFKEFJEKFJKEJFKE   
   S: . . .
   S: EJFKEJFKEJFKEJFKJEKFJEKJFKEJFKEKEFJKEJFE
   S: EJFKEJFKEJFKEJFKEKFJEKFJEKJFKEJFKEJFKEJF
   S: .
   S: 250 2.0.0 Message accepted
   C: QUIT
   S: 221 2.0.0 Goodbye






















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DSN (to jean@water.line.com):

   Date: Mon, 12 Dec 1999 19:01:57 +0900
   From: postmaster@copper.point.com
   Message-ID: <19991212190157.01234@copper.point.com>
   To: jean@water.line.com
   Subject: Delivery Notification (DSN) - Success

   MIME-Version: 1.0
   Content-Type: multipart/report; report-type=delivery-status;
       boundary=JUK199912121854870001

   --JUK199912121854870001
   Content-type: text/plain

   Your message (id MM123456) was successfully delivered to
   ifax@copper.point.com.

   --JUK199912121854870001
   Content-type: message/delivery-status

   Reporting-MTA: dns; copper.point.com
   Original-Envelope-ID: MM123456
   Final-Recipient: rfc822;ifax@copper.point.com
   Action: delivered
   Status: 2.1.5 (Destination address valid)
   Diagnostic-Code: smtp; 250 2.1.5 Recipient <ifax@copper.point.com> ok

   --JUK199912121854870001
   Content-type: message/rfc822-headers

   Date: 1 June 1999 12:00:00 -0700   
   MIME-Version: 1.0
   Content-Type: Image/Tiff
   Content-Transfer-Encoding: Base64
   From: Jean <jean@water.line.com>
   To: IFax Message Holder <ifax@copper.point.com>
   Message-ID: <12345@water.line.com>
   --JUK199912121854870001--













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4.4.2.2 Failure Case Example 1

In this example the receiver determines it is unable to decode the attached TIFF 
file AFTER it has received the SMTP message. The receiver then sends a 'failure' 
DSN.


water.line.com
 +-------+
 | Mail  |
 | User  |
 | Agent |
 +-------+
     |
     V
+----------+      +--------+     +---------+
|   Mail   +      |  Mail  |     |  Mail   | 
|Submission|----->|Transfer|---->|Transfer |
|   Agent  |      | Agent  |     |  Agent  |
+----------+      +--------+     +---------+
                   foo.com     copper.point.com


SMTP Sequence:

  This is the same as the case a). After the sequence, a decode error occurs at
  the receiver, so instead of a 'success' DSN, a 'failure' DSN is sent. 


























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DSN (to jean@water.line.com):

   Date: Mon, 12 Dec 1999 19:31:20 +0900
   From: postmaster@copper.point.com
   Message-ID: <19991212193120.87652@copper.point.com>
   To: jean@water.line.com
   Subject: Delivery Notification (DSN) - Failure
   MIME-Version: 1.0
   Content-Type: multipart/report; report-type=delivery-status;
       boundary=JUK199912121934240002

   --JUK199912121934240002
   Content-type: text/plain

   Your message (id MM123456) to ifax@copper.point.com resulted in an error
   while attempting to decode the attached file.

   --JUK199912121934240002
   Content-type: message/delivery-status

   Reporting-MTA: dns; copper.point.com
   Original-Envelope-ID: MM123456
   Final-Recipient: rfc822;ifax@copper.point.com
   Action: Failed
   Status: 5.6.1 (Media not supported)
   Diagnostic-Code: smtp; 554 5.6.1 Decode error

   --JUK199912121934240002
   Content-type: message/rfc822-headers

   Date: 1 June 1999 12:00:00 -0700   
   MIME-Version: 1.0
   Content-Type: Image/Tiff
   Content-Transfer-Encoding: Base64
   From: Jean <jean@water.line.com>
   To: IFax Message Holder <ifax@copper.point.com>
   Message-ID: <12345@water.line.com>

    --JUK199912121934240002--














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4.4.2.3 Failure Case Example 2

In this example the receiver determines it is unable to decode the attached TIFF 
file BEFORE it accepts the SMTP transmission.

SMTP sequence:

   S: 220 copper.point.com SMTP service ready
   C: EHLO water.line.com
   S: 250-copper.point.com
   S: 250-DSN
   S: 250 ENHANCEDSTATUSCODES
   C: MAIL FROM:<jean@water.line.com> RET=HDRS ENVID=MM123456
   S: 250 2.1.0 Originator <jean@water.line.com> ok
   C: RCPT TO:<ifax@copper.point.com> NOTIFY=SUCCESS,FAILURE ORCPT=rfc822;
      ifax@copper.point.com 
   S: 250 2.1.5 Recipient <ifax@copper.point.com> ok
   C: DATA
   S: 354 Send message, ending in <CRLF>.<CRLF>
   S: Date: 1 June 1999 12:00:00 -0700   
   S: MIME-Version: 1.0
   S: Content-Type: Image/Tiff
   S: Content-Transfer-Encoding: Base64
   S: From: Jean <jean@water.line.com>
   S: To: IFax Message Holder <ifax@copper.point.com>
   S: Message-ID: <12345@water.line.com>
   S:
   S: JEKFEJFKEJKFEJKFJKEJFKEJEJKFEJFKJEKFEE
   S: EJFJEKFJEKFJEKJFEKJFKEJFKEFJEKFJKEJFKE   
   S: . . .
   S: EJFKEJFKEJFKEJFKJEKFJEKJFKEJFKEKEFJKEJFE
   S: EJFKEJFKEJFKEJFKEKFJEKFJEKJFKEJFKEJFKEJF
   S: .
   S: 554 5.6.1 Media not supported
   C: QUIT
   S: 221 2.0.0 Goodbye



DSN:

Note: In this case, the previous MTA generates the DSN that is forwarded to 
the original sender. The receiving MTA has not accepted delivery and therefore 
can not generate a DSN.









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4.4.3 Extended Mode Receivers that are POP3/IMAP4

NOTE: There are no new definitions here in this document. The definitions
      of disposition-types and disposition-modifiers are defined in
      RFC 2298[9]. This section provides examples on how POP3/IMAP4 devices
      may use the already defined values.

These examples are provided as illustration only. They should not be interpreted 
as limiting the protocol or the MDN form. If the examples conflict with the 
definitions in the MDN [9] standard, the standard takes precedence. 


4.4.3.1 Success Case Example 

If the original sender receives an MDNs which has "displayed", "dispatched" or 
"processed" disposition-type without disposition-modifier, the receiver may have 
possibly received or decoded the attached TIFF-FX file that it sent. It does not 
guarantee that the receiver displays, prints or saves the attached TIFF-FX file 
See Section 4.4.1.1, Discrepancies in MDN Interpretation.

   NOTE: This example does not include the third component of the MDN.

   Date: 14 Dec 1999 17:48:44 +0900
   From: ken_recipient@bronze.dot.com
   Message-ID: <19991214174844.98765@silver.dot.com>
   Subject: Disposition Notification (MDN) - Success
   To: mary@silver.dot.com
   Mime-Version: 1.0
   Content-Type: multipart/report; report-type=disposition-notification;
    boundary="61FD1001_IFAX"

   --61FD1001_IFAX
   Content-Type: text/plain

   This is a Return Receipt for the mail that you sent to
   "ken_recipient@bronze.dot.com". The message and attached files may 
   have been printed, faxed or saved. This is no guarantee that the
   message has been read or understood.

   --61FD1001_IFAX
   Content-Type: message/disposition-notification

   Reporting-UA: ken-ifax.bronze.dot.com; barmail 1999.10
   Original-Recipient: rfc822;ken_recipient@bronze.dot.com
   Final-Recipient: rfc822;ken_recipient@bronze.dot.com
   Original-Message-ID: <19991214174010O.mary@silver.dot.com>
   Disposition: automatic-action/MDN-send-automatically; dispatched

   --61FD1001_IFAX--




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4.4.3.2 Failure Case Example 

If the original sender receives an MDN with an "error" or "warning" 
disposition-modifier, it is possible that the receiver could not receive or 
decode the attached TIFF-FX file. Currently there is no mechanism to associate 
the disposition-type with the handling of the main content body of the message 
or the attached TIFF-FX file.

   Date: 14 Dec 1999 19:48:44 +0900
   From: ken_recipient@bronze.dot.com
   Message-ID: <19991214194844.67325@silver.dot.com>
   Subject: Disposition Notification (MDN) - Failure
   To: mary@silver.dot.com
   Mime-Version: 1.0
   Content-Type: multipart/report; report-type=disposition-notification;
    boundary="84FD1011_IFAX"

   --84FD1011_IFAX
   Content-Type: text/plain

   This is a Return Receipt for the mail that you sent to
   "ken_recipient@bronze.dot.com". A decoding error occurred
   in the attached file.

   --84FD1011_IFAX
   Content-Type: message/disposition-notification

   Reporting-UA: ken-ifax.bronze.dot.com; barmail 1999.10
   Original-Recipient: rfc822;ken_recipient@bronze.dot.com
   Final-Recipient: rfc822;ken_recipient@bronze.dot.com
   Original-Message-ID: <199912141823123.mary@silver.dot.com>
   Disposition: automatic-action/MDN-send-automatically; processed/error

   --84FD1011_IFAX
   Content-Type: message/rfc822

   [original message goes here]

   --84FD1011_IFAX--














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4.4.4 Receiving Multiple TIFF-FX Attachments

A received email message could contain multiple TIFF-FX attachments and each 
distinct TIFF-FX file may use different encoding and/or resolution. A received 
email message could include TIFF-FX attachment and non-TIFF-FX attachments.

There is currently no mechanism to identify, in a returned MDN, the attachments 
that were successfully decoded from those that could not be decoded.

If the Extended Mode recipient is unable to decode any of the attached files, it 
is recommended that the Extended Mode recipient return a decoding error for the 
entire message.


5. Implementation Issues Specific to the File Format

5.1 IFD Placement in TIFF file & Profile S Constraints

Low memory devices, which support resolutions greater than the
required Profile-S, may be memory-constrained such that those
devices cannot properly handle arbitrary placement of TIFF IFDs
within a TIFF file.

To interoperate with a receiver that is constrained, it is strongly
recommended that senders always place the IFD at the beginning of
the TIFF-FX file when using any of the Profiles defined in RFC 2301.

5.2 Precautions for implementers of RFC 2301 [4]
	
The following compiled list of TIFF/RFC 2301 [4] errors
were encountered during interoperability testing and is provided so
that implementers of TIFF readers and writers can take precautionary
measures.

   a) Although Profile S of TIFF-FX [4] specifies that files should
      be in little-endian order, during testing it was found that
      some common TIFF writers create big-endian files.  If possible,
      the TIFF reader should be coded to handle big-endian files.
      TIFF writers should always create little-endian files to be
      compliant with the standard and to allow interoperation with
      memory-constrained devices;

   b) Bytes 0-1 of the Image File Header are supposed to be set to "II" 
      (4949h) or "MM" (4d4dh) to indicate the byte order.  During testing,
      other values were encountered.  Readers should handle cases where
      the byte order field contain values other than "II" or "MM", and
      writers should ensure the correct value is used;

   




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   c) Bytes 2-3 of the Image File Header are the "magic number" and
      are supposed to be equal to 42 (2Ah).  Readers should handle cases
      where the magic number is a different value, and writers should
      ensure the correct value is used;

   d) Readers should handle cases where IFD offsets point beyond the
      end of the TIFF-FX file, and writers should ensure the IFD offset
      does not point beyond the end of the file;

   e) Readers should be coded to handle the first IFD offset being on a
      non-word boundary, and writers should create the first IFD offset
      on a word boundary;

   f) Readers and writers should be careful to correctly handle IFDs
      with other TIFF profile data such as strip image data and
      header data.

   g) Some readers have difficulties with IFDs in certain locations.
      If possible, such reader implementations should be corrected
      and TIFF writers should take extra precautions to not place
      IFDs in these positions: IFD at the end of the profile, IFD
      intercalated with another IFD data like XResolution, DateTime,
      or strip image data.

   h) Some readers do not support child IFDs.  Child IFDs should
      not be created by TIFF writers.

   i) Some readers do not recognize the GlobalParametersIFD.  The
      GlobalParametersIFD should not be created by TIFF writers.


5.2.1 IFD Entry Errors

Implementers should make sure when generating a TIFF profile that:

   a) All entries exist. Missing entries make it impossible to read
      the image data.

   b) Tags will not have two types of data (for example SHORT or
      LONG).

   c) Tags do not have the wrong type of data (for example RATIONAL
      instead of SRATIONAL).

   d) The count of type is correct for a specified tag (it is not null
      and the matches the tag ID)

   e) Tags appear in the right order in the IFD.





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   f) Tags as PageNumber or ImageLayer have values that match the
      number of IFDs or the image data.

   g) Tags are unique within an IFD.

 
5.2.2 Strip Errors

    Implementers should make sure when generating a TIFF profile that:

    a) Strip data is not overlapped with another file data

    b) The strip offset does not point outside file

    c) The strip length is not null or the strip offset + strip length
       does not point outside file

    d) There is only one bit order (not more) specified for data storing.

5.2.3 Image Errors

   a) Implementers should be cautious when generating a TIFF profile
      that the type of image tags and the data from the strip data
      match.  For example, if in case of a black and white image the
      PhotometricInterpretation tag value is 0 (bit 0 means white) the
      image will appear inverted.

   b) Implementers should be cautious when generating a TIFF profile
      that for the special color spaces (ITULAB, YCBCR, CMYK) the
      parameters used for transformations are correct and compliant to
      the specification.

   c) Implementers should make sure when generating a TIFF profile
      that the tag values for XPosition and YPosition are correct.

5.2.4 Profile Specific Errors
    
   a) Implementers should make sure when generating a TIFF profile
      that all combinations of tag values are correct. Special
      attention should be given to the sets: XResolution, YResolution
      and ImageWidth and PhotometricInterpretation, SamplesPerPixel,
      and BitsPerSample.

   b) Implementers should make sure when generating a TIFF Profile M
      that the compression used for the layers is correct. Typical
      errors are for the Mask layer not be compressed with a black and
      white compression and the Background and Foreground layer not to
      be compressed with a color compression.




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6. Implementation Issues for Internet Fax Addressing

The "+" and "=" characters are valid within message headers, but are not valid 
values within some ESMTP commands, most notably ORCPT [5].  Implementations must 
take special care that ORCPT (and other ESMTP values) are properly encoded.

For example, the following header is valid as-is:

    To: Home Fax <FAX=+390408565@faxmail.com>

but when used with ORCPT, the "=" and "+" must be encoded like this:

  RCPT TO:<FAX=+390408565@faxmail.com> ORCPT=FAX+3D+2B290408565@faxmail.com

Note the "=" and "+" are valid inside the forward-path, but must be encoded when 
used within the esmtp value.

See [5] for details on this encoding.


7. Security considerations

With regards to this document, Sections 5 in RFC 2305 [2] and Section 4 in
RFC 2532 [3] apply.


8. Acknowledgements

he authors gratefully acknowledge the following persons who contributed or 
made comments on earlier versions of this memo:
Claudio Allocchio, Richard Coles, Ryuji Iwazaki, Graham Klyne, James Rafferty, 
and Kensuke Yamada.


9. References

[1] RFC 2542, "Terminology and Goals for Internet Fax",
    Masinter, L.,
    March 1999.

[2] RFC 2305, "A Simple Mode of Facsimile Using Internet Mail",
    Toyoda, K., Ohno, H., Murai, J. and Wing, D.,
    March 1998.

[3] RFC 2532, "Extended Facsimile Using Internet Mail",
    Masinter, L. and Wing, D.
    March 1999.






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[4] RFC 2301 "File Format for Internet Fax",
    McIntyre, L., Zilles, S., Buckley, R., Venable, D., Parsons, G.
    and J. Rafferty,
    March 1998.

[5] RFC 1891 "SMTP Service Extension for Delivery Status Notification",
    Moore, K., 
    January 1996.

[6] RFC 1893 "Enhanced Mail System Status Codes",
    Vaudreuil, G.,
    January 1996.

[7] RFC 1894 "An Extensible Message Format for Delivery Status Notifications",
    Moore, K., Vaudreuil, G.,
    January 1996.

[8] RFC 2034 "SMTP Service Extension for Returning Enhanced Error Codes",
    Freed, N.,
    October 1996.

[9] RFC 2298 "An Extensible Message Format for Message Disposition 
    Notifications", Fajman, R.
    March 1998.

[10] RFC 822 "Standard for the Format of ARPA Internet Text Messages",
     Crocker. D.,
     August 1982.

[11] RFC 821 "A Simple Mail Transfer Protocol",
     Postel, D.,
     August 1982.

[12] RFC 2303 "Minimal PSTN address format in Internet Mail",
     Allocchio, C.
     March 1998

[13] RFC 2304 "Minimal FAX address format in Internet Mail",
     Allocchio, C.
     March 1998
 
[14] RFC 2846 "GSTN Address Element Extensions in E-mail Services",
     Allocchio, C.
     June 2000

[15] RFC 1869 "SMTP Service Extensions",
     Klensin, J., Freed, N., Rose, M., Stefferud, E., Crocker, D.
     November 1995

[16] RFC 2046 "Multipurpose Internet Mail Extensions (MIME) Part Two:
     Media Types", Freed, N., Borenstein, N.
     November 1996

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10. Authors' addresses

  Vivian Cancio
  Xerox Corporation
  Mailstop PAHV-211
  3400 Hillview Ave.
  Palo Alto, CA 94304 USA
  Telephone: +1-650-813-7591
  Facsimile: +1-650-845-2341
  Email: vivian.cancio@pahv.xerox.com

  Mike Moldovan
  G3 Nova Technology, Inc.
  2794 Queens Way
  Thousand Oaks, CA 91362 USA
  Telephone: +1-805-245-4625
  Facsimile: +1-805-245-4214
  Email: mmoldovan@g3nova.com

  Hiroshi Tamura
  Ricoh Company, LTD.
  2446 Toda, Atsugi City,
  Kanagawa-Pref., 243-0023 Japan
  Telephone: +81-46-228-1743
  Facsimile: +81-46-228-7500
  Email: tamura@toda.ricoh.co.jp

  Dan Wing
  Cisco Systems, Inc.
  170 W. Tasman Drive
  San Jose, CA  95134-1706  USA
  Telephone: +1-408-525-5314
  Facsimile: +1-408-527-8083
  EMail:  dwing@cisco.com



















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Full copyright statement

  Copyright (C) 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.


























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Revision history

  [[[RFC editor: Please remove this section on publication]]]
Version 2
 1) Changed first sentence of 4.4.1.1 
 2) Added Sections: 4.4.1.2, 4.4.1.3, 4.4.1.4, 4.4.2.1, 4.4.2.2, 4.4.2.3,
    4.4.3.1, 4.4.3.2 and 4.4.4
 3) Deleted Sections: 6 and 7
 4) Changed heading of Section 4.4.1 
 5) In examples: replaced ifax@water.line.com
    with ifax@copper.point.com as well as other editorial changes
    in the examples through the document.
 6) In examples: changed text in subject field of DSN
 7) In examples: changed text in subject field of MDN
 8) In examples: changed text in text field of MDN
 9) Reworded text through out the document
10) Replaced heading in 5.2.1 [to "TIFF Readers: Be Cautious with Headers"]
11)     "      "        5.2.2 [to "TIFF Writers: Be Cautious in use of IFD"]


Version 3
1)	Section 5.2.1 and 5.2.2 were merged into 5.2; some of the
Paragraphs in Section 5 were reworded for clarity.
 2) The RFC 821 was added to the Reference section.
 3) The Reference section format was modified for consistency.
 4) A new Section 6 was added.
 5) References [9], [10], [11], [12], [13], [14] & [15] were added in Section 6. 
 6) Description of [12], [13], [14] & [15] was added to the Reference section 

Version 4

Examples were improved and some of the text was improved or re-arranged.
Section 6 was revised and simplified.

PAFTECH AB 2003-20262026-04-23 14:59:08