....Roy [still looking for a name for this Redmond virus that makes perfectly
reasonable people want to do the strangest things with HTTP]
============================================================================
INTERNET-DRAFT Expiration Date 6 January 1999
R. Garbrick
Data I/O Corp.
30 June 1998
Content-Specific Hypertext Transfer Protocol
Status of this Memo
This document is an Internet-Draft. Internet-Drafts are working
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Abstract
This document describes HTTPX, a protocol for providing access to
materials that may be objectionable or that have age or locale-based
restrictions, while providing a simple method to filter such content
where required.
HTTPX uses the protocol HTTP 1.1 ([RFC 2068]), with the single
exception of designating a separate range of TCP and UDP port
numbers that are allocated to a specific content type.
1. Rationale and Scope
The problem of unintentional distribution of adult-oriented
materials to minors via the internet has become an increasing
problem. URL filtering schemes have proven either ineffective or
too restrictive. Age verification schemes have proven cumbersome
and expensive. In addition, these methods place full responsibility
for restricting access on the end user and places no responsibility
on the distributor, where most such restrictions, such as access to
alcohol, cigarettes and explicit magazines, have historically been
placed.
Currently available protocols provide no reasonable means for the
distributor to pro-actively apply effective protocol-based controls
on content. HTTPX is intended to provide a simple, effective means
to filter content by using a standard protocol, HTTP 1.1
([RFC 2068]), over a specially designated port number.
This simple change will allow the creation of a separate, adult
network. Such entities as schools, libraries and businesses that
have a requirement for filtering content, will be able to do so with
minimal expense, using existing routers, proxy servers or firewalls
by disabling those ports. Browser software can be modified to
require a password lock to receive data on those ports.
Distributors of adult content could still provide opening screens
And advertisements on the existing port 80, and with minimal
expense, provide the adult content on the newly designated ports.
Governments and Internet Service Providers might provide some
incentive for adult content distributors to move their content to
the designated ports via service agreements or minor legislation.
Moving content to the new ports, might even reduce liability for the
distributors.
2. HTTPX Protocol
The HTTPX protocol uses the HTTP 1.1 ([RFC 2068]) protocol
unchanged, with the exception of designating special TCP and UDP
port numbers.
2.1 Proposed TCP and UDP Port Numbers
Proposed additions to RFC 1700;
www-httpx 880/tcp World Wide Web HTTPX for Graphic Sexual content
www-httpx 880/udp World Wide Web HTTPX for Graphic Sexual content
www-httpx 881/tcp World Wide Web HTTPX for Full Nudity
www-httpx 881/udp World Wide Web HTTPX for Full Nudity
3. References
[RFC2068] Fielding, R., Gettys, J., Mogul, J., Frystyk, H., and T.
Berners-Lee, "Hypertext Transfer Protocol -- HTTP/1.1", RFC 2068,
[RFC1700] J. Reynolds and J. Postel, "ASSIGNED NUMBERS", RFC 1700,
October 1994
4. Author's Address
Randy Garbrick
Data I/O Corp.
10525 Willows Rd. NE
P.O. Box 97046
Redmond, WA 98073-9746
EMail: garbrir@data-io.com
Expiration Date 11 November 1998
Garbrick INTERNET-DRAFT [Page 3]