Re: [rtcweb] Open data channel issues

[Paul Kyzivat <[e-mail]>]

On 2/26/14 5:21 PM, Christer Holmberg wrote:
> Hi,
>
>>>> * Section 6.5
>>>>
>>>> This section contains:
>>>
>>>      Data channels can be opened by using internal or external
>>>      negotiation.  The details are out of scope of this document.
>>>
>>>      A simple protocol for internal negotiation is specified in
>>>      [I-D.ietf-rtcweb-data-protocol] and MUST be supported.
>>>
>>>> But internal and external negotiation are not defined in this document.
>>>>
>>>
>>>   > I *thought* that internal negotiation was by definition negotiation
>>> by use of  > rtcweb-data-protocol.
>>> (draft-ejzak-mmusic-data-channel-sdpneg-00
>>> thinks so too,
>>>   > but calls it "in-band negotiation".) There should be a good
>>> definition of these  > terms, or reference to one. And more discussion
>>> if there can be other kinds of  > internal negotiation. (If so, how
>>> would one be chosen?)
>>>
>>> Well, the text above says that ietf-rtcweb-data-protocol specifies an
>>> internal negotiation protocol, so it's not that far off.  The split
>>> does allow someone to use an alternative negotiation protocol
>>> (internal or external).
>>>
>>> How about:
>>>
>>>      Data channels can be opened by using negotiation within the SCTP
>>> association or external
>>>      negotiation.  External negotiation is defined as any method which
>>> results in an agreement
>>>      as to the parameters of a channel and the creation thereof.
>>>      The details are out of scope of this document.
>>>
>>>      A simple protocol for negotiation within the SCTP association is
>>> specified in
>>>      [I-D.ietf-rtcweb-data-protocol] and MUST be supported.
>>>
>>> Perhaps someone can wordsmith "external negotiation" better.
>>
>> ISTM the issue is that Internal vs. External isn't the key distinction.
>> What is key is that there is one method that MUST be *supported* but need not be the only one >used. Other mechanisms may be used. It doesn't really matter whether they are conducted >internally (over the SCTP association) or externally (anything else).
>
> I think the MUST-be-supported-method is a separate question.
>
>> E.g., I could use DCEP to establish one channel, and then use my own private protocol over that to >negotiate other channels. Would that be internal or external negotiation? Does it matter?
>
> I guess they would both be in-band methods. Maybe using in-band and out-of-band terminology would be more clear - and more aligned with existing terminology.

My point is that the real distinction is between the one std mechanism 
and everything else. For purposes of discussions here it doesn't matter 
whether the non-std mechanisms are in-band or out of band.

(Of course to the people using them the distinction is significant. But 
it is their problem, not ours.)

	Thanks,
	Paul