RFC1197 - Using ODA for translating multimedia information

Network Working Group M. Sherman

Request for Comments: 1197 CMU

December 1990

Using ODA for Translating Multimedia Information

1. Status of this Memo

The purpose of this RFCis to inform implementors of multimedia

systems about our eXPeriences using ISO 8613: Office Document

Architecture (ODA). Because ODA is being proposed as an encoding

format for use in multimedia mail and file exchange, implementors

wishing to use ODA in an open systems environment may profit from our

experiences. This memo provides information for the Internet

community. It does not specify any standard. Distribution of this

memo is unlimited.

2. Overview

ODA is a recently approved ISO (8613) and CCITT (T.410) standard for

representing documents containing multifont text, raster images and

geometric graphics. This encoding has been specified for use in a

number of related standards, sUCh as X.400.

However, ODA is a very abstract standard, defining entities such as

"composite logical object classes" and not common entities, such as

"paragraphs". Therefore, effective use of ODA as an interchange

medium requires the definition of a document application profile

(dap) that defines some common entities and a map between ODA

entities defined in the dap and entities used in the interchanged

systems.

3. EXPRES Experiences

The National Science Foundation funded the EXPRES project, which

consisted of groups at Carnegie Mellon University (Information

Technology Center) and the University of Michigan (Center for

Information Technology Integration). These two groups collaborated

with groups at McDonnell-Douglas Aerospace Information Systems, NIST,

and Interleaf. Together, the five groups investigated the use of ODA

as an interchange medium for submitting research proposals by

electronic mail to the National Science Foundation.

Part of the investigations yielded strategies for using ODA. We based

our strategies on the NIST dap and the features provided by the

Andrew, Diamond, and Interleaf systems. Our experiences been

documented and published in a book [1]. The discussion may be

valuable for others who wish to use ODA as an interchange medium.

4. Disclaimer

The information provided in [1] is the opinion only of the authors

and does not represent the opinions or policies of Carnegie Mellon

University, the University of Michigan, McDonnell-Douglas Aerospace

Information Systems, NIST, Interleaf, or the National Science

Foundation.

5. References

[1] Jonathan Rosenberg, Mark Sherman, Ann Marks & Jaap Akkerhuis,

"Multi-media Document Translation: ODA and the EXPRES Project",

Springer-Verlag (New York), 1991, ISBN 0-387-97397-4,

3-540-97397-4.

Security Considerations

Security issues are not discussed in this memo.

Author's Address

Mark Sherman

Information Technology Center

Carnegie Mellon University

4910 Forbes Avenue

Pittsburgh, PA 15213

Phone: (412) 268-6727

Fax: (412) 268-6787

EMail: mss+@andrew.cmu.edu