xep-0232.xml

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<xep>
<header>
  <title>Software Information</title>
  <abstract>This document specifies an extended data format whereby XMPP service discovery responses can include detailed information about the software application that powers a given XMPP entity for includion in service discovery responses.</abstract>
  &LEGALNOTICE;
  <number>0232</number>
  <status>Deferred</status>
  <type>Standards Track</type>
  <sig>Standards</sig>
  <approver>Council</approver>
  <dependencies>
    <spec>XMPP Core</spec>
    <spec>XEP-0004</spec>
    <spec>XEP-0030</spec>
  </dependencies>
  <supersedes/>
  <supersededby/>
  <shortname>NOT_YET_ASSIGNED</shortname>
  &stpeter;
  <revision>
    <version>0.3</version>
    <date>2009-02-26</date>
    <initials>psa</initials>
    <remark><p>Per Last Call feedback, removed icons for presence states; redefined the icon field to use media element per XEP-0221.</p></remark>
  </revision>
  <revision>
    <version>0.2</version>
    <date>2008-03-14</date>
    <initials>psa</initials>
    <remark><p>Added icon fields.</p></remark>
  </revision>
  <revision>
    <version>0.1</version>
    <date>2008-01-30</date>
    <initials>psa</initials>
    <remark><p>Initial published version.</p></remark>
  </revision>
  <revision>
    <version>0.0.3</version>
    <date>2008-01-23</date>
    <initials>psa</initials>
    <remark><p>Added software field; generalized to be software information, not client information.</p></remark>
  </revision>
  <revision>
    <version>0.0.2</version>
    <date>2008-01-22</date>
    <initials>psa</initials>
    <remark><p>Clarified relationship to Software Version (XEP-0092).</p></remark>
  </revision>
  <revision>
    <version>0.0.1</version>
    <date>2008-01-21</date>
    <initials>psa</initials>
    <remark><p>First draft.</p></remark>
  </revision>
</header>

<section1 topic='Introduction' anchor='intro'>
  <p>&xep0128; defines a way for an XMPP entity to include extended information in its responses to &xep0030; information requests. This document specifies a usage of &xep0128; whereby an XMPP entity can provide detailed data about itself in such responses. This protocol is intended to replace &xep0092; for software information discovery (thus reducing or eliminating the need for distinct software version requests) and also provides a format that can be encapsulated into &xep0115; notifications.</p>
</section1>

<section1 topic='Use Case' anchor='usecase'>
  <p>To illustrate this usage, consider the following example of a disco#info request-response interaction that includes detailed client information:</p>
  <example caption='Entity queries client for information'><![CDATA[
<iq from='romeo@montaguue.lit/orchard'
    to='juliet@capulet.lit/chamber'
    id='disco1'
    type='get'>
  <query xmlns='http://jabber.org/protocol/disco#info'/>
</iq>
]]></example>
  <p>Upon receiving the disco#info request, the software replies and includes extended information in a data form (&xep0004;), where the icon is communicated using the format defined in &xep0221;.</p>
  <example caption='Client communicates information'><![CDATA[
<iq from='juliet@capulet.lit/chamber'
    to='romeo@montague.lit/orchard'
    id='disco1'
    type='result'>
  <query xmlns='http://jabber.org/protocol/disco#info'>
    <identity category='client' name='Exodus' type='pc'/>
    <feature var='http://jabber.org/protocol/disco'/>
    <x xmlns='jabber:x:data' type='result'>
      <field var='FORM_TYPE' type='hidden'>
        <value>urn:xmpp:dataforms:softwareinfo</value>
      </field>
      <field var='icon'>
        <media xmlns='urn:xmpp:media-element'
               height='80'
               width='290'>
          <uri type='image/jpeg'>
            http://www.shakespeare.lit/clients/exodus.jpg
          </uri>
          <uri type='image/jpeg'>
            cid:sha1+f24030b8d91d233bac14777be5ab531ca3b9f102@bob.xmpp.org
          </uri>
        </media>
      </field>
      <field var='os'>
        <value>Windows</value>
      </field>
      <field var='os_version'>
        <value>XP</value>
      </field>
      <field var='software'>
        <value>Exodus</value>
      </field>
      <field var='software_version'>
        <value>0.9.1</value>
      </field>
    </x>
  </query>
</iq>
]]></example>
  <p>The fields have the following meaning:</p>
  <ul>
    <li>icon -- A default icon to show for a device running the software</li>
    <li>os -- The operating system on which the XMPP software is running</li>
    <li>os_version -- The operating system version</li>
    <li>software -- The XMPP software running at the entity (if this field is provided, its value SHOULD override any software name provided as the value of the 'name' attribute in the service discovery &lt;identity/&gt; element)</li>
    <li>software_version -- The XMPP software version</li>
  </ul>
</section1>

<section1 topic='Security Considerations' anchor='security'>
  <p>Service discovery information is typically world-readable. Therefore, care should be taken in exposing information that may make it easier for a potential attacker to target the publishing entity's system (e.g., the operating system on which the software is running).</p>
</section1>

<section1 topic='IANA Considerations' anchor='iana'>
  <p>This document requires no interaction with &IANA;.</p>
</section1>

<section1 topic='XMPP Registrar Considerations' anchor='registrar'>
  <p>The &REGISTRAR; shall include the following information in its registries.</p>
  <section2 topic='Field Standardization' anchor='registrar-formtype'>
    <p>&xep0068; defines a process for standardizing the fields used within Data Forms qualified by a particular namespace, and &xep0128; describes how to use field standardization in the context of service discovery. This section registers fields for software information scoped by the "urn:xmpp:dataforms:softwareinfo" FORM_TYPE.</p>
    <code caption='Registry Submission'><![CDATA[
<form_type>
  <name>urn:xmpp:dataforms:softwareinfo</name>
  <doc>XEP-0232</doc>
  <desc>
    Forms enabling the communication of detailed information
    about an XMPP client.
  </desc>
  <field
      var='icon'
      type='text-single'
      label='A URL for an icon representing the software, no matter the
             presence or availability status of the XMPP entity'/>
  <field
      var='os'
      type='text-single'
      label='The operating system on which the XMPP software is running'/>
  <field
      var='os_version'
      type='text-single'
      label='The operating system version'/>
  <field
      var='software'
      type='text-single'
      label='The XMPP software running at the entity'/>
  <field
      var='software_version'
      type='text-single'
      label='The XMPP software version'/>
</form_type>
]]></code>
  </section2>
</section1>

<section1 topic='Acknowledgements' anchor='ack'>
  <p>Thanks to Dave Cridland, Olivier Goffart, Joe Hildebrand, Etan Reisner, Remko Tronçon, and Jiří Zárevúcký for their comments.</p>
</section1>

</xep>