Session Initiation Protocol Extension for Instant Messaging
RFC 3428, “Session Initiation Protocol Extension for Instant Messaging”, is a Proposed Standard document published in December 2002 by B. Campbell, J. Rosenberg, H. Schulzrinne, C. Huitema, D. Gurle. It has since been updated by RFC 8591. The canonical text is published by the RFC Editor.
Abstract
Instant Messaging (IM) refers to the transfer of messages between users in near real-time. These messages are usually, but not required to be, short. IMs are often used in a conversational mode, that is, the transfer of messages back and forth is fast enough for participants to maintain an interactive conversation. This document proposes the MESSAGE method, an extension to the Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) that allows the transfer of Instant Messages. Since the MESSAGE request is an extension to SIP, it inherits all the request routing and security features of that protocol. MESSAGE requests carry the content in the form of MIME body parts. MESSAGE requests do not themselves initiate a SIP dialog; under normal usage each Instant Message stands alone, much like pager messages. MESSAGE requests may be sent in the context of a dialog initiated by some other SIP request. [STANDARDS-TRACK]
What “Proposed Standard” means
An entry-level standards-track specification: stable, peer-reviewed and a solid basis for implementation, though it may still evolve before becoming an Internet Standard.
The canonical text of RFC 3428 is hosted at rfc-editor.org. Available in TXT,HTML.
- RFC 3427 Change Process for the Session Initiation Protocol
- RFC 3429 Assignment of the 'OAM Alert Label' for Multiprotocol Label Switching Architecture Operation and Maintenance Functions
- RFC 3426 General Architectural and Policy Considerations
- RFC 3430 Simple Network Management Protocol Over Transmission Control Protocol Transport Mapping
- RFC 3425 Obsoleting IQUERY
- RFC 3431 Sieve Extension: Relational Tests
- RFC 3424 IAB Considerations for UNilateral Self-Address Fixing Across Network Address Translation
- RFC 3432 Network performance measurement with periodic streams