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RFC 62 - Systems for Interprocess Communication in a Resource Sharing Computer Network

  • Status: Unknown
  • Published: August 3, 1970
  • Stream: Legacy
  • Obsoletes: RFC 61
  • Errata: No Errata

Document Information​

  • RFC Number: 62
  • Title: Systems for Interprocess Communication in a Resource Sharing Computer Network
  • Authors: D. C. Walden (BBN Inc.)
  • Date: August 1970
  • Category: Unknown
  • Obsoletes: RFC 61

Abstract​

RFC 62 proposes a system for interprocess communication that is meant to work both inside a single time-sharing system and across a computer network. It introduces a small set of monitor operations - SEND, RECEIVE, RECEIVE ANY, SEND FROM ANY, SLEEP and UNIQUE - and builds ports, port numbers and the rendezvous of a SEND with a RECEIVE on top of them, so that two processes can exchange messages without sharing memory. The memo then generalizes the scheme to remote processes by distributing the Network Controller among the sites: each site keeps a rendezvous table, unique port numbers are partitioned among sites, and moving a port is reduced to telling the new site the port numbers and the rendezvous site. It closes with an application of the system to the ARPA Network, where the IMP subnet would provide the same operations, and with the author's own claims about the advantages of the design.

Table of Contents​