The IESG, the Steering Group of the IETF, is considering The Blocks Extensible Exchange Protocol Framework and Mapping the BXXP Framework onto TCP for Proposed Standard status.

Blocks is:

"a generic application protocol framework for connection-oriented, asynchronous interactions. The framework permits simultaneous and independent exchanges within the context of a single application user-identity, supporting both textual and binary messages."

Blocks uses XML both as part of the protocol framework and as a primary message format. A design document outlines the choices made in its development, and the IMXP instant messaging protocol demonstrates a protocol built using Blocks.

More information on Blocks, including implementations and protocols built using Blocks, is available at bxxp.org.

The IESG requests that readers please send any comments to the iesg@ietf.org or ietf@ietf.org mailing lists by December 4, 2000.