To: mitra@path.net
In-Reply-To: mitra@path.net's message of Wed, 3 Nov 1993 16:48:59 -0800 <93Nov3.164912pst.2795@golden.parc.xerox.com>
Subject: Re: URN to URC resolution scenario
From: Larry Masinter <masinter@parc.xerox.com>
Message-Id: <93Nov12.000239pst.2795@golden.parc.xerox.com>
Date: Fri, 12 Nov 1993 00:02:34 PST
Mitra's scenario brings a question to mind:
Don't you think it is likely that different kinds of URNs will have
different URN to URL resolution mechanisms? You'll use a different
method to find something that's identified by its ISBN number than
something that's identified by it's news message-ID.
E.g., for an ISBN number, you'll check your shelves, your local
library, a close bookstore, and finally, if you can't find it anywhere
else, the library of congress.
For a news identifier, you might check your local news server, a
couple of the net CDROM authorities, and some of the netnews archive
sites.
For an RFC document, you'd check the various document repositories.
You don't want to build the URN -> URL resolution method into the
design of URN, do you?
I've not been taking the 'authority' part of 'naming authority'
seriously. It's more the 'naming style', isn't it?