[Handle-info] Version 7.0 of the Handle System

[Jane Euler <jeuler@cnri.reston.va.us>]

Hi Everyone:
CNRI is pleased to announce the release of version 7.0 of the Handle 
System. This release constitutes a major upgrade to the system. The 
major improvements include:

*/Template handles:/* a single template handle can now be included in 
the form of a base formula that allows any number of extensions to that 
base to be resolved as full handles, according to a pattern, without 
each such handle being individually registered. This would allow, for 
example, the use of handles to reference an unlimited number of ranges 
within a video without each potential range having to be registered with 
a separate handle. If the pattern needs to be changed, e.g., the video 
moves or a different kind of server is used to deliver the video clips, 
only the single base handle needs to be changed to allow an unlimited 
number of previously constructed extensions to continue to resolve properly.

/*Offline signatures:*/ handle values can now be signed with "offline" 
private keys (private keys that need not exist on any Internet-connected 
machine). This additional layer of verification has been applied to all 
entries in the Global Handle Registry by CNRI but any party that has the 
authority to create handle records at any level can use this general 
capability to sign their handle records. The release includes a simple 
but flexible API for building handle value digests and signing those 
digests.

*/Multiple location type:/* support has been added for a new handle 
value type, 10320/loc, which specifies a list of URL locations, 
including information that differentiates the locations, to which a 
handle can resolve. The web-to-handle proxy and Firefox extension can 
now use the data that comes along with the http request, e.g., client IP 
address, browser language, URL parameters, etc) to determine the 
selection of a specific URL from the list of alternatives. Thus, 
European users could be directed to one URL while North American users 
could be directed to another.

*/DNS interface:/* added a DNS interface to translate DNS resolution 
requests to handle resolution requests. This includes support for 
translating DNS names to handles, including decoding Internationalized 
Domain Names.

*/Berkeley database:/* the new distribution includes the Berkeley DB, 
which is now the default storage system for version 7.0 of the Handle 
System. However, other databases may be used in place of the Berkeley 
DB, if desired.

/*Jython interpreter:*/ added a Jython interpreter that can run script 
files or show an interactive shell, enabling any Python programmer to 
create scripts to interact with the handle server. Command-line 
parameters can specify authentication information or prompt the user 
with a GUI authentication window.

See (the new!) handle.net website for additional details. As always feel 
free to send questions to hdladmin@cnri.reston.va.us.

Thank you.
Jane Euler
CNRI
Reston, VA
US


_______________________________________________
Handle-Info mailing list
Handle-Info@cnri.reston.va.us
http://www.handle.net/mailman/listinfo/handle-info