We, W3C Members Microsoft hereby submit to the Consortium the following specification comprising the document(s) linked below:
which collectively are referred to as "the submission". We request the submission be known as the Channel Definition Format [CDF] submission.
The Channel Definition Format is an open specification that permits a web publisher to offer frequently updated collections of information, or channels, from any web server for automatic delivery to compatible receiver programs on PCs or other information appliances. Automatic means that the user need only choose the channel once, and thereafter, scheduled deliveries of information to the client will occur without further user intervention. Standard web server means that any web server that uses the HTTP 1.0 or later protocol can broadcast channels. Compatible means any program that implements processing and retrieving content as specified by the Channel Definition Format described below. When downloaded to a client, CDFs act as a local index to its channel's available content. For example, a receiver program can present the implicit hierarchy in a CDF within a channel selector.
Microsoft agrees that, upon adoption of this contribution as a W3C standard, any W3C member will be able to obtain a license from Microsoft to implement and use the technology described in this contribution for the purposes of supporting the Internet Standard on a royalty-free basis. One condition of this license shall be the party's agreement to not assert patent rights against Microsoft and other companies for their implementation of the Internet Standard. Microsoft expressly reserves all other rights it may have in the material and subject matter of this contribution.
N/A.
The submission may distributed within the membership of the W3C free of any fee.
The submission may be distributed publicly free of any fee.
N/A.
We suggest that the Consortium work on the proposal via existing working groups, and ultimately adopt the submission as a Recommendation.
To help with this work, we expect to be able to provide one non-resident employee fulltime to the Consortium.
Should any changes be required to the document, we would expect future versions to be produced by W3C process.
Inquiries from the public or press about this submission should be directed to: Thomas Reardon <thomasre@microsoft.com>, Microsoft Corp.
this 9th day of March, 1997
Thomas Reardon
Microsoft Corporation