You are here: irt.org | RFCs | RFC4759 [ previous next ]
Network Working Group R. Stastny
Request for Comments: 4759 Oefeg
Category: Standards Track R. Shockey
Neustar Inc.
L. Conroy
Roke Manor Research
November 2006
The ENUM Dip Indicator Parameter for the "tel" URI
Status of This Memo
This document specifies an Internet standards track protocol for the
Internet community, and requests discussion and suggestions for
improvements. Please refer to the current edition of the "Internet
Official Protocol Standards" (STD 1) for the standardization state
and status of this protocol. Distribution of this memo is unlimited.
Copyright Notice
Copyright (C) The IETF Trust (2006).
Abstract
This document defines a new parameter "enumdi" for the "tel" Uniform
Resource Identifier (URI) to support the handling of ENUM queries in
Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) network elements. A VoIP network
element may receive a URI containing an E.164 number, where that URI
contains an "enumdi" parameter. The presence of the "enumdi"
parameter indicates that an ENUM query has already been performed on
the E.164 number by a previous VoIP network element. Equally, if a
VoIP network element sends such a URI, it asserts that an ENUM query
has been carried out on this number.
Stastny, et al. Standards Track [Page 1]
RFC 4759 ENUM Dip Indicator "tel" URI parameter November 2006 Table of Contents 1. Introduction ....................................................2 2. Terminology .....................................................2 3. Formal Syntax ...................................................3 4. Normative Rules .................................................3 4.1. Options for ENUM Domain Providers ..........................3 4.2. Client Behaviour for VoIP Network Elements .................3 4.2.1. Handling a URI with the "enumdi" Parameter ..........3 4.2.2. Adding the "enumdi" Parameter to URIs ...............4 4.2.3. Handling a URI Retrieved from ENUM ..................4 5. Examples ........................................................4 6. Security Considerations .........................................5 7. IANA Considerations .............................................5 8. Acknowledgements ................................................6 9. References ......................................................6 9.1. Normative References .......................................6 9.2. Informative References .....................................6 1. Introduction VoIP network elements (including User Agent Servers and User Agent Clients) may be set up in different ways to handle E.164 [3] numbers during call setup, depending on the capabilities provided. One common approach is to query ENUM as defined in RFC 3761 [4], and to use the set of NAPTR resource records that is returned. If the ENUM query leads to a result, the call is set up accordingly. If the ENUM query does not lead finally to a result, another database may be queried and/or the call may finally be routed to the Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN). In doing so, the call may be routed to another VoIP network element. To indicate in signalling to this next VoIP element that an ENUM query has already been made for the "tel" URI (specified in RFC 3966 [5]), the "enumdi" parameter is used, to prevent the next VoIP network element from repeating redundant queries. 2. Terminology The key words "MUST", "MUST NOT", "REQUIRED", "SHALL", "SHALL NOT","SHOULD", "SHOULD NOT", "RECOMMENDED", "MAY", and "OPTIONAL" in this document are to be interpreted as described in BCP 14, RFC 2119 [1]. Stastny, et al. Standards Track [Page 2]
RFC 4759 ENUM Dip Indicator "tel" URI parameter November 2006 3. Formal Syntax The following syntax specification uses the Augmented Backus-Naur Form (ABNF) as described in RFC 4234 [2] to extend the syntax of the "par" production defined in the ABNF of RFC 3966 [5]. par =/ enum-dip-indicator enum-dip-indicator = ";enumdi" The enum-dip-indicator is an optional parameter for the "tel" URI. Note also that enum-dip-indicator can appear at most once in any "tel" URI. 4. Normative Rules 4.1. Options for ENUM Domain Providers A domain provider can, at its choosing, populate a NAPTR record with a "tel" URI that contains the enum dip indicator. This would, as a consequence of the rules stated below, inform the client that it should not bother performing a query and pass the request on. 4.2. Client Behaviour for VoIP Network Elements This section discusses how a VoIP network element handles a received "tel" URI that contains the "enumdi" parameter or has queried ENUM in e164.arpa. for a given E.164 number. 4.2.1. Handling a URI with the "enumdi" Parameter If a VoIP network element receives a "tel" URI containing the "enumdi" parameter, the VoIP network element SHOULD NOT retrieve the related information for this number from ENUM in e164.arpa. even if it would normally do so. Note that the recipient network element may reasonably choose to query ENUM if it does not have a trust relationship with the immediate sender of the URI. If the "tel" URI (received from a trusted entity) is to be passed to the next network element, the VoIP network element MUST pass on the received URI containing the "enumdi" parameter unchanged. If, however, the URI has been received from an untrusted entity, then the recipient entity may either strip it before sending the URI onwards or instead carry out its own ENUM query and add the parameter accordingly to the URI (see next). Stastny, et al. Standards Track [Page 3]
RFC 4759 ENUM Dip Indicator "tel" URI parameter November 2006 4.2.2. Adding the "enumdi" Parameter to URIs When a VoIP network element queries ENUM in e164.arpa. for a given E.164 number and the result of the query is DNS error code 3 (commonly known as "NXDOMAIN"), then if that network element chooses to pass the call to another network element by using a "tel" URI, the "enumdi" parameter MUST be set. 4.2.3. Handling a URI Retrieved from ENUM When a VoIP network element queries ENUM in e164.arpa. for a given E.164 number and either: o the result of the query includes a NAPTR resource record containing a "tel" URI that has the same E.164 number, or o the result of the query includes a NAPTR resource record containing a "tel" URI with the "enumdi" parameter set, then if that retrieved "tel" URI is chosen to be passed to another network element, the sending VoIP network element MUST pass on the retrieved URI with the "enumdi" parameter set. When a VoIP network element queries ENUM in e164.arpa. for a given E.164 number and the result is a "tel" URI with a different E.164 number that lacks the enum dip indicator, the client can either perform another query against that number or pass the request on, as a matter of local policy. 5. Examples a. A VoIP network element called server.example.com receives a "tel" URI tel:+441632960038. The VoIP network element queries the DNS for NAPTR resource records in 8.3.0.0.6.9.2.3.6.1.4.4.e164.arpa., and gets an error response with code = 3 (commonly known as "NXDOMAIN"). The VoIP network element decides to route the call to the PSTN via another VoIP network element called gw.example.com. It therefore signals to the next VoIP network element with: tel:+441632960038;enumdi or (using the procedures of RFC 3261 [6] section 19.1.6): sip:+441632960038;enumdi@gw.example.com;user=phone Stastny, et al. Standards Track [Page 4]
RFC 4759 ENUM Dip Indicator "tel" URI parameter November 2006 b. A VoIP network element called server.example.com receives a "tel" URI tel:+441632960038. The VoIP network element queries the DNS for NAPTR resource records in 8.3.0.0.6.9.2.3.6.1.4.4.e164.arpa., and receives the same "tel" URI in reply (i.e., tel:+441632960038). The VoIP network element decides to route the call to the PSTN via another VoIP network element called gw.example.com. It therefore signals to this next VoIP network element with: tel:+441632960038;enumdi or (using the procedures of RFC 3261 [6] section 19.1.6): sip:+441632960038;enumdi@gw.example.com;user=phone 6. Security Considerations In addition to those security implications discussed in the "tel" URI [5] specification, there are new security implications associated with the defined parameter. If the "enumdi" is illegally inserted into the "tel" URI when the signalling message carrying the "tel" URI is en route to the destination entity, the call may be routed to the PSTN network, incurring unexpected charges or causing a downstream VoIP network element to reject the call setup. Many network elements that will process URIs containing this parameter will maintain trust relationships with others. If such a URI is received from an entity outside the trust boundary of the recipient, then that recipient entity may reasonably ignore it and make an ENUM query itself. In so doing, it can avoid this potential attack. It is less a problem if the "enumdi" is illegally removed. An additional ENUM query may be performed to retrieve the routing number information and have the "enumdi" included again. It is RECOMMENDED that protocols carrying the "tel" URI ensure message integrity during the message transfer between the two communicating network elements so as to detect any unauthorised changes to the content of the "tel" URI and other information. 7. IANA Considerations This document does not itself require any IANA actions. It does define a parameter for the "tel" URI. Further information on a registry for such parameters is covered in the IANA "tel" URI Parameter Registry [7]. Stastny, et al. Standards Track [Page 5]
RFC 4759 ENUM Dip Indicator "tel" URI parameter November 2006 8. Acknowledgements Many thanks for the thorough review provided by Alex Mayrhofer. 9. References 9.1. Normative References [1] Bradner, S., "Key words for use in RFCs to Indicate Requirement Levels", RFC 2119, BCP 14, March 1997. [2] Crocker, D. and P. Overell, "Augmented BNF for Syntax Specifications: ABNF", RFC 4234, October 2005. [3] ITU-T, "The International Public Telecommunication Number Plan", Recommendation E.164, February 2005. [4] Faltstrom, P. and M. Mealling, "The E.164 to Uniform Resource Identifiers (URI) Dynamic Delegation Discovery System (DDDS) Application (ENUM)", RFC 3761, April 2004. [5] Schulzrinne, H., "The tel URI for Telephone Numbers", RFC 3966, December 2004. [6] Rosenberg, J., Schulzrinne, H., Camarillo, G., Johnston, A., Peterson, J., Sparks, R., Handley, M., and E. Schooler, "SIP: Session Initiation Protocol", RFC 3261, June 2002. 9.2. Informative References [7] Jennings, C. and V. Gurbani, "The Internet Assigned Number Authority (IANA) tel Uniform Resource Identifier (URI) Parameter Registry", Work in Progress, May 2006. Stastny, et al. Standards Track [Page 6]
RFC 4759 ENUM Dip Indicator "tel" URI parameter November 2006 Authors' Addresses Richard Stastny Oefeg Postbox 147 1103 Vienna Austria Phone: +43-664-420-4100 EMail: Richard.stastny@oefeg.at Richard Shockey Neustar Inc. 46000 Center Oak Plaza Sterling, VA 20166 United States Phone: +1-571-434-5651 EMail: richard.shockey@neustar.biz Lawrence Conroy Roke Manor Research Roke Manor Romsey United Kingdom Phone: +44-1794-833666 EMail: lconroy@insensate.co.uk Stastny, et al. Standards Track [Page 7]
RFC 4759 ENUM Dip Indicator "tel" URI parameter November 2006 Full Copyright Statement Copyright (C) The IETF Trust (2006). This document is subject to the rights, licenses and restrictions contained in BCP 78, and except as set forth therein, the authors retain all their rights. This document and the information contained herein are provided on an "AS IS" basis and THE CONTRIBUTOR, THE ORGANIZATION HE/SHE REPRESENTS OR IS SPONSORED BY (IF ANY), THE INTERNET SOCIETY, THE IETF TRUST, AND THE INTERNET ENGINEERING TASK FORCE DISCLAIM ALL WARRANTIES, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO ANY WARRANTY THAT THE USE OF THE INFORMATION HEREIN WILL NOT INFRINGE ANY RIGHTS OR ANY IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. Intellectual Property The IETF takes no position regarding the validity or scope of any Intellectual Property Rights or other rights that might be claimed to pertain to the implementation or use of the technology described in this document or the extent to which any license under such rights might or might not be available; nor does it represent that it has made any independent effort to identify any such rights. Information on the procedures with respect to rights in RFC documents can be found in BCP 78 and BCP 79. Copies of IPR disclosures made to the IETF Secretariat and any assurances of licenses to be made available, or the result of an attempt made to obtain a general license or permission for the use of such proprietary rights by implementers or users of this specification can be obtained from the IETF on-line IPR repository at http://www.ietf.org/ipr. The IETF invites any interested party to bring to its attention any copyrights, patents or patent applications, or other proprietary rights that may cover technology that may be required to implement this standard. Please address the information to the IETF at ietf-ipr@ietf.org. Acknowledgement Funding for the RFC Editor function is currently provided by the Internet Society. Stastny, et al. Standards Track [Page 8]