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FSC-0013

A Standard for "Bark" File Requests
Draft 3 December 18, 1987
Fidgit Greylock, Greylock Software


Copyright 1987 Greylock Software, Inc.

License to distribute granted exclusively to the
International FidoNet Association.


1 Introduction

1.1 This Document

This document describes the standard for "Bark"-type FidoNet file requests.
It is based on the file BARK.DOC by Thom Henderson, my own experiences, and
comments from various network developers. I have attempted to write this file
in the style of the FSC001 document, some references to which are made in this
document. This document assumes that you have access to FSC001, and/or a
general knowledge of FidoNet mail sessions.
Please send comments to Fidgit Greylock at FidoNet node 1:321/112.


1.2 Credits

Thanks to all of the people who answered my questions in NET_DEV, and to Thom
Henderson for the original BARK.DOC.
Special thanks to Bob Hartman, without whose comments this document would not
be what it is today.
Portions of this document are reprinted from "A Basic FidoNet(tm) Technical
Standard", by Ryugen Fisher, copyright 1987, International FidoNet Association.



1.3 What are File Requests?

File Requests are a way of requesting that a specific file be sent during a
FidoNet mail session. This has many advantages over simply logging on to a BBS
and downloading a file: you need not be a validated user; you don't have to
spend time searching for the file on the BBS; and you can schedule the file
request to take place at any time without your being near your computer.
There are two commonly used types of file requests on FidoNet today: WaZOO
and Bark requests. WaZOO requests are used by Opus and BinkleyTerm, and are
not documented here. See the file WZ_REQ.DOC by Wynn Wagner for a description
of these. Bark requests are somewhat more complicated, and are supported by
most mailers, including SEAdog, Dutchie, BinkleyTerm, and to a certain extent
Opus. This document describes how to implement Bark-type file requests.
Bark file requests are an extension of the network mail session as described
in FSC001.


1.4 Terms Used in this Document

The diagrams and notations used in this document are the same as those used
in the FSC001 document. Please see FSC001 for a description of these.

There is one extra terminal used in this notation:

someName - String of up to max chars, NOT null terminated


2 Performing File Requests

2.1 Introduction

Originating a Bark request is basically a matter of transmitting a data block
containing a filename; a date (used for update requests); and optionally a
password, and then using Telink or SEAlink to receive the file.
Honoring an incoming file request is essentially the above procedure, from
the other side. It's a matter of prompting for a data block; receiving a data
block; finding the file; and transmitting it using Telink or SEAlink.
Update requests are the same as file requests, with one exception. On the
end honoring the file request, if the date in the data block (described below)
is greater than or equal to the date of the actual file on the honoring end,
the file will not be sent. The requestor should set the date to the date of
the actual file on its own end if an update request is desired.


2.2 The Data Block

2.2.1 Description

The data block in a Bark request is a variable-sized block containing a
header, a filename, a date (which is used only for update requests - in a
normal file request it's 0) and an optional password.
Note that some systems will send a password in the data block even if none is
needed. Incoming passwords should be ignored unless the other system is trying
to request a passworded file.
When receiving a data block, the ETX may be used to determine the end of the
block.
Below is a diagram of the data block in the tradition of FSC001.


2.2.2 Diagram


Bark File Request Data Block


.------------------------------------.
0 | ACK - 06H |
+------------------------------------+
1 | Filename |
+------------------------------------+
n | Space - 20H |
+------------------------------------+
n | Date |
+------------------------------------+
n | Space (used only if a password |
| follows) |
+------------------------------------+
n | Password (Optional) |
+------------------------------------+
n | ETX - 03H |
+------------------------------------+
n | CRC Low Byte |
+------------------------------------+
n | CRC High Byte |
`------------------------------------'


2.2.3 Definitions


DataBlock (no password) = ACK
Filename<12>
Space
Date<11>
ETX
CRC

DataBlock (with password) = ACK
Filename<12>
Space
Date<11>
Space
Password<6|8>
ETX
CRC

ACK = 06H (* Header for file request block *)
Space = 20H (* Space character *)
ETX = 03H (* End of block *)

Filename (* Name of file requested *)
Date (* ASCII string; the number of seconds
since midnight, January 1, 1970 *)
Password (* The password needed to request this
file, if any. Maximum length is 6 for
BinkleyTerm and Opus, 8 for SEAdog
and Dutchie. *)

CRC = crc[2] (* CCITT Cyclic Redundancy Check. The
same algorithm as used for XModem
CRCs. The CRC is calculated on
all data in the block between but
not including the ACK and the ETX *)



2.3 The Request

2.3.1 Description

File Requests are performed at the end of a normal FidoNet mail session.
Below are diagrams detailing a full FidoNet mail session with file requests for
both the originator and answerer of the session. The diagrams are
self-contained and neither refers to the other; however, both refer to states
defined in FSC001. These diagrams replace the corresponding diagrams in
FSC001.
Parts of the diagrams below have been reprinted from FSC001.
Note that you may use SEAlink in place of Telink when sending or receiving a
file during a file request.


2.3.2 Originator Diagram


Originator of Mail Session

.-----+----------+-------------------------+-------------------------+-----.
|State| State | Predicate(s) | Action(s) | Next|
| # | Name | | | St |
|-----+----------+-------------------------+-------------------------+-----|
| S0 | SendInit | | dial modem | S1 |
|-----+----------+-------------------------+-------------------------+-----|
| S1 | WaitCxD | 1 carrier detected | delay 1-5 seconds | S2 |
| | | 2 busy, etc. | report no connection | exit|
| | | 3 voice | report no carrier | exit|
| | | 4 carrier not detected | report no connection | exit|
| | | within 60 seconds | | |
|-----+----------+-------------------------+-------------------------+-----|
| S2 | WhackCRs | 1 over 30 seconds | report no response | exit|
| | | 2 ?? s received | delay 1 sec | S3 |
| | | 3 s not received | send | S2 |
| | | | delay ??? secs | |
|-----+----------+-------------------------+-------------------------+-----|
| S3 | WaitClear| 1 no input for 0.5 secs | send TSYNCH = AEH | S4 |
| | | 2 over 60 seconds | hang up, report garbage | exit|
| | | and line not clear | | |
|-----+----------+-------------------------+-------------------------+-----|
| S4* | SendMail | | (XMODEM send packet XS0)| S5 |
|-----+----------+-------------------------+-------------------------+-----|
| S5 | CheckMail| 1 XMODEM successful | (Fido registers success)| S6 |
| | | 2 XMODEM fail or timeout| hang up, report mail bad| exit|
|-----+----------+-------------------------+-------------------------+-----|
| S6* | SendFiles| | (BATCH send files BS0) | S7 |
|-----+----------+-------------------------+-------------------------+-----|
| S7 | CheckFile| 1 BATCH send successful | | S8 |
| | | 2 BATCH send failed | hang up, rept files fail| exit|
|-----+----------+-------------------------+-------------------------+-----|
| S8 | TryPickup| 1 wish to pickup | | S9 |
| | | 2 no desire to pickup | delay 5 secs | exit|
| | | | hang up, rept send ok | |
|-----+----------+-------------------------+-------------------------+-----|
| S9 | GetIntent| 1 Received TSYNC | (receive mail) | S10 |
| | | 2 Received SYN | (honor file requests) | S15 |
| | | 3 Received ENQ | (request files) | S18 |
| | | 4 Received 'C' or NAK | send EOT | S9 |
| | | 5 Nothing in 60 seconds | note receive failed | exit|
|-----+----------+-------------------------+-------------------------+-----|
| S10 | RecMail | | (XMODEM rec packet XR0) | S11 |
|-----+----------+-------------------------+-------------------------+-----|
| S11 | XRecEnd | 1 XMODEM successful | delay 1 second | S12 |
| | | | flush input | |
| | | 2 XMODEM failed | hang up, rept mail fail | exit|
|-----+----------+-------------------------+-------------------------+-----|
| S12 | RecFiles | | (BATCH rec files BR0) | S13 |
|-----+----------+-------------------------+-------------------------+-----|
| S13 | ChkFiles | 1 BATCH recv successful | delay 2 secs | S14 |
| | | 2 BATCH recv failed | hang up, report bad file| exit|
|-----+----------+-------------------------+-------------------------+-----|
| S14 | GetIntent| 1 Received SYN | (honor file requests) | S15 |
| | | 2 Received ENQ | (request files) | S18 |
| | | 3 Received 'C' or NAK | send EOT | S14 |
| | | 4 Nothing in 60 seconds | hang up; note can't req | exit|
|-----+----------+-------------------------+-------------------------+-----|
| S15 | HonorReqs| 1 Wish to honor requests| Send ENQ | S16 |
| | | 2 Do not wish to honor | | |
| | | requests | Send CAN | S18 |
|-----+----------+-------------------------+-------------------------+-----|
| S16 | WaitChar | 1 Got ACK | Get data block, starting| |
| | | | with 2nd byte (ACK is | |
| | | | the header), check name,| |
| | | | date, password | S17 |
| | | 2 Got ETB | | S18 |
| | | 3 Nothing in 60 seconds | Hang up; report error | exit|
|-----+----------+-------------------------+-------------------------+-----|
| S17 | SendFile | 1 File exists; date and | | |
| | | password ok | Send file using Telink | S15 |
| | | 2 Can't send file | Wait for 'C' or NAK from| |
| | | | Telink, send EOT | S15 |
|-----+----------+-------------------------+-------------------------+-----|
| S18 | Request | 1 Wish to request | | S19 |
| | | 2 Do not wish to request| hang up | exit|
|-----+----------+-------------------------+-------------------------+-----|
| S19 | WaitChar | 1 Received ENQ | | S20 |
| | | 2 Received CAN | Hang up; report other | |
| | | | end refuses requests | exit|
| | | 3 Nothing in 60 seconds | Hang up | exit|
|-----+----------+-------------------------+-------------------------+-----|
| S20 | StartReq | 1 No more files to req | Send ETB; hang up | exit|
| | | 2 Another file to req | | S21 |
|-----+----------+-------------------------+-------------------------+-----|
| S21 | SendBlock| | Send data block for this| |
| | | | file, byte by byte | S22 |
|-----+----------+-------------------------+-------------------------+-----|
| S22 | WaitChar | 1 Received ACK | Receive file with Telink| S20 |
| | | 2 Received other char; | | |
| | | 10th try | Hang up; report errors | exit|
| | | 3 Received other char | Increment retry count | S21 |
| | | 4 Nothing in 60 seconds | Hang up; report errors | exit|
`-----+----------+-------------------------+-------------------------+-----'



2.3.3 Answerer Diagram


Answerer of Mail Session

.-----+----------+-------------------------+-------------------------+-----.
|State| State | Predicate(s) | Action(s) | Next|
| # | Name | | | St |
|-----+----------+-------------------------+-------------------------+-----|
| R0 | WaitCxD | 1 carrier detected | | R1 |
| | | 2 external timer expires| report no calls | exit|
|-----+----------+-------------------------+-------------------------+-----|
| R1 | WaitBaud | 1 baud rate detected | send signon with s | R2 |
| | | 2 no detect in ?? secs | hang up, report no baud | exit|
|-----+----------+-------------------------+-------------------------+-----|
| R2 | WaitTsync| 1 TSYNCH received | (receive mail) | R3 |
| | | 2 60 seconds timeout | hang up, report not Fido| exit|
|-----+----------+-------------------------+-------------------------+-----|
| R3* | RecMail | | (XMODEM rec packet XR0) | R4 |
|-----+----------+-------------------------+-------------------------+-----|
| R4 | XRecEnd | 1 XMODEM successful | delay 1 second | R5 |
| | | | flush input | |
| | | 2 XMODEM failed | hang up, rept mail fail | exit|
|-----+----------+-------------------------+-------------------------+-----|
| R5* | RecFiles | | (BATCH rec files BR0) | R6 |
|-----+----------+-------------------------+-------------------------+-----|
| R6 | ChkFiles | 1 BATCH recv successful | delay 2 secs | R7 |
| | | 2 BATCH recv failed | hang up, report bad file| exit|
|-----+----------+-------------------------+-------------------------+-----|
| R7 | AllowPkup| 1 have pickup for sender| receiver becomes sender | R8 |
| | | 2 nothing to pickup | rept recv ok | R13 |
|-----+----------+-------------------------+-------------------------+-----|
| R8 | WaitClear| 1 no input for 0.5 secs | send TSYNCH = AEH | R9 |
| | | 2 over 60 seconds | hang up, report garbage | exit|
| | | and line not clear | | |
|-----+----------+-------------------------+-------------------------+-----|

| R9 | SendMail | | (XMODEM send packet XS0)| R10 |
|-----+----------+-------------------------+-------------------------+-----|
| R10 | CheckMail| 1 XMODEM successful | (Fido registers success)| R11 |
| | | 2 XMODEM fail or timeout| hang up, report mail bad| exit|
|-----+----------+-------------------------+-------------------------+-----|
| R11 | SendFiles| | (BATCH send files BS0) | R12 |
|-----+----------+-------------------------+-------------------------+-----|
| R12 | CheckFile| 1 BATCH send successful | | R13 |
| | | 2 BATCH send failed | hang up, rept files fail| exit|
|-----+----------+-------------------------+-------------------------+-----|
| R13 | Requests | 1 Wish to request files | Send SYN | R14 |
| | | 2 Do not wish to request| | R18 |
|-----+----------+-------------------------+-------------------------+-----|
| R14 | WaitChar | 1 Received ENQ | | R15 |
| | | 2 Received CAN | report other end refuses| |
| | | | requests | R18 |
| | | 3 Nothing in 60 seconds | hang up; report errors | exit|
|-----+----------+-------------------------+-------------------------+-----|
| R15 | StartReq | 1 No more files to req | Send ETB | R18 |
| | | 2 Another file to req | | R16 |
|-----+----------+-------------------------+-------------------------+-----|
| R16 | SendBlock| | Send data block for this| |
| | | | file, byte by byte | R17 |
|-----+----------+-------------------------+-------------------------+-----|
| R17 | WaitChar | 1 Received ACK | Receive file with Telink| R15 |
| | | 2 Received other char; | | |
| | | 10th try | Hang up; report errors | exit|
| | | 3 Received other char | Increment retry count | R16 |
| | | 4 Nothing in 60 seconds | Hang up; report errors | exit|
|-----+----------+-------------------------+-------------------------+-----|
| R18 | HonorReq | 1 Wish to honor requests| Send ENQ | R19 |
| | | 2 Do not wish to honor | | |
| | | requests | Send CAN; hang up | exit|
|-----+----------+-------------------------+-------------------------+-----|
| R19 | WaitChar | 1 Got ACK | Get data block, starting| |
| | | | with 2nd byte (ACK is | |
| | | | the header), check name,| |
| | | | date, password | R20 |
| | | 2 Got ETB | hang up | exit|
| | | 3 Nothing in 60 seconds | hang up; report error | exit|
|-----+----------+-------------------------+-------------------------+-----|
| R20 | SendFile | 1 File exists; date and | | |
| | | password ok | Send file using Telink | R18 |
| | | 2 Can't send file | Wait for 'C' or NAK from| |
| | | | Telink, send EOT | R18 |
`-----+----------+-------------------------+-------------------------+-----'


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