Status of this Memo Middlebox Communication Architecture and framework

There are a variety of intermediate devices in the Internet today that require application intelligence for their operation. Datagrams pertaining to real-time streaming applications such as SIP and H.323 and peer-to-peer applications such as Napster and NetMeeting cannot be identified by merely examining packet headers. Middleboxes implementing Firewall and Network Address Translator services typically embed application intelligence Srisuresh, et al. [Page 1] Internet-Draft MIDCOM Architecture & Framework May 2001 within the device for their operation. The document specifies an architecture and framework in which trusted third parties can be delegated to assist the middleboxes to perform their operation without resorting to embedding application intelligence. Doing this will allow a middlebox to continue to provide the services, while keeping the middlebox application agnostic. A principal objective of this document is to enable complex applications through the middleboxes seamlessly using a trusted third party.