protocols - 什么是联合协议(protocol)？

Question

我最近听到这个术语来描述 Google 的新环聊协议(protocol)和 Whisper System 的新 encrypted texting app .

The new TextSecure push transport is a federated protocol

这是什么意思？

Answer 1

我认为这意味着一种通用的开放协议(protocol)，允许许多小型网络在不完全放弃控制的情况下相互通信，因此它们仍然可以使用自定义的内部协议(protocol)。因此 SMTP 和 XMPP 是联合协议(protocol)。

我在任何地方都找不到确切的定义，但我确实有证据支持我的陈述:

动词“联合”的字典定义:

(with reference to a number of states or organizations) form or be formed into a single centralized unit, within which each state or organization keeps some internal autonomy.

最近的blog post by Open Whisper Systems讨论联合网络与集中式网络:

Indeed, cannibalizing a federated application-layer protocol into a centralized service is almost a sure recipe for a successful consumer product today. It's what Slack did with IRC, what Facebook did with email, and what WhatsApp has done with XMPP. In each case, the federated service is stuck in time, while the centralized service is able to iterate into the modern world and beyond.

This page将 SMTP 称为“联合电子邮件协议(protocol)”:

Then, SMTP (Simple Mail Transfer Protocol) came along and allowed these systems to federate into one large email system.

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(旁白:虽然我不是来自美国，但我发现最容易通过类比美国“联邦政府”来思考这个术语:它允许美国所有州在国家层面上进行协调，同时仍然保留大量内部控制)