Its the latter - there are mechansims in MIME (e.g. content-id fields) that
allow for the construction of essentially arbitrary structures. However, the
problem with such structures isn't providing facilities to define them, its
finding short-term real-world uses that are readily implementable. A killer
application, in other words. Thus far it looks like the folks doing SGML
packages in MIME are going to be the first to get this far, although of course
that could change at any time.
The point being, of course, that the structures are there but presently unused.
Security services add additional capabilities to the existing structure, and
may provide the necessary push to get more complex uses going.
Have either of you looked at what Alan Asay and his group at the Utah Dept. of
Courts are doing? They have a VERY active program to institutionalize the use of
digially signed documents for filing legal documents (pleadings, case citations,
etc., etc., probably even some evidentiary materials). He has been the driving
force to get a Model Statute written to define exactly how digital signatures
would
be recognized in this context, drawing on the ABA's Certification Authority
working
group's expertise. It looks like a bill will be submitted early in this years
legislative calendar. Although this will be a State statue, it is expected to
establish a significant precedent.
I mention this because they had a RFP out for software that would apply digital
signatures to SGML documents, and applying MIME constructs would seem to be a
natural extension.
Bob
--------------------------------
Robert R. Jueneman
Staff Scientist
Wireless and Secure Systems Laboratory
GTE Laboratories
40 Sylvan Road
Waltham, MA 02254
Internet: Jueneman(_at_)gte(_dot_)com
FAX: 1-617-466-2603
Voice: 1-617-466-2820