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Copyright
© 1997 America Online, Inc.
All rights reserved.
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Terminology
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The follow is a list of terms you may see through out these
pages, or in the debugging output from the AOL Instant Messenger (TM)
Java Client. These terms may not apply to the native Win3.1, Win95, or
Mac Instant Messenger clients.
- BOS
- BOS - Basic OSCAR Service. This term refers to the
services that form the core of the Instant Messenger service. These
services include Login/Logoff, Locate, Instant Message, and
Buddy List.
- Buddy List
- The buddy list tool allows a user to see in near realtime when his
friends (buddies) are using the Instant Messenger service. A user may set a preference
to block others from seeing him when he is on. He may also set
a permit or deny list to selectively show his presence.
See:Symmetric Blocking
- FLAP
- FLAP is a low-level communications protocol that facilitates the
development of higher-level, record-oriented, communications layers.
It is used on the TCP connection between all clients and servers.
- JAR
- A common format for distributing Java ARchives. All recent JDK
distributions come with a utility called "jar", that allows you
to create a JAR file. All tools and uipacks will be distributed in
JAR files.
- ICBM
- ICBM - Inter Client Basic Message. ICBM is a channelized
client-to-client mechanism. Currently the most user visible
channel is used for Instant Messages.
- Instant Message (IM)
- The instant message tool allows a user to send a short message to
another Instant Messenger nickname that is delivered directly to the users screen in
near realtime. This is unlike Email which may contain larger amounts of
data and may be delivered at a later time. The receiver may easily
respond with an instant message back to the sender creating a
semi-realtime conversation.
- Locate
- The locate tool allows a user to determine some information about
another Instant Messenger nickname. The information revealed depends on the
privacy settings of the remote user. It may be as complete or
as sparse as they desire. If the remote user is not logged into Instant Messenger
, no information will be provided. Instant Messenger will NOT display
AOL profiles and currently there are no plans to add this
ability.
- Login/Logoff
- The Login/Logoff tool is an internal service of the Instant Messenger client.
The tool is responsible for keeping the client connected
to the Instant Messenger servers. This includes the initial login, any
migrations that occur during a users session, and
the final logoff.
- Migration
- The process of moving a user automatically from one server
to another. A migration may happen at anytime during a users
session, and is completely transparent. Although the
client may appear sluggish, no data will be lost during
the migration.
- Module
- The basic building block of the Instant Messenger software, they provide the
services of Instant Messenger. New modules are added just by downloading
a new JAR file and placing it in your modules directory.
You can change the look and feel of a module (but not the functionality)
by creating a new UIPack for the Module.
- OSCAR
- Open System for Communication in Realtime - the internal project name
(as opposed to the external marketing name) used to identify Instant Messenger.
- Proxy Connector
- A proxy connectors purpose is to provided the Java Instant Messenger
client with a TCP/IP connection to the Instant Messenger service using a proxy
server. Depending on the proxy server it needs to negotiate with, this
may be a complex process. It is possible for third-parties to
add support for any proxy, by writing their own proxy connector.
- SNAC
- A SNAC is the basic communication unit that is exchanged between
clients and servers. The SNAC communication layers sits on top
of the FLAP layer.
- Symmetric Blocking
- Blocking members is symmetric. When you block a member, that member can
not see you online nor communicate with you. Likewise, you will not be
able to see the blocked member online nor communicate with the member
you have blocked.
- Tool
- Tools supply the underlying support for talking between Modules
and the core software. There will be one tool for each of the
services that the Instant Messenger offers. Each tool can
support many modules.
Current tools are: Admin, Buddy List, IM, Info, and Login.
Future tools may include: File Transfer and Chat.
- TLV
- TLV - Type Length Value. A tuple allowing typed opaque information
to be passed through the protocol. Typically TLV's are intended for
interpretation at the core layer. Being typed, new elements
can be added w/o modifying the lower layers.
- UIPack
- A collection of files that will change the look and feel of
a Tool or Module. This collection of files can contain: images,
sounds, layout information, and string. Usually UIPacks are
distributed in a single jar files, but can also be split into
individual files.
- Warnings
- A warning is a form of electronic vilification. It allows
a user who has been affected by the online behavior of another
user to express an opinion about that behavior. For more information
see the Warnings FAQ.
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