Re: Unique handle generation

[George Belotsky <george@register.com>]

Someone on this list talked about the possibility of people changing
email addresses, and their old address being claimed by someone else.

At first glance, an email address appears unique, but the above
arguments do raise a legitimate concern.

George.


On Wed, Mar 07, 2001 at 03:38:56PM -0500, Hollenbeck, Scott wrote:
> George,
> 
> Maybe I'm missing something, but what's not unique about an e-mail address?
> 
> <Scott/>
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: George Belotsky [mailto:george@register.com]
> Sent: Wednesday, March 07, 2001 3:25 PM
> To: Christopher Ambler
> Cc: Hollenbeck, Scott; ietf-provreg@cafax.se
> Subject: Re: Unique handle generation
> 
> 
> Maybe we can attach some other information along with the email
> address to ensure uniqueness.  A digest of the whole handle can then
> be generated.  At this point, you basically have a UUID.  People can
> use the plain text version of their handle (easy to remember), while
> automated information exchanges can work with the digests directly.
> 
> .. and I hope this is not beef liver, or you may not even remember
>     your email in a few years :) ...
> 
> George. 
> 
> 
> On Wed, Mar 07, 2001 at 10:48:36AM -0800, Christopher Ambler wrote:
> > I have been, and remain convinced that email address, with the
> > ability to change it as necessary, is the way to go.
> > 
> > Then again, I'm also fond of liver and onions.
> > 
> > Christopher
> > 
> > ----- Original Message ----- 
> > From: "Hollenbeck, Scott" <shollenbeck@verisign.com>
> > To: "'George Belotsky'" <george@register.com>; <ietf-provreg@cafax.se>
> > Sent: Wednesday, March 07, 2001 10:36 AM
> > Subject: RE: Unique handle generation
> > 
> > 
> > > George,
> > > 
> > > In terms of placing interoperability in the hands of the user, I prefer
> the
> > > idea of either letting them choose their own identifier (it it happens
> to be
> > > unused by anyone else), or using an e-mail address.  InterNIC-generated
> > > handles (which sounds similar to what you've suggested below) haven't
> proven
> > > to be very memorable or useful in other contexts.
> > > 
> > > <Scott/>
> > > 
> > > -----Original Message-----
> > > From: George Belotsky [mailto:george@register.com]
> > > Sent: Wednesday, March 07, 2001 11:54 AM
> > > To: ietf-provreg@cafax.se
> > > Subject: Unique handle generation
> > > 
> > > 
> > > Since unique handle creation is still an open issue, could we not
> > > borrow/adapt a UUID generating algorithm for making such handles?
> > > 
> > > This eliminates the need to keep a centralized database of these
> > > things.  Anyone can have as many handles as they want, and use them as
> > > they see fit.  This places interoperability in the hands of the user;
> > > if someone wants their information shared between systems, they will
> > > continue to use the same handle.
> > > 
> > > George.

-- 
-----------------------------
George Belotsky
Senior Software Architect
Register.com, inc.
george@register.com
212-798-9127 (phone)
212-798-9876 (fax)