Re: Unique handle generation

[George Belotsky <george@register.com>]

With something like 'WM-9387-19790922:09:27:33' we are back
to handles that are hard to remember.

In previous posts, complaints were raised about this issue.

If readability is not a problem, existing UUID algorithms will ensure
uniqueness.

From previous discussion, I have identified three properties of handles
that people seemed to find desireable (listed again below).

          (i)   Handles should be easy to remember/readable;
          (ii)  Handles should identify objects uniquely;
          (iii) It's probably a bad idea for the handles to change.

Does everyone agree with the above list?

George.


On Thu, Mar 08, 2001 at 11:00:13AM -0800, Bill Manning wrote:
> % 
> % > 	I like the idea of a timestamp, but I don't want to remember it
> % > 	as part of my handle.
> % 
> %   Hi.  I'm "Brian W. Spolarich-RIPE-984076683".
> % 
> %   Ick. :-)
> % 
> %   -bws
> 
> 
> 	Well...  the American Registry for Internet Numbers got ARIN.
> 	Does that mean the Argentian Registry for Internet Numbers gets ARIN2 ?
> 
> 	Under the new RIR structure, I am assigned WM110-<rir-handle>
> 	Under the old, single IR structure, I was assigned WM110.
> 	Under the earlier IR structure, I was assigned WMAN
> 
> 	A couple of problems. 
> 	There is a problem with internal vs external tagging. e.g.
> 	the registrar should not expose their internal tagging of client
> 	handles.
> 	Then there is the debate on dealing w/ duplicates. The approch
> 	currently in use is to assign a monotonically increasing number
> 	to initals.  Patrik has refined this to using a timestamp.
> 	(warning... curveball ahead...:)
> 	And then there is the use of initals.  Not everyone uses ASCII.
> 	How will "handles" support non-ASCII character representations?
> 
> 	Endgame... I think I should be able to select the "seed" be which
> 	my Internet-wide, unique handle is created. My seed is used to
> 	generate a unique handle that has at least two other, non-Internet
> 	related "salts".  So my handle might be:
> 
> 		WM-9387-19790922:09:27:33
> 
> 		My initals, the last four characters of my national
> 	registration card, and the date/time stamp I first logged ito
> 	an IP-supporting node.
> 
> 	ARINs could be:
> 
> 		ARIN-8866-19970110
> 
> 		Their initals, the last four characters of their TaxID,
> 	and the date of first operation.
> 
> YMMV... 
> 
> 	
> -- 
> --bill

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