usefor-usefor-04 May 2005

1.5  Definitions

   An "article" is the unit of news, synonymous with an [RFC2822]
   "message".  A "proto-article" is one that has not yet been injected
   into the news system.  In constrast to an "article", a "proto-
   article" may lack some mandatory headers.

   A "message identifier" Section 3.1.3 is a unique identifier for an
   article, usually supplied by the "posting agent" which posted it or,
   failing that, by the "injecting agent".  It distinguishes the article
   from every other article ever posted anywhere.  Articles with the
   same message identifier are treated as if they are the same article
   regardless of any differences in the body or headers.

   A "newsgroup" is a single news forum, a logical bulletin board,
   having a name and nominally intended for articles on a specific
   topic.  An article is "posted to" a single newsgroup or several
   newsgroups.  When an article is posted to more than one newsgroup, it
   is said to be "crossposted"; note that this differs from posting the
   same text as part of each of several articles, one per newsgroup.

   A newsgroup may be "moderated", in which case submissions are not
   posted directly, but mailed to a "moderator" for consideration and
   possible posting.  Moderators are typically human but may be
   implemented partially or entirely in software.

   A "poster" is the person or software that composes and submits a
   possibly compliant article to a "posting agent".  The poster is
   analogous to [RFC2822]'s author.

   A "posting agent" is the software that assists posters to prepare
   proto-articles, in compliance with this standard.  The proto-article
   is then passed on to an "injecting agent" for final checking and
   injection into the news stream.  If the article is not compliant, or
   is rejected by the injecting agent, then the posting agent informs
   the poster with an explanation of the error.

   A "reader" is the person or software reading news articles.

   A "reading agent" is software which presents articles to a reader.

   A "followup" is an article containing a response to the contents of
   an earlier article (the followup's "precursor" indicated in the
   "References" header).

   A "followup agent" is a combination of reading agent and posting
   agent that aids in the preparation and posting of a followup.

   Posting, reading and followup agents (which are usually just
   different services provided by the same piece of software) are known
   collectively as "user agents".

   An "injecting agent" takes the finished article from the posting
   agent (often via the [NNTP] "post" command) performs some final
   checks and passes it on to a relaying agent for general distribution.

   A "control message" is an article which is marked as containing
   control information; a relaying or serving agent receiving such an
   article may (subject to the policies observed at that site) take
   actions beyond just filing and passing on the article.

--- ../usefor-usefor-03/Definitions.out          April 2005
+++ ../usefor-usefor-04/Definitions.out          May 2005
@@ -38,8 +38,10 @@
    A "reader" is the person or software reading news articles.
 
    A "reading agent" is software which presents articles to a reader.
+
    A "followup" is an article containing a response to the contents of
-   an earlier article (the followup's "precursor").
+   an earlier article (the followup's "precursor" indicated in the
+   "References" header).
 
    A "followup agent" is a combination of reading agent and posting
    agent that aids in the preparation and posting of a followup.