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csziggy

(34,139 posts)
15. There is an internet protocol for using carrier pigeons to carry data!
Thu Jan 21, 2021, 06:08 PM
Jan 2021
Network Working Group D. Waitzman
Request for Comments: 1149 BBN STC
1 April 1990


A Standard for the Transmission of IP Datagrams on Avian Carriers

Status of this Memo

This memo describes an experimental method for the encapsulation of
IP datagrams in avian carriers. This specification is primarily
useful in Metropolitan Area Networks. This is an experimental, not
recommended standard. Distribution of this memo is unlimited.

Overview and Rational

Avian carriers can provide high delay, low throughput, and low
altitude service. The connection topology is limited to a single
point-to-point path for each carrier, used with standard carriers,
but many carriers can be used without significant interference with
each other, outside of early spring. This is because of the 3D ether
space available to the carriers, in contrast to the 1D ether used by
IEEE802.3. The carriers have an intrinsic collision avoidance
system, which increases availability. Unlike some network
technologies, such as packet radio, communication is not limited to
line-of-sight distance. Connection oriented service is available in
some cities, usually based upon a central hub topology.

Frame Format

The IP datagram is printed, on a small scroll of paper, in
hexadecimal, with each octet separated by whitestuff and blackstuff.
The scroll of paper is wrapped around one leg of the avian carrier.
A band of duct tape is used to secure the datagram's edges. The
bandwidth is limited to the leg length. The MTU is variable, and
paradoxically, generally increases with increased carrier age. A
typical MTU is 256 milligrams. Some datagram padding may be needed.

Upon receipt, the duct tape is removed and the paper copy of the
datagram is optically scanned into a electronically transmittable
form.

More: https://www.ietf.org/rfc/rfc1149.txt


And it has been tested:

Pigeon-powered Internet takes flight

One of the Internet's most obscure technologies has come to life: transmitting network information by carrier pigeon.
Stephen Shankland headshot
Stephen Shankland
Jan. 2, 2002 4:43 p.m. PT

One of the Internet's most obscure technologies came to life last weekend: transmitting network information by carrier pigeon.

In 1990, David Waitzman wrote RFC 1149, a tongue-in-cheek standard for using pigeons to transfer information using the Internet Protocol (IP). On Saturday, a group of Linux enthusiasts in Bergen, Norway, succeeded in exchanging some data using the Carrier Pigeon Internet Protocol (CPIP).

The group transmitted a "ping" command, among the most basic operations of the Internet, in which one computer sends a signal to another, which in turn signals that it is attached to the network. In the experiment, packets of network data were printed on paper then attached to pigeons' legs. Upon their arrival at the destination, the data was transferred to the computer using optical character recognition software.

The Bergen Linux Users Group had some assistance from the Vesta Brevdueforening carrier pigeon club and Alan Cox, a programmer at Linux leader Red Hat and top deputy of Linux founder Linus Torvalds.

The pigeon protocol didn't mean the fastest of networks, though. Taking an hour and 42 minutes to transfer a 64-byte packet of information makes the pigeon network about 5 trillion times slower than today's cutting-edge 40 gigabit-per-second optical fiber networks.

More: https://www.cnet.com/news/pigeon-powered-internet-takes-flight/


Somewhere on the internet there are "blog" entries with pictures of the test. (Blog is in quotes because I don't think blogs were a thing back in 2002.

I think browsers would time out waiting for a page to load.
Maybe these idiots that ran to Parler after they got kicked off of everything else, could have... SWBTATTReg Jan 2021 #1
Awwwwww.... they just can't catch a break, can they? intrepidity Jan 2021 #2
Victims of the deep state PatSeg Jan 2021 #30
Hound them to the ends of the internet... Wounded Bear Jan 2021 #3
That is pretty funny nam78_two Jan 2021 #7
I made a remark on here yesterday about casting asparagus. Dem2theMax Jan 2021 #16
Heh - Yeah I saw it in another thread nam78_two Jan 2021 #19
It probably was me. Dem2theMax Jan 2021 #26
Of course nam78_two Jan 2021 #27
Do not cast aspirations on my asparagus!!! CaptainTruth Jan 2021 #22
Awesome. That takes me back. Politicub Jan 2021 #33
Perfect! PatSeg Jan 2021 #31
Womp womp durablend Jan 2021 #4
Excellent. It's turning into a whack-a-mole, but while they're out Hortensis Jan 2021 #5
It will always be that, unfortunately... Wounded Bear Jan 2021 #8
First I've read of Ron Guilmette. Unsung hero? Hermit-The-Prog Jan 2021 #6
Carrier pigeon futures spike aftermarket bucolic_frolic Jan 2021 #9
There is an internet protocol for using carrier pigeons to carry data! csziggy Jan 2021 #15
It would take a massive flock of pigeons to send a tweet Politicub Jan 2021 #34
Sweet! roamer65 Jan 2021 #10
This is how you take them down orangecrush Jan 2021 #11
I keep having to explain to these cretins that "free speech" only applies to the gov't trying to niyad Jan 2021 #12
Rolling up the networks orangecrush Jan 2021 #13
The real question here is how many bogus sites can Russia put them on. Ford_Prefect Jan 2021 #14
The so-called master race can't even get basic internet protocols right! Initech Jan 2021 #17
"NO COLLUSION WITH RUSSIA!" rocktivity Jan 2021 #18
Just a few days ago Parker.com was registered with Epik. CaptainTruth Jan 2021 #20
This is astonishing detective work! Thanks Mr. Ron Guilmette FakeNoose Jan 2021 #21
Even the Russians don't want to be associated with Trumpers. Pepsidog Jan 2021 #23
May I suggest Mabel Jan 2021 #24
Good. Hopefully the world comes together to crush these right wing sites fescuerescue Jan 2021 #25
Отменить культуру... brooklynite Jan 2021 #28
GREAT to see this! bluestarone Jan 2021 #29
Parler is the New Al-Qaeda Obvious85 Jan 2021 #32
Parler people Vanilla Isis. MontanaMama Jan 2021 #35
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