ISO 10163-1-1993 PDF

Full title and description

Information and documentation — Open Systems Interconnection — Search and Retrieve Application Protocol Specification — Part 1: Protocol specification (ISO 10163-1:1993). This part defines the protocol procedures and abstract syntax for the Search & Retrieve (SR) application service element used to support information retrieval services (libraries, information utilities and similar systems) over OSI-based communication.

Abstract

Specifies the behaviour and protocol APDUs required for two entities to provide the ISO Search & Retrieve (SR) service defined in ISO 10162. It provides formal protocol rules and abstract syntax for SR application-protocol communication and is intended primarily for implementers of information retrieval systems in organizations such as libraries and information utilities.

General information

• Status: Withdrawn (withdrawal action taken after original publication; replaced in practice by later Z39.50 / ISO 23950 work).
• Publication date: 1993 (edition 1 — ISO lists publication date as 1993-02).
• Publisher: International Organization for Standardization (ISO).
• ICS / categories: 35.240.30 (Information retrieval / application layer protocols).
• Edition / version: Edition 1 (1993).
• Number of pages: 34 pages (ISO bibliographic record). Note: some national/adopting bodies and retail listings report slightly different page counts (commonly 43–46 pages) for their published/translated copies.

Scope

Defines the protocol-level specification for the Search & Retrieve (SR) application protocol (the protocol component of the ISO SR framework). The standard describes the required behaviour of protocol entities, the exchange rules for APDUs (application protocol data units) used in SR communication, and the abstract syntax necessary to convey SR operations. It is focused on program-to-program communication supporting information retrieval services and not on terminal-user interfaces or non-network media.

Key topics and requirements

• Formal definition of SR protocol operations and state/behaviour for communicating entities.
• Abstract syntax and APDU structures required to convey search, retrieval and result-set management operations.
• Conformance rules for implementations participating in ISO search and retrieve services.
• Interoperability considerations with existing Z39.50 implementations and subsequent ISO work (transition/compatibility to ISO 23950).

Typical use and users

Implementers and vendors of library and bibliographic information systems, national and university libraries, information utilities, and organizations developing or maintaining search-and-retrieve interfaces and gateways. Also used by standards bodies and integration projects implementing OSI-based SR services or migrating to the ISO/ANSI Z39.50 family.

Related standards

ISO 10162 (Search and Retrieve — service definition) — companion service-definition standard; ISO 23950 (1998) "Information retrieval (Z39.50)" which consolidated/updated Z39.50 and led to the withdrawal/replacement of the ISO 10162/10163 pair in practice; ANSI/NISO Z39.50 (the U.S. standard family that ISO 23950 is based on). Other related OSI/ITU and application-layer standards for information exchange and interlibrary loan protocols appear in the same technical committee area.

Keywords

Search and Retrieve; SR protocol; ISO 10163-1; Z39.50; information retrieval; library systems; application protocol; OSI; SR APDU; ISO 23950; protocol specification.

FAQ

Q: What is this standard?

A: ISO 10163-1:1993 is the protocol specification (Part 1) of the ISO Search & Retrieve (SR) framework that defines protocol procedures and abstract syntax for search-and-retrieve application communication between information systems.

Q: What does it cover?

A: It covers the protocol behaviour and message (APDU) structures required for SR communication — including rules of behaviour for the two communicating entities, abstract syntaxes for conveyed information, and conformance requirements for implementers. It does not define user interfaces or non-network interchange formats.

Q: Who typically uses it?

A: Vendors and implementers of library catalogues, union catalogues, bibliographic databases, information utilities, and institutions integrating bibliographic search services — essentially organizations that implement program-to-program information retrieval services.

Q: Is it current or superseded?

A: ISO 10163-1:1993 has been withdrawn; its role was superseded in practice by the ISO 23950:1998 standard, which adopts and consolidates the Z39.50 family and provides a unified information-retrieval application service and protocol specification. Withdrawals and national-adoption actions occurred in the late 1990s.

Q: Is it part of a series?

A: Yes — ISO 10163 is the protocol part of a Search & Retrieve pair that worked together with ISO 10162 (service definition). The broader ecosystem also includes related standards in the Z39.50/ISO 23950 family and other library information-exchange standards.

Q: What are the key keywords?

A: Search & Retrieve, SR, APDU, protocol specification, Z39.50, ISO 10163-1, information retrieval, library interoperability, ISO 23950.