auto-id center massachusetts institute of technology, 77 massachusetts avenue, bldg 3-449, cambridge, ma 02139-4307, usa abstract This paper presents a brief survey of the many specifications, languages and standards for database and network communication. Based largely on markup meta-languages, such as the Standard General Markup Language (SGML) and the eXtensible Markup Language (XML), these efforts cover a wide range of industries, applications and functions. All of the projects listed here

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... re presented in more detail elsewhere. The intention of this paper, however, is to provide a simple survey and quick enumeration of the many, varied efforts from across industry. Finally, the diversity and commonality of these initiatives suggest a comprehensive, unified language.