The Message Handling System (MHS) The message handling system(MHS) is a concept developed by ITU-T thatis intended to lead to the interconnectivity of all different types of message conveying systems, . telephone, telex, facsimile, electronic mail, etc. MHS sets out a simple model of basic interconnection between systems. As it does so it defines a new dictionary of standard terms and jargon to describe the various phases of a communication. | Networks and Telecommunications Design and Operation Second Edition. Martin P. Clark Copyright 1991 1997 John Wiley Sons Ltd ISBNs 0-471-97346-7 Hardback 0-470-84158-3 Electronic 23 The Message Handling System MHS The message handling system MHS is a concept developed by ITU-T that is intended to lead to the interconnectivity of all different types of message conveying systems . telephone telex facsimile electronic mail etc. MHS sets out a simple model of basic interconnection between systems. As it does so it defines a new dictionary of standard terms and jargon to describe the various phases of a communication. In places it may even seem trivial but the careful definition is worthwhile if it will solve today s incompatibilities. This chapter seeks to explain the model unravel the jargon and describe the initiatives that will result. THE NEED FOR MHS It is commonplace today for a wide variety of telecommunications technologies to be provided in the same office. Often a number of technologies provide similar but separate means for conveying identical information but many users still employ more than one of the methods. Telex facsimile and electronic mail all provide means of transferring text or documents. One or other of the different devices may be favoured to convey information to a given destination depending on the facilities available at the far end for despite the commonality of each of the different methods of document transfer they are mutually incompatible and will not interwork. MHS defines a simple model of the procedure needed for documents to be passed electronically in a store-and-retrieve fashion between a wide range of different types and makes of office business machines . word processor facsimile machine teletype maybe even the telephone as well . In time the model will lead on to the development of communication standards interfaces and equipment needed so that machines of dissimilar types may intercommunicate. THE CONCEPT OF MHS
