http://www.rfc-editor.org/rfc/rfc6256.txt
RFC 6256: Using Self-Delimiting Numeric Values in Protocols, W. Eddy, E. Davies2011-05-01T23:00:00-00:00Self-Delimiting Numeric Values (SDNVs) have recently been introduced as a field type in proposed Delay-Tolerant Networking protocols. SDNVs encode an arbitrary-length non-negative integer or arbitrary- length bitstring with minimum overhead. They are intended to provide protocol flexibility without sacrificing economy and to assist in future-proofing protocols under development. This document describes formats and algorithms for SDNV encoding and decoding, along with notes on implementation and usage. This document is a product of the Delay-Tolerant Networking Research Group and has been reviewed by that group. No objections to its publication as an RFC were raised. This document is not an Internet Standards Track specification; it is published for informational purposes.