The RSS reader checks the subscribed feeds regularly for new work, downloads any updates that it finds, and reads the feeds. The RSS source then generates a RulePoint event for the updates.

An RSS file is essentially an XML formatted plain text. The RSS file itself is relatively easy to read both by automated processes and by humans alike. This could be placed on any appropriate communication protocol for file retrieval, such as http or ftp, and reading software would use the information to present a neat display to the end user.