communications protocol

Hardware and software that governs data transmission between computers and mobile devices. A protocol defines the network commands and the packet structure of the data. A "protocol suite" comprises several layers, and learning them is essential to understanding this subject (see OSI model).

TCP/IP
TCP/IP is the standard routing protocol of the Internet and most internal networks. It ensures that every message sent was received in full (see TCP/IP). Ethernet is the physical access method that moves packets from one node to another in a local network (see Ethernet). The Internet uses several access methods (see ATM and SONET).

Conceptually Speaking TCP/IP
The following is a conceptual TCP/IP exchange:

Are you there? Yes, I am. Are you ready to receive? Yes, I am. Here comes the message--blah, blah, blah-- did you get it? Yes, I did. Here comes the next part--blah, blah, blah-- did you get it? No, I didn't - resend it. Here it comes again-- blah, blah, blah-- did you get it? Yes, I did. There is no more. Goodbye. Goodbye.

Examples
The following communications protocols are or have been widely used:

Layer Protocol

     1       RS-232
     1       V.35
     1       SONET

     1-2     Wi-Fi wireless
     1-2     Bluetooth wireless

     2       Ethernet
     2       Fast Ethernet
     2       Gigabit Ethernet
     2       Token Ring
     2       FDDI
     2       ATM

     3       IP      (TCP/IP)
     3       IPX     (NetWare)

     4       TCP     (TCP/IP)
     4       UDP     (TCP/IP)
     4       SPX     (NetWare)
     4       NetBEUI (NetBIOS)

     5       NetBIOS

     6       ASN.1

     7       SMB     (NetBEUI)
     7       AFP     (AppleTalk)
     7       NCP     (NetWare)
     7       NFS     (TCP/IP)
     7       HTTP    (TCP/IP)
     7       FTP     (TCP/IP)
     7       SMTP    (TCP/IP)
     7       DNS     (TCP/IP)

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References in periodicals archive

A number of high-speed communications protocols have previously been developed that will maintain high speeds even in degraded communications environments, such as in wireless channels or international lines.

Fujitsu Laboratories Develops World's First Automatic Protocol Selection Technology for Any Environment

The consortium members realized that despite the numerous automotive communications protocols out on the market--most from Europe, most in or just out of development--none would fulfill future automotive control requirements.

A manager's guide to FlexRay: here's what you need to know about the new communications protocol that will make X-by-wire more pervasive. (Manage)

US government officials "remain concerned" over licensing of Windows communications protocols released by Microsoft to ISVs under terms of last year's antirust settlement.

Officials Concerned over Microsoft Antitrust Compliance

Standard features include microprocessor controls, material saver function and SPI communications protocol. Digital dewpoint monitor is optional.

Resin dryers

Tokyo, Japan, Mar 9, 2006 - (JCN Newswire) - OMRON Software Co., Ltd., a subsidiary of OMRON Corporation (TSE: 6645, US: OMRNY), and ITX E-Globaledge Corporation ('ITX-EG'), a subsidiary of ITX Corporation (Hercules: 2725), have announced a joint project to integrate the high-speed wireless infrared communications protocol, 'IrSimple'(1), with the Symbian OS.

OMRON and ITX to Develop Symbian OS-compliant High-Speed Infrared Communications Protocol; Boosting Mobile Data Transfer Speeds by up to 10x

Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT) announced that improvements to its Communications Protocol Licensing Program are now available to existing and prospective licensees.

Microsoft announces additional improvements to Protocol Licensing Program: changes include simplified, low cost royalty structure and new license terms

JetSend technology is a HP-developed communications protocol that allows devices to negotiate information exchange intelligently and without user intervention.

JetSend Technology Allows Device Connectivity With No Servers, Drivers, Or Code

The turboIP-G2 is standards-based, supporting the Space Communications Protocol Standard Transport Protocol (SCPS-TP), and provides reliable connection-oriented, end-to-end data transfer for user applications.

Comtech Telecommunications gets $5.0 million optimization order for military network

It is intended to allow separate components in a manufacturing chain to communicate and interoperate using a common communications protocol between devices and tools from different manufacturers, offering the potential for manufacturers to coordinate and optimise machines and systems to ensure that these individual components and the factory as a whole are operating at acceptable levels.

Sun Microsystems to join the MTConnect Technical Advisory Group

All dryers are available with optional Allen Bradley controls and SPI communications protocol.

Resin dryers

The ExtremeStor FC's Fibre Channel interface combines the benefits of both channel and network technologies, resulting in a computer communications protocol designed to meet an environment's never-ending demand for high bandwidth (100MB/s and beyond).

GLOBALSTOR: 1.44TB FIBRE CHANNEL ENTERPRISE DATA WAREHOUSE SOLUTION