Support for network protocols can be built into the software, hardware, or both. All network end-users rely on network protocols for connectivity. There are different layers for instance, data, network, transport, and application layer, etc. It is the communication between entities in different systems, where entities can be a user application program, file transfer package, DBMS, etc.
Hence protocols can be implemented at the hardware, software, and application levels. A standard protocol is a mandated protocol for all devices. It supports multiple devices and acts as a standard.
Standard protocols are not vendor-specific i. Proprietary protocols are developed by an individual organization for their specific devices. We have to take permission from the organization if we want to use their protocols. It is not a standard protocol and it supports only specific devices. We may have to pay for these protocols. The key elements of the protocol determine what to be communicated, how it is communicated, and when it is communicated.
Syntax refers to the structure or format of data and signal levels. By clicking sign up, you agree to receive emails from Techopedia and agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
A protocol is a set of rules and guidelines for communicating data. Rules are defined for each step and process during communication between two or more computers. Networks have to follow these rules to successfully transmit data.
Similar to programming languages, protocols are based on specific rules and regulations for computing and are designed for efficiency. Each rule is defined in different terms and is assigned a unique name. Protocols specify the standards for communication and provide detailed information on processes involved in data transmission.
Such processes include:. Framing occurs at the byte level, with each byte surrounded by a start bit a 0 bit and a stop bit a 1 bit. A parity bit often accompanies each character as well. Each character has its own meaning in character-orientated protocols. A character may be a data byte or a control byte during transmission.
The main COP in use today is known as Bisync or binary synchronous. In this type of scheme, following Figure represents a sequence of communication between the sender and receiver. This can be inferred as handshaking between the sender and receiver:.
This has an acknowledgement scheme. In this case, if an acknowledgement is not received by the sender in a specified time, the sender retransmits the packet. This time is called time out. After the successful transmission of a packet, next packets are transmitted until entire message is sent. If a packet is received and contains errors, the receiver will send a negative acknowledge. This implies that the sender has to send it again. Data bytes contain data according to the ASCII code for text or simply a value between 0 and for binary data.
Control bytes determine the behavior of the communication link, and are used for a range of different purposes. The link between sender and receiver is half duplex. Bisync organizes data into block of up to characters, which are sent over the link sequentially one-at-a-time as shown in Figure. The receiving device independently calculates the BCC and compares the two calculations.
From the Figure, it can be seen that each message has three parts:. SYN characters are used to establish synchronization between the sender and receiver. The message block follows the SYN characters. In this scheme, sender breaks each message into blocks of small messages for transmission.
In most cases, protocols operate in the background, so it is not necessary for typical users to know how each protocol works. Still, it may be helpful to familiarize yourself with some common protocols so you can better understand settings in software programs, such as web browsers and email clients.
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