An integrated approach to network protocols

ABSTRACT

Host-to-host protocols (H-H) for heterogeneous computer networks are still in infancy. So far very few implementations are in existence. Among those on which documentation is available are Arpanet and Cyclades. The former provides only for basic services allowing the transfer of up to 1000 octet messages, with flow control but not error control. The latter allows up to 32 000 octet messages, with error and flow control. Both are similar in the sense that they offer only a message transfer service, which is intended for building higher level protocols more appropriate for specific uses. Since data to be transferred are usually structured in various ways, a traditional approach is to superimpose additional layers of specific protocols, each one dealing with a particular level of structure. While being functionally correct, this approach leads to heterogeneity, redundancy and overhead among the various layers.

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