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Protocol Drivers
A protocol is a set of rules that govern communications between two entities (Stations). |
A protocol defines what is communicated how it is communicated. |
The key elements of a protocol are syntax, semantics, and timing. |
Syntax |
Syntax refers to the structure or format of the data, meaning the order in which they are presented. |
Semantics |
Semantics shows the meaning of each section of bits. How is a particular pattern to be interpreted and what action is to be taken based on that interpretation. |
Timing |
Timing refers to two characteristics: when data should be sent. |
For example if a sender produces data at 90 Mbps but the receiver can process data at only 1 Mbps, the transmission will overload the receiver and data will be largely lost. |
Responsibilities of a protocol driver |
The protocol driver is responsible for offering four or five basic services to other layers in the network, while hiding the details of how the service is actually implemented. |
The services the protocol driver performs include session management, datagram service data segmentation and sequencing, acknowledgement and possibly routing across a wide area network (WAN). |