What are the requirements of network protocol?

Common computer protocols must be in agreement and include the following requirements:

• Message encoding
• Message formatting and encapsulation
• Message size
• Message timing 
• Message delivery options
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Message Encoding

• Encoding is the process of converting information into another acceptable form for transmission
• Decoding reverses this process to interpret the information.

Message Formatting and Encapsulation

• When a message is sent, it must use a specific format or structure.
• Message formats depend on the type of message and the channel that is used to deliver the message.

 

Message Size

• Encoding between hosts must be in an appropriate format for the medium.
• Messages sent across the network are converted to bits.The bits are encoded into a pattern of light, sound, or electrical impulses.
• The destination host must decode the signals to interpret the message.

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      Message Timing

      Message timing includes the following:

Flow Control – Manages the rate of data transmission and defines how much information can be sent and the speed at which it can be delivered.

Response Timeout – Manages how long a device waits when it does not hear a reply from the destination.

Access method - Determines when someone can send a message.

•        There may be various rules governing issues like “collisions”. This is when more than one device sends traffic at the same time and the messages become corrupt.

•        Some protocols are proactive and attempt to prevent collisions; other protocols are reactive and establish a recovery method after the collision occurs.

Message Delivery Options

Message delivery may one of the following methods:

• Unicast – one to one communication 
• Multicast – one to many, typically not all
• Broadcast – one to all