Multimedia Communications and Networking

2

NETWORK PROTOCOL ARCHITECTURES

2.1 Introduction to Protocol Architecture Concept

The problem of interconnecting terminals in a network is a complex task. The approach of trying to solve all problems without segmentation of functions in groups becomes an equation with a very difficult solution. Therefore, the traditional solution is to group functionalities into different layers and allocate each group to a different layer. This is called network protocol architecture, also commonly known as network architecture. This approach defines only “what” is to be done by each layer, but not “how” such functionalities are to be implemented by the layer, whose responsibility belongs to the protocol of the layer individually. This approach leaves room ...