Network Distributed Computing: Fitscapes and Fallacies

Chapter 6. NDC Messaging

Once communication protocols are established, conversations can commence. The basic assumption of communication is that both a sender and a receiver exist and agree to an extent on protocol, proper grammar and syntax, and processing capability. The essential ingredient of communication, however, is the message itself. Without the message, there can be no semantic agreement; with the message, understanding can begin.

Internet protocols provide the basis for NDC applications communication, as we saw in Chapter 5. But it takes more than protocols to facilitate the meaningful sharing of information. While protocols give some form to datacom capabilities, it is the purpose of communication that ultimately gives shape to the ...