EEL 4781

Computer Communication Networks

Lecture 2
Protocol Layering, Protocol Stack, Example Networks

Protocol Layering
Protocol An agreement between the communication parties on how to
standardize communication

Most networks are organized as a stack of layers to reduce design

complexity

Protocol layers use interfaces to interact with each other

Reference models include OSI, TCP/IP, and a modified one for this class

Protocol Layering

Principles that guided the OSI model:

A layer should be created where a different abstraction is needed

The layer boundaries should be chosen to minimized the information flow across the interfaces

Each layer should perform a well-defined function

The function of each layer should be chosen with an eye toward defining internationally standardized
protocols
The number of layers should be large enough that distinct functions need not be thrown together in
the same layer out of necessity and small enough that the architecture does not become unwieldy

Protocol Layering
Why wasnt the OSI model successful

Bad timing standards need to be written after research but before investments

OSI came too late and TCP/IP had already taken over

Bad technology the model and protocols were flawed, the session and presentation
layers are nearly empty while data link and network are overfull

Bad implementations people associated OSI with poor quality while TCP was quite
good and free

Bad politics educational research communities vs government agencies

Protocol Layering
User 1

User 2

Application

Application

H4

Transport

H4

Transport

H3 H4

Network

H3 H4

Network

H2 H3 H4
H1 H2 H3 H4

Link
Physical

H2 H3 H4
H1 H2 H3 H4

Link
Physical

Physical Medium
Example of the protocol stack used in this book
Headers with additional data are added at each layer

Protocol Stack

Physical Layer how to transmit raw bits over a communication channel

Modulation and multiplexing (AM, FM, PM, QAM, QPSK, FDMA, TDMA, CDMA)

Link Layer how to send finite-length messages between users

Ethernet, 802.11, 802.16

Protocol Stack
Network Layer how to combine multiple links into networks and how to
combine multiple networks into internetworks

IPv4, IPv6, ICMP, RIP, IGMP

Transport Layer how services in the network layered are guaranteed

TCP, UDP, RSVP

Application Layer how programs make use of the network

HTTP, DHCP, FTP, DNS, IMAP, SMTP, XMPP, SSH, BGP, Telnet

Whos who

ISO International Standards Organization

IEEE Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers

Lagest professional organization in the world that hosts conferences, published journals, and developes
standards. ie: IEEE 802.11 WIFI

W3c World Wide Web Consortium

Voluntary nontreaty organization issuing standards on a variety of subjects from fishing nets to the internet

Developes protocols and guidelines to facilitate the long-term growth of the web

RFC Request for Comments

Where standards are proposed, critiqued, and implemented

Whos who

Please refer to handwritten notes

Mobile Phone Networks

AMPS, GSM, CDMA2000, HSPA, LTE, frequency reuse, soft handover vs hard handover

Sample problems from the back 4, 6, 10, 13, 17, 22, 32 (UCF)