CNMP 370 Handout 2.

5
Communication Model

Communication Model
Stations, hosts or end-systems - the collection of computer devices attached to the local area
network that are intended for running application programs.
Physical medium - the cable system used to carry data from station to station. .eg twisted pair,
coaxial or fiber optic cable.
Intermediate systems - equipment employed to pass information from one physical segment to
another. E.g. repeaters, bridges, routers and brouters.
Node - typically refers to all network connected byte-level information processors including all
stations, bridges, routers but not repeaters.

Application Processes (APs) - a set of functions within a system providing various kinds of support
for application, such as electronic mail, file transfer etc. The application entity (AE) is that part of
the AP that is concerned with communications.

Computer Communication Schematic

User to user
APs communication APs

Communication Computer to computer Communication

Subsystem communication Subsystem
(Subnet) (Subnet)

Computer - network communication

Data Communication Network

Aim: To allow an AP in any computer that supports a particular set of standards to communicate
freely with an AP in any other computer that supports the same standards, irrespective of its origin of
manufacture.

Network software encompasses a wide range of functions that must be performed. In order to reduce
the design complexity these functions are organized into groups, which are then allocated to a series
of layers.

Mr. Darryl Mooteelal & Mrs. Florette DeLeon

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 CNMP 370 Handout 2.5
Communication Model

The functional layers are implemented in software that runs on the network nodes.

L7 Function

Functions L6

L5

L4

L3 Function

L2

L1

Layer Architecture

L7 - FUNCTIONS
Uses services
Provided by
L6 -FUNCTIONS

L5 - FUNCTIONS

L4 - FUNCTIONS

L3 - FUNCTIONS
Provides services
for L2 - FUNCTIONS

L1 - FUNCTIONS

The purpose of each layer is to offer specific services to the higher layer, shielding the higher layers
from the details of how the offered services are actually implemented. The services provided by a
given layer are a product of the network functions allocated to, and performed by that layer.

Mr. Darryl Mooteelal & Mrs. Florette DeLeon

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L1 L1
 CNMP 370 Handout 2.5
Communication Model

Layer Architecture (cont'd)

Node A Node B
L7 L7

L6 L6

L5 L5
Interfaces
L4 L4

L3 L3

L2 L2

L1 L1
Protocols

Physical Medium
Peer Relationship - Protocols.

Layer n from one node carries on a conversation with Layer n on another node.

The rules and conventions used in this conversation are collectively known as the Layer n protocol.

The entities comprising the corresponding layers on different nodes are called peer processes. It is the
peer processes that communicate using the protocol.

Vertical Relationship - Interfaces

No data is passed from Layer n on one mode to Layer n on another mode. Instead, each layer passes
data and control information to the layer immediately below it, until the lowest layer is reached and
the data is transmitted on the physical medium.

Between each pair of adjacent layers there is a well-defined interface. The interface defines which
services the lower layer offers to the upper one, and how those services will be accessed.
Algorithms
Note:
The peer processes in Layer 4 conceptually think of their communication as being "horizontal" using
Layer 4 protocol. Each side is likely to have the procedures SendToOtherSide and
GetFromOtherSide, even though these procedures actually communicate with lower layers across the
3/4 interface, not directly with the other side.

The set of layers, with their allocated functions, and their associated peer protocols and vertical
interfaces constitutes a network architecture.

Mr. Darryl Mooteelal & Mrs. Florette DeLeon

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 CNMP 370 Handout 2.5
Communication Model

Layer Architecture Data Flow

DATA
Send Receiv
e
Layer 7 Protocol H7
L7 L7
Layer 6 Protocol H6

Layer 5 Protocol H5

H4

H3

H2

L1 L1

Actual Data Transmission Path

1/2 Interface * H1H7 Headers

T2.. Trailers

Data transfer through a communication network proceeds as follows:

Transmit (Send)

A data frame is formulated whenever a request for communication is initiated. Formulation begins at
the highest level and continues down through each successive layer. The protocol at each layer adds
control information in the form of a header and/or trailer to the data below according to the definition
of the inter-layer interface. Eventually, the data passes through all layers of the protocol stack and is
transmitted onto the network media.

Receive

At the receiving end, the frame passed from the lower layers to the highest layers- again, according to
the definition of the inter-layer interfaces. The protocol at each layer is concerned with interpreting
only the information contained in the header and/or trailer that was placed there by its peer on the
transmitting end. The protocol considers the rest of the frame to be the data unit that is responsible for
delivering to the layer above it.

Mr. Darryl Mooteelal & Mrs. Florette DeLeon

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 CNMP 370 Handout 2.5
Communication Model

A standard architecture could allow large numbers of computer systems to 'talk' to each other, even if
they were using software and equipment from different vendors.

Such a standard is the OSI/RF Model - Open Systems Interconnect/ Reference Model - introduced
by the International Standards Organization (ISO) as a first step toward international standardization
of the various protocols required for network communication.

Model:
Designed to establish data communications standards that would promote multi-vendor
interoperability.
Consists of seven layers, with a specific set of network functions allocated to each layer,
and guidelines for implementation of the interfaces between layers.
Details a specific set of protocols and interfaces to implement at each layer.
Each layer of the OSI model can be viewed as an independent module. You may
(theoretically) substitute one protocol for another at the same layer without affecting the
operation of layers above or below.
The ISO Model for Open Systems Interconnectivity

Layer 7 Application
Layer 6 Presentation
Layer 5 Session
Layer 4 Transport
Layer 3 Network
Layer 2 Data Link
Layer 1 Physical

Protocol Layer Summary Distributed

Information
End-user Application Process Services

Layer 7 - File transfer, access and management, document and message

interchange, job transfer and manipulation
Syntax
Independent
Message
Network Layer 6 - Transfer syntax negotiation, data representation transformations Interchange
Independent Layer 5 - Dialog and synchronization control for application entities Service
Message
Interchange
Service
Layer 4 - End-to-end message transfer (connection mgm't, error control, flow control

Layer 3 - Network routing, addressing, call set-up and clearing

Layer 2 - Data Link Control (framing, data transparency, error control)

Layer 1 - Mechanical and electrical network interface definitions

Physical connection

Mr. Darryl Mooteelal & Mrs. Florette DeLeon

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 CNMP 370 Handout 2.5
Communication Model

Transport Control Protocol/ Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) - A protocol suite /stack

File Transfer Protocol, FTP

Remote Terminal Protocol, TELNET
Layer 5-7
Simple Mail Transfer Protocol, SMTP
Name Server Protocol, NSP
Simple Network Management Protocol, SNMP
Network
Independent

Transport Control User Datagram

Protocol, TCP Protocol, UDP
Layer 4

Internet Protocol, IP
Network
IEEE 802.X / X.25 Dependent
Layer 1-3

LAN/WAN

Mr. Darryl Mooteelal & Mrs. Florette DeLeon

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