Re: Protocol Definition

[Douglas Otis <[e-mail]>]

On 1/5/12 9:13 AM, Dave CROCKER wrote:
>  On 1/5/2012 7:01 AM, Dave Cridland wrote:
> > On Thu Jan 5 14:48:54 2012, Dave CROCKER wrote:
> >> If protocol corresponds with program or algorithm, then what is
> >> the communications term that corresponds to process?
> >>
> >> It's tempting to say "port number", but that doesn't seem very
> >> satisfying.
> >
> > "Session"?
>
>  That's an appealing suggestion. It is based on a 'state' existing
>  between the two end points and it is above transport (so we don't
>  have to worry about tcp vs udp vs...).
>
>  On the other hand, isn't a session able to have more than one
>  "connection" and, therefore, possibly be running more than one
>  protocol?

Dave,

Agreed.  A multiple stream protocol aggregates multiple endpoints into 
an Association where each then signals supported protocols.  Within each 
protocol, various algorithms are applied, often in phases such as Bind, 
Listen, Accept, Connect, Close, Shutdown, SendMsg, RecvMsg, 
GetPeerName.  An algorithm might be expressed using computer languages 
that incorporate elaborate mathematical models, such as simple hash 
functions used to validate packets.  One of the protocols supported is 
SDP Session Description Protocol that carries media over the multiple 
streams.  This provides for Sessions, Associations and Connections.

See:
http://tools.ietf.org/html/draft-loreto-mmusic-sctp-sdp-07#page-3

-Doug