The concept of a service boundary is fundamental in communication protocols. It represents the dividing line between different protocol layers, specifically between a protocol machine (PM) and the PM or application it serves, the (N+1)-PM. This boundary is where data is exchanged.
There are four types of interactions a protocol can have. One of these interactions is with a peer protocol. To exchange its state information with the peer, the protocol uses Protocol Data Units (PDUs). A PDU is essentially a block of information, which may be referred to by various names (e.g., frame, packet, segment) by various protocols.
A protocol’s purpose is to provide a service to another protocol in the same system. Generally, the serviced protocol is in the layer above the servicing protocol’s.
There are two types of information exchange between protocols: Interface Communication and Protocol Communication.
Protocols play a crucial role in ensuring seamless and efficient data exchange between two entities in a communication system. For two parties to communicate, they must have a common language, some common understanding about what symbols in the language stand for, and what rules are used for communication. Consequently, a communication protocol is a set of rules and conventions that allows two or more entities within a communication system to exchange information. The protocol defines the shared schema that includes the rules, syntax, semantics, and synchronization of communication.
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