Network Protocols

Abstract

Dunng the last ten years, many computer networks have been designed, implemented, and put into service in the United States, Canada, Europe, Japan, and elsewhere. From the experience obtamed with these networks, certain key design principles have begun to emerge, principles that can be used to design new computer networks in a more structured way than has tradltmnally been the case. Chmf among these principles is the notion of structuring a network as a hmrarchy of layers, each one built upon the previous one. This paper is a tutorial about such network hierarchies, using the Reference Model of Open Systems Interconnectmn developed by the International Organization for Standardization as a grade. Numerous examples are gwen to illustrate the principles. © 1981, ACM. All rights reserved.