[1] : The Free On-line Dictionary of Computing (27 SEP 03)

protocol layer
     
         the software and/or hardware environment of
        two or more communications devices or computers in which a
        particular network protocol operates.  a network
        connection may be thought of as a set of more or less
        independent protocols, each in a different layer or level.
        the lowest layer governs direct host-to-host communication
        between the hardware at different hosts; the highest consists
        of user application programs.  each layer uses the layer
        beneath it and provides a service for the layer above.  each
        networking component hardware or software on one host uses
        protocols appropriate to its layer to communicate with the
        corresponding component its "peer" on another host.  such
        layered protocols are sometimes known as peer-to-peer
        protocols.
     
        the advantages of layered protocols is that the methods of
        passing information from one layer to another are specified
        clearly as part of the protocol suite, and changes within a
        protocol layer are prevented from affecting the other layers.
        this greatly simplifies the task of designing and maintaining
        communication systems.
     
        examples of layered protocols are tcp/ip's five layer
        protocol stack and the osi seven layer model.
     
        1997-05-05
     
     
see also:
software hardware network protocol application programs hardware or software 
protocols tcp/ip protocol stack osi 

Protocol >> P Words
Protocol, definition of term: Protocol
protocol_pag1.html

Layer >> L Words
Layer, definition of term: Layer
layer_pag1.html

Session Layer >> S Words
Session Layer, definition of term: Session Layer
session+layer_pag1.html

Transport Layer >> T Words
Transport Layer, definition of term: Transport Layer
transport+layer_pag1.html

Physical Layer >> P Words
Physical Layer, definition of term: Physical Layer
physical+layer_pag1.html

Network Layer >> N Words
Network Layer, definition of term: Network Layer
network+layer_pag1.html

Ozone Layer >> O Words
Ozone Layer, definition of term: Ozone Layer
ozone+layer_pag1.html

Horny Layer >> H Words
Horny Layer, definition of term: Horny Layer
horny+layer_pag1.html

Data Link Layer >> D Words
Data Link Layer, definition of term: Data Link Layer
data+link+layer_pag1.html

Iso Seven Layer >> I Words
Iso Seven Layer, definition of term: Iso Seven Layer
iso+seven+layer_pag1.html