Lab - My Protocol Rules

Objectives

• Relate computer network protocols to the rules that you use every day for various forms of communication.
• Define the rules that govern how you send and interpret text messages.
• Explain what would happen if the sender and receiver did not agree on the details of the protocol.

1. Background / Scenario

Before beginning to communicate with each other, we establish rules or agreements to govern the conversation. These rules, or protocols, must be followed for the message to be successfully delivered and understood. Among the protocol characteristics that govern successful human communication are:

• An identified sender and receiver
• Agreed upon method of communicating
• Common language and grammar
• Speed and timing of delivery
• Confirmation or acknowledgement requirements

The techniques that are used in network communications share these fundamentals with human conversations.

1. Instructions

Think about the commonly accepted protocol standards for sending text messages to your friends. Fill out the chart on the next page with some of the rules that you follow when texting with friends and others. The first row has been filled in as an example.

Your Text MessagingProtocol

ProtocolRequirement	What doesthismean?	Howisit implemented in yourprotocol?
An identified sender and receiver	How do you know who the text message is from? How does the person on the other end know the message is delivered to you? Is it going to an individual or a group?	In text messaging, the sender and receiver are usually identified by telephone number, username, or nickname. Group texts can be sent to a predefined group or new groups created on demand.
Agreed upon method of communicating	Do we send text only? Do we send pictures back & forth? What about using smileys and emoji?	It can be a mix of text, pictures, smileys and emoji. Depending on your device and mobile OS, you may even be able to send videos.
Common language and grammar	Do we use acronyms? Is slang acceptable? What is the native language of the participants?	The sender and receiver can use acronyms and languages that are understood by both sides.
Speed and timing of delivery	What determines how soon the recipient gets the message? How quickly to we expect to receive a response?	The speed of the delivery depends on the speed of the network and amount delay and latency in the network. A response is received when the recipient sends a response.
Confirmation or acknowledgement requirements	How do you know that the message was received? How do you know that the conversation is finished?	The intended recipient sends a response and the recipient indicates the end of the conversation.

1. Reflection
   1. Now that you have documented the protocols that you use when sending and reading text messages, do you think that these protocols would be the same if you were texting with friends or with your parents and teachers? Explain your answer.
   2. What do you think that the consequences would be if there was no agreed upon protocol standards for different methods of communications?

If there were no protocol standards, you would not be able to communicate because it would be similar to speaking different languages between senders and receivers.

1. Share your protocol rules with your classmates. Are there differences between your protocols and theirs? If so, could these differences result in misunderstanding of the messages?

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