====== Communication Protocol ====== [[dido:99_annexes:annex-b-terms-and-definitions:start|Go up to Terms and Definitions]] ===== Discussion ===== A Communication Protocol defines the rules and conventions governing the exchange of information between communicating entities. A Communication Protocol may specify how information is formatted, transmitted, received, interpreted, sequenced, acknowledged, or otherwise exchanged. The particular responsibilities of a protocol depend on the architectural layer and communication context in which the protocol is used. A Communication Protocol is distinct from a [[dido:99_annexes:annex-b-terms-and-definitions:c:communication_characteristic|Communication Characteristic]]. The protocol defines rules governing information exchange, while a Communication Characteristic describes an aspect of that exchange, such as [[dido:99_annexes:annex-b-terms-and-definitions:l:latency|Latency]]. A Communication Protocol is also distinct from [[dido:99_annexes:annex-b-terms-and-definitions:q:qos|Quality of Service]]. A protocol defines how communicating entities exchange information, while Quality of Service describes or controls characteristics of that communication. The term does not prescribe a particular protocol, protocol stack, transport mechanism, middleware technology, or implementation. ===== Definition ===== //a protocol specifying the rules and conventions governing information exchange between communicating entities// ===== Source ===== DIDO Solutions architectural definition derived from distributed-system and networking concepts used by the DIDO Reference Architecture and DIDO-TE. ===== Note ===== Communication Protocol is intentionally independent of a particular architectural layer. Examples may include network, transport, application, middleware, or domain-specific communication protocols when those protocols govern information exchange between communicating entities. The selection or configuration of a Communication Protocol does not, by itself, establish permission, authorization, semantic compatibility, or Quality of Service. ===== Example ===== A Test Definition may specify a Communication Protocol for information exchange between two Nodes connected through a Virtual Network. The same test may separately specify Latency or Quality of Service characteristics for that communication. ---- © 2026 Dido Solutions, Inc. and Jackrabbit Consulting, Inc.