FMEF computer-to-computer communications protocol
A.J. Grambihler, P.B. O'Callaghan · 1982
This document describes the generalized Computer-to-Computer Communications Protocol (C3P). The protocol design facilitates communication between dissimilar computer systems. Computers can communicate using subsets, or full implementations of this protocol. This document does not address communications protocols within an integrated computer system. The protocol is based on the Eaton-Kenway Communications Protocol Document No. SE-051-76 which needs to be implemented for some of the equipment being supplied by Eaton-Kenway. The protocol has been expanded upon by Westinghouse Hanford Company (WHC) with the permission of Eaton-Kenway. WHC modifications have been made to facilitate segmentation of messages to be transmitted, and ease the implementation of multi-task, multi-computer communications. This document is intended to provide the reader with enough information to implement the basic protocol in hardware, software or a combination of both. The protocol described herein is designed to support communication over dedicated serial communications links in a noisy environment. The protocol will detect and cause retransmission of garbled or lost messages. The complete protocol supports transmission of messages in either direction independently and simultaneously, with routing to and from multiple tasks on multiple computers.