INTERNET PROTOCOL SUITE

The Internet protocol suite is the networking model and a set of communications protocols used for the Internet and similar networks. It is commonly known as TCP/IP, because its most important protocols, the Transmission Control Protocol (TCP) and the Internet Protocol (IP) were the first networking protocols defined in this standard. It is occasionally known as the DoD model due to the foundational influence of the ARPANET in the 1970s (operated by DARPA, an agency of the United States Department of Defense).

TCP/IP provides end-to-end connectivity specifying how data should be formatted, addressed, transmitted, routed and received at the destination. It has four abstraction layers which are used to sort all related protocols according to the scope of networking involved.^[1][2] From lowest to highest, the layers are:

• The link layer contains communication technologies for a single network segment (link) of a local area network.
• The internet layer (IP) connects independent networks, thus establishing internetworking.
• The transport layer handles host-to-host communication.
• The application layer contains all protocols for specific data communications services on a process-to-process level. For example, the Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP) specifies the web browser communication with a web server.

The TCP/IP model and related protocols are maintained by the Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF).

WHAT IS SESSION INITIATION PROTOCOL - SIP?

The Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) is a signaling communications protocol, widely used for controlling multimedia communication sessions such as voice and video calls over Internet Protocol (IP) networks.

The protocol defines the messages that are sent between peers which govern establishment, termination and other essential elements of a call. SIP can be used for creating, modifying and terminating two-party (unicast) or multiparty (multicast) sessions consisting of one or several media streams. Other SIP applications include video conferencing, streaming multimedia distribution, instant messaging, presence information, file transfer, fax over IPand online games.

Originally designed by Henning Schulzrinne and Mark Handley in 1996, SIP has been developed and standardized in RFC 3261 under the auspices of the Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF). It is an application layer protocol designed to be independent of the underlying transport layer; it can run on Transmission Control Protocol (TCP), User Datagram Protocol (UDP) or Stream Control Transmission Protocol (SCTP).^[1] It is a text-based protocol, incorporating many elements of the Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP) and the Simple Mail Transfer Protocol (SMTP).^[2]

SIP works in conjunction with several other application layer protocols that identify and carry the session media. Media identification and negotiation is achieved with the Session Description Protocol (SDP). For the transmission of media streams (voice, video) SIP typically employs the Real-time Transport Protocol (RTP), which may be secured with the Secure Real-time Transport Protocol (SRTP). For secure transmissions of SIP messages the protocol may be encrypted with Transport Layer Security (TLS).

The Role of ICT in Business Communication

1. Information and Communication Technology (ICT) provides business communications avenues crucial to remaining competitive in local and global economies. According to the U.S. Census ICT survey, American businesses spent $296.3 billion on ICT equipment in 2008.

   Components

   • ICT includes e-mail, telecommunications and the Internet, and involves the use of computers, telephones, fax machines and copiers, and a variety of mobile communication devices. The term also refers to electronic documents and other content, as well as video communication, software and external drives.

   Significance

   • To compete in the global marketplace, companies use websites to provide ordering information and product lists online, allowing monetary exchange with customers. Websites also allow companies to receive valuable feedback on customer needs and ideas for improvement. Through e-mail, faxes, and telecommunications devices, businesses generate greater accessibility through almost instantaneous communications.

   Considerations

   • To maximize the benefits of ICT in business communications, businesses should incorporate proper infrastructure and employee training to produce proficient workers capable of monitoring and interpreting feedback and understanding the use of e-commerce and software.