Progress in control procedure standardization

The development of Data Communications Control Procedure standards is an essential element in reducing the complexity of Data Communications. The ASCII approach of the nineteen sixties provided a base for accommodating the problems of communication control and computer-oriented data interchange. The ASCII control procedure standard applied a character-oriented philosophy which brought some degree of order to the problem. A brief history and description of the philosophy is presented. A proposed bit-oriented advanced control procedure holds great promise for bringing a single data framing format and control technique to the interchange of information over communications links. The objectives of the new procedure are discussed and the procedure is described in some detail. Current status and prospects for standardization are reviewed with respect to progress in domestic and international standards bodies.