Communication is a key issue for every information system, whether via a local area network (LAN), a wide area network (WAN), or mobile communications. In the field of intralogistics in particular, there are many mobile task carriers that place additional demands on the information infrastructure. For this reason, the mobile communications sector is one of the most important structural sub-areas. Progress made in this area is being followed with particular attention. For example, the introduction of the international UMTS (Universal Mobile Telecommunications System) standard made it possible for the first time to use mobile systems economically in the field of data communication.
Standardization of communication
Communication protocols are the communication rules of a communication service. As many participants as possible should be able to use a service, so the aim is usually to achieve the highest possible level of standardization of the communication protocol.
Common protocol standards include the OSI reference model (Open Systems Interconnection Reference Model) and protocols of the TCP/IP (Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol) family.
In addition, there are also international efforts to agree on a standardized cross-industry and cross-company data exchange. EDIFACT (United Nations Electronic Data Interchange For Administration, Commerce and Transport) is one of these data format standards. However, the advantages of international standardization are offset by the disadvantages of low adaptability and lengthy development.
Standardization approaches that are limited to defining the meta level offer a high degree of flexibility. Instead of requiring a specific protocol, these systems exchange protocol agreements directly at the start of communication. The markup language XML (Extensible Markup Language) has largely established itself for specifying the meta level.
For information on using a local wireless network, see Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN).
For more information, see The meaning of the term “architecture” in the context of information systems.
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