Transmission of Multiple Control Messages
Send multiple control messages together instead of one at a time.
Gregg, G., "Transmission of Multiple Control Messages", RFC 23, DOI 10.17487/RFC0023, October 1969, <https://www.rfc-editor.org/info/rfc23>.
@misc{rfc23,
series = {Request for Comments},
number = 23,
howpublished = {RFC 23},
publisher = {RFC Editor},
doi = {10.17487/RFC0023},
url = {https://www.rfc-editor.org/info/rfc23},
author = {G. Gregg},
title = {{Transmission of Multiple Control Messages}},
pagetotal = 1,
year = 1969,
month = oct,
} RFC text
Network Working Group G. Gregg
Request for Comments: 23 UCSB
16 October 1969
TRANSMISSION OF MULTIPLE CONTROL MESSAGES
The network program at a site must be prepared to send or receive more
than one control message in a single control communication.
During the time that the control link is blocked awaiting RFNM, it is
possible that a number of control messages to a particular remote host
will accumulate. When the link is unblocked, these should all be sent
in a single communication for greatest efficiency.
For receiving, it will be necessary to have a loop which returns to
decode and take action on successive control messages until the control
communication is exhausted.
AI ELI5
On this page
§1The Problem
Network software must handle multiple control messages in a single communication. When the control link is blocked awaiting RFNM (Ready For Next Message), several control messages to a particular remote host may accumulate. Sending them individually would waste efficiency.
Sometimes the network cannot send right away, so messages pile up. It is better to send them all together.
§2Sending Accumulated Messages
When the control link is unblocked (when the RFNM is received), all accumulated control messages should be sent in a single communication for greatest efficiency. Instead of sending each control message in its own packet, batch them together. This approach minimizes the number of control packets transmitted and makes better use of the network bandwidth.
When the line is ready, send all the waiting messages at once instead of sending each one separately.
§3Receiving Multiple Messages
The receiving side must be prepared to handle multiple control messages in a single communication. The receiver needs a loop that decodes and processes successive control messages one at a time, taking appropriate action on each, until the control communication is exhausted. Each control message is independent; processing them in sequence maintains the correct order of operations.
The receiver reads the control messages one by one from the packet until there are no more.