Overview
ISO/IEC 14699:1997 - Information technology - Open Systems Interconnection - Transport Fast Byte Protocol (TFBP) - specifies a lightweight transport-layer protocol for the OSI environment. Published jointly with ITU‑T as Recommendation X.634, the standard defines the structure, encoding and procedures for Transport Protocol Data Units (TPDUs) known as FB-TPDUs, and the interaction between transport entities, transport service users, and the underlying network service.
Key topics and technical requirements
- Two operation modes:
- Mode 0 - acts on network‑signalled errors.
- Mode 4 - ignores network‑signalled errors.
These modes let implementers select behavior to match network quality and policy.
- TPDU framework: definition of TPDU types, TPDU fields and FB‑TPDU structure with separate header, control, and data parts.
- Core protocol procedures: connection establishment, connection refusal, normal and abnormal release, error indication and handling.
- Data transfer features: segmentation and reassembly, expedited data transfer, invalid TPDU handling.
- Interface assumptions: interactions defined with the Transport Service user primitives and the Network Service provider primitives (connection‑oriented network service).
- Conformance and testing: Clause on conformance and a Protocol Implementation Conformance Statement (PICS) proforma (Annex A). Annex B provides fallback procedures for systems that also implement ITU‑T Rec. X.224 / ISO/IEC 8073.
- Normative references: close relationship with OSI base standards (e.g., X.200 / ISO/IEC 7498‑1), Transport Service (X.214 / ISO/IEC 8072), and Network Service (X.213 / ISO/IEC 8348).
Applications and who would use this standard
- Protocol implementers and stack developers designing OSI transport-layer implementations seeking a compact, well‑specified transport protocol with selectable error‑handling modes.
- Network equipment vendors creating interoperable transport-capable devices for environments where OSI layering is used or required.
- Test labs and procurement teams using the PICS proforma and conformance language to specify and verify product behavior.
- System integrators and researchers studying OSI transport alternatives or implementing fallback/compatibility with ITU‑T X.224 (ISO/IEC 8073).
Related standards
- ITU‑T Rec. X.634 / ISO/IEC 14699:1997 (identical publication)
- ITU‑T Rec. X.200 / ISO/IEC 7498‑1 - OSI Basic Reference Model
- ITU‑T Rec. X.214 / ISO/IEC 8072 - Transport service definition
- ITU‑T Rec. X.213 / ISO/IEC 8348 - Network service definition
- ITU‑T Rec. X.224 / ISO/IEC 8073 - Protocol for OSI connection‑mode transport service (fallback procedures in Annex B)
- ISO/IEC 9646 / ITU‑T X.290/X.296 - Conformance testing and PICS guidance
Keywords: ISO/IEC 14699, Transport Fast Byte Protocol, FB-TPDU, OSI transport layer, TPDU, PICS, ITU‑T X.634, transport protocol, segmentation, expedited data.