A
standard , flexible method that (a) describes
data structures for representing, encoding, transmitting, and decoding data, (b) provides a
set of formal rules for describing the structure of objects independent of machine-specific encoding techniques, (c) is a formal
network -management
Transmission Control Protocol /
Internet Protocol (
TCP/IP )
language that uses human-readable notation and a compact, encoded representation of the same
information used in
communications protocols, and (d) is a precise, formal notation that removes ambiguities. (
188 )