The IEEE divides the data link layer into sublayers: The Logical Link Control (LLC) and media Access Control (MAC) Layer. The Logical Link Control (LLC) Layer resides in the upper sub layer of the OSI model’s Data link Layer.

IEEE 802.2 is the IEEE 802 standard defining the logical Link Control (LLC)

The name Logical Link Control comes from the fact that this layer takes care of the logical link functions of one or more logical links. The LLC provides a way for the upper layers to deal with any type of MAC layer (e.g. Ethernet-IEEE 802.3 CSMA/CD or Token Ring IEEE 802.5 Token Passing).

The major function of the logical link control layer is to ensure that communication takes place on the network with no errors. The communication processes involve error correction, acknowledgments for receipt of information, creating connections between network devices and disabling the connections, and the ability to number(or sequence) each data packets. In brief, the LLC layer performs the following functions:

• The primary function of LLC is to multiplex protocols over the MAC layer while transmitting and likewise to de-multiplex the protocols while receiving.
• It allows multipoint communication over computer network.
• Defining Service Access Points (SAPs).
• Error Control and Flow control are handled by LLC
• Frame Sequence Numbers are assigned by LLC.
• In case of acknowledged services, it tracks acknowledgements

IEEE 802 Standards

IEEE 802 is a family of standards for LANs which defines  LLC and several MAC sublayers.

Overview of IEEE LAN Standards

An LLC frame is called an LLC Protocol Data Unit (LPDU),

DSAP Field

The Destination Service Access Point (DSAP) identifies the SAP for which the LPDU is intended.It is of 1 byte

SSAP Field

The Source Service Access Point (SSAP) identifies the SAP which originated the LPDU. It is of 1 byte

Control Field

The LPDU control field contains command, response, and sequence number information. It is of 1 byte

Operational Modes of LLC

LLC defines 3 types of operations for data communication:

Type 1: Unacknowledged Connectionless

Type 2: Connection Oriented

Type 3: Acknowledged Connectionless

Type 1: Unacknowledged Connectionless

In the Connectionless mode of data transfer, data is sent to the destination but there is no acknowledgement that the frames have been received. This can be compared to the postal system of sending mails where mails are sent and we can only hope that it reaches the destination. The connectionless mode of data communication allows for the sending of frames tone destination (in a unicast or point-to-point transfer), to multiple destinations (multicast), and even to all locations in the network (broadcast).

The use of multicast and broadcast reduces network traffic when the same information needs to be transferred to all stations of the network. This mode provides no guarantees regarding the order of the received frames compared to the ordered in which they have been sent; the sender does not even get an acknowledgment that the frames have been received.

Type 2: Connection Oriented

This operational mode has sequenced numbering of frames that ensure that the frames are in the order they have been sent in. It also ensures that no frames are lost during communication.

The connection oriented mode of data communication can be compared to a telephone conversation. The procedure by which a number is dialed, a ring tone is heard, the line picked up and the person saying “Hello” at the other end constitutes the establishment of a connection. Acknowledgment of the receipt of data can be compared to the conformation the other person gives during the conversation.If  Some parts of the conversation were not heard by the destination party, he will ask for the conversation to be repeated and this is similar to the Automatic Reply Request(ARQ).

Connection oriented operation provides the following services:

• Connection establishment
• Confirmation and acknowledgement of the data
• Error recovery to resend the requested data
• Sliding Windows

Sliding Windows is a control procedure that increases the rate of data transfer while preventing flooding of slow destinations by fast senders. As we already know, thee connection Oriented type of operation requires an acknowledgement of every Protocol Data Unit or LLC frame that is sent. The sliding window system overcomes the slow data transfer rate that is bound to happen if we were to wait for each PDU to be acknowledged.

In the sliding window system, each PDU is numbered sequentially and is sent one by one without waiting of an acknowledgement. The receiving station keeps a record of the PDUs being received and if anyone is missing during transit, it asks the sending station to re-transmit the data starting from that PDU number. The PDUs that were sent after the one that was lost is discarded.

Type 3: Acknowledged Connectionless

It support Point-to-Point communication only. This service mode is used where data reliability is needed. The wireless links use connectionless acknowledged service, The data sender can track lost or damaged frames and retransmit these frames to accomplish reliability.

  Check This Article Also  

OSI Model- A 7 Layers Architecture

TCP/IP MODEL