Abstract Syntax Notation 1

Abstract Syntax Notation 1
ASN.1
X.208

   <language, standard, protocol> (ASN.1, X.208, X.680) An
   {ISO}/{ITU-T} {standard} for transmitting structured {data} on
   {networks}, originally defined in 1984 as part of {CCITT
   X.409} '84.  ASN.1 moved to its own standard, X.208, in 1988
   due to wide applicability.  The substantially revised 1995
   version is covered by the X.680 series.

   ASN.1 defines the {abstract syntax} of {information} but does
   not restrict the way the information is encoded.  Various
   ASN.1 encoding rules provide the {transfer syntax} (a
   {concrete} representation) of the data values whose {abstract
   syntax} is described in ASN.1.  The standard ASN.1 encoding
   rules include {BER} (Basic Encoding Rules - X.209), {CER}
   (Canonical Encoding Rules), {DER} (Distinguished Encoding
   Rules) and {PER} (Packed Encoding Rules).

   ASN.1 together with specific ASN.1 encoding rules facilitates
   the exchange of structured data especially between
   {application programs} over networks by describing data
   structures in a way that is independent of machine
   architecture and implementation language.

   {OSI} {Application layer} {protocols} such as {X.400} {MHS}
   {electronic mail}, {X.500} directory services and {SNMP} use
   ASN.1 to describe the {PDU}s they exchange.

   Documents describing the ASN.1 notations: {ITU-T} Rec. X.680,
   {ISO} 8824-1; {ITU-T} Rec. X.681, {ISO} 8824-2; {ITU-T}
   Rec. X.682, {ISO} 8824-3; {ITU-T} Rec. X.683, {ISO} 8824-4

   Documents describing the ASN.1 encoding rules: {ITU-T}
   Rec. X.690, {ISO} 8825-1; {ITU-T} Rec. X.691, {ISO} 8825-2.

   [M. Sample et al, "Implementing Efficient Encoders and
   Decoders for Network Data Representations", IEEE Infocom 93
   Proc, v.3, pp. 1143-1153, Mar 1993.  Available from Logica,
   UK].

   See also {snacc}.

   (2005-07-03)