Transport Protocol

Transport Protocol refers to the OSI layers 1-4 protocols and mechanisms that facilitate the routing, switching and transfer of data. These protocols and mechanisms are used by the session protocols (OSI Layer 5) that reside with the Messaging Infrastructure Layer for the data transfer.

More precisely, Transport Protocol as used in HL7 specifications includes:

1. Transport Layer (OSI Layer 4), which provides transparent transfer of data between end systems, or hosts, and is responsible for end-to-end error recovery and flow control. It ensures complete data transfer
2. Network Layer (OSI Layer 3), which provides switching and routing technologies, creating logical paths, known as virtual circuits, for transmitting data from node to node. Routing and forwarding are functions of this layer, as well as Addressing, internetworking, error handling, congestion control and packet sequencing.