Structuring protocols with data streams

We describe an approach to integrating code for different data-handling protocol functions, such as checksumming, encryption, etc. To avoid such impediments to integration as layered multiplexing and interaction between control and data protocol functions, our approach uses an architecture that supports aggressive separation of control and data functions, as well as nonlayered composition of protocol modules. The data-handling portion of the architecture is based on data streams, which afford a convenient way to think about protocol software development and allow a number of optimisations to be performed automatically. This paper discusses the overall architecture and approach, and presents some preliminary results on the integration of data stream functions.