Editing Protocol

[[Category:Index]]

== Overview ==
When data should be sent, a packet is generated, this is an arbitrary bit string of arbitrary length. If the packet gets above a threshold, call it an MTU for Max Transfer Unit, then the packet can be split into multiple frames. Each frame is one transmission, containing part or all of a packet, and meta information about itself.

The idea is that by splitting and framing packets, we are able to reduce the amount of continuous air time in use, and reduce issues caused by drift in the bit detection

Some transmissions are framed, others are not to save space. See the Transaction section below

TODO: How do you reference sections? would be cool if "Transaction Section" in above line was a link (am writing in vim on the bus with no internet)

=== Transaction ===
 A ____ | Unframed, Occasionally broadcast ping to say ready to transmit, maybe once every two minutes or something
 A <- B | Unframed, Reply to A's broadcast, just different(?) preamble then A's callsign, then B's callsign
 A -> B | Framed packet, containing list of message hashes
 A <- B | Framed packet, containing list of message hashes
 A -> B | Framed packet, List of hashes A does hot have
 A <- B | Framed packet, List of hashes B does hot have
 A -> B | Framed packet, Message data for all requested packets B is missing
 A <- B | Framed packet, Message data for all requested packets A is missing

=== Packet Framing ===
- One frame contains a preamble, header, packet/packet part, footer

==== Preamble ====
 - Just a standardized bit string
 - All messages start this way
 - Lets the receiver set timing offset for bit transitions
 - Used to detect if this is a transmission for us, or another mode like someone just talking we can ignore
 - It could be worth having a distinct preamble for framed packets vs freeform want-to-talk/reply-to-want-to-talk packets
 - Something like 11110000110011001010 could be cool, the goal is that it can be listening periodically, then have enough time to spool up the math, and set the timing for where bit edges are

==== Header ====
 - Contains meta information about the packet/packet part
 - Size of data block in bits/bytes (TBD)
 - Hash/Checksum/Parity to verify message integrity (TBD, I vote start with single parity bit, then get more complicated once we're good at this)
 - Callsign of sender, need to decide on format. It may be worth finding a standard already in place for amateur radio
 - Callsign of intended recipient (Do we want this?)
 - Section to say if we are a part of a split packet, and if so, what number out of how many we are, maybe just reserve two bytes for me/total

==== Packet ====
 - Arbitrary data, See transaction above

==== Footer ====
 - Like header but less
 - parity/checksum again(?)
 - Callsign of sender in standard format again -- I think this should be the end of the message so if someone doesn't know the format they can do it
     - Maybe beep it out in morse code using more standard fm ptt also