CASIMIRO, MARC VINCE

YOSORES, ELAINE MARIE

ECE506 (A)
JULY 9, 2019
 Introduction on the Presentation Layer

The presentation layer is responsible for the delivery and formatting of

information to the application layer for further processing or display. This
type of service is needed because different computer architectures use
different data representations.

 The presentation layer structures data into a format suitable for network
transmission.
 A presentation layer is mainly concerned with the syntax and semantics of
the information exchanged between the two systems.
Functions of the Presentation Layer

1) Translation
2) Encryption and Decryption
3) Compression and Decompression

Other presentation functions include data file formatting,

encoding, encryption and decryption of data messages,
dialogue procedures, data compression algorithms,
synchronization, interruption and termination (Tomasi,
2019).
 Translation

 As the translator, the presentation layer converts the data sent by the
application layer of the transmitting node into an acceptable and
compatible data format based on the applicable network protocol and
architecture.
 Upon arrival at the receiving computer, the presentation layer translates
the data into an acceptable format usable by the application layer.

 E.g. ASCII to EBCDIC

 Encryption and Decryption

 Encryption is a process of converting the sender-transmitted information

into another form and sends the resulting message over the network
 An encryption algorithm is used during transmission, while a decryption
algorithm is used at the receiving node.
 Encryption and decryption typically involves the secure sockets layer (SSL)
protocol, which has become more popular when used by the presentation
layer.
 Compression and Decompression

 The primary role of data compression is to reduce the number of bits to be

transmitted.
 Multimedia files, such as audio and video, are bigger than text files and
compression is more important.
 Data compression is also known as source coding or bit-rate reduction.

i. Lossless compression reduces bits by

identifying and eliminating statistical
redundancy, no data information is lost
ii. Lossy compression reduces bits by
identifying unnecessary information and
removing it.
Data Flow of the Presentation Layer
 Role in the Open Systems
Interconnection

The presentation layer is not always used in network communications

because its functions are not always necessary.

 Translation is only needed if different types

of machines need to talk with each other.
 If the information is public there is no need
to encrypt and decrypt info.
 If files are small there is no need for
compression