MAP/TOP-the 7 layers

The manufacturing automation protocol (MAP) and technical office protocol (TOP) are standards introduced by a user `General Motors´, thereby providing supplier independence. These standards represent the only commercial implementations of the 7 layer ISO model protocol available today. The design expectation of these standards is to provide a multivendor systems capability between individually supplied processor installations. The paper provides an insight into the 7 layers of the ISO standard through the example of the interconnection of independent island communication systems