segmentation

networking (Or "segmentation and reassembly", SAR) Breaking

an arbitrary size packet into smaller pieces at the

transmitter. This may be necessary because of restrictions in

the communications channel or to reduce latency. The pieces

are joined back together in the right order at the receiver

("reassembly"). Segmentation may be performed by a router

when routing a packet to a network with a smaller maximum

packet size.

The term "segmentation" is used in ATM, in TCP/IP, it is

called "fragmentation" an is performed at the IP layer

before the "fragments" are passed to the transport layer.

See for example ATM forum UNI 4.0 specification.

[Better reasons?]

(1999-06-14)