By: Christine Martz
Meaning of ASN.1 – “Abstract Syntax Notation One”, is a formal language
for platform-independent descriptions of messages exchanged between two
communicating applications. It is used to encode and decode messages in a wide range of applications
involving the Internet, cellular phone technology, digital certificates, Voice Over IP
and many others. ASN.1 used streamlined encoding rules, making it also reliable
for wireless broadband. Its extensible, and allows communications between newer and
older versions of applications.
ASN.1 was standardized in 1984 by the CCITT, which is now called ITU-T. ISO chose to adopt this notation and split this recommendation
into two separate documents, ASN.1 and the encoding rules, BER. In 1985, the
CCITT decided to collaborate with ISO on these two documents.
“… ASN.1 is a formal notation used for describing data transmitted by
telecommunications protocols, regardless of language implementation and physical representation
of these data, whatever the application, whether complex or very simple.” [France Telecom]
“…ASN.1 based applications have changed the way we live. It is because
of applications developed around ASN.1 that you can view this page. ASN.1 enabled technologies
are developed to meet needs in financial industries, manufacturing plants, health care systems,
internet communication infrastructures, genetic research programs, global logistic platforms,
supply chain software, personal communication tools (mobile phones), productivity enhancing
devices (PDAs), and many other fields.” [ASN.1 Consortium]
“…ASN.1 has no regard to any specific standard, encoding method, programming
language, or hardware platform. It is simply a language for defining standards. Or in other
words, standards are written in ASN.1. ” [Microsoft Corporation]
“…Previously, ASN.1 was used to write application, national and
international standards. However more recently with the advent of ASN.1 software tools,
ASN.1 has been used to generate programming language code that forms the core of a wide
variety of messaging systems applications.. ” [OSS Nokalva]
“…ASN.1 is a well-established technology that is widely used both
within ITU-T and outside of it. The notation is supported by a number of software vendors.” [International Telecommunication Union]
