hostage/src/de/tudarmstadt/informatik/hostage/protocol/Protocol.java

package de.tudarmstadt.informatik.hostage.protocol;

import java.util.List;

/**
 * Interface for protocols that are used by the application.
 * @param <T> Denotes if the protocol is using Strings or ByteArrays.
 */
public interface Protocol<T> {

	/**
	 * Represents who starts the communication once the connection is established.
	 */
	public static enum TALK_FIRST {
		SERVER, CLIENT
	};

	/**
	 * Returns the port on which the protocol is running.
	 * @return the port used by the protocol (range: 0-65535)
	 */
	int getPort();

	/**
	 * Returns who starts the communication (server or client)
	 * @return TALK_FIRST.server if the server starts or TALK_FIRST.client if the client starts.
	 */
	TALK_FIRST whoTalksFirst();

	/**
	 * Determines the next message that is sent by the server.
	 * @param message last message that was sent by the client.
	 * @return next message that will be sent.
	 */
	List<T> processMessage(T message);

	/**
	 * Returns whether the communication is ended and the connection should be closed or not.
	 * @return true if the connection should be closed, else false.
	 */
	boolean isClosed();

	/**
	 * Returns if the protocol uses SSL/TLS connection or not.
	 * @return true if SSL/TLS is used, else false.
	 */
	boolean isSecure();

	/**
	 * Returns what type the protocol is using, Strings or ByteArrays.
	 * @return the class that the protocol is using.
	 */
	Class<T> getType();
	
	/**
	 * Returns the name of the protocol.
	 * @return name of the protocol
	 */
	@Override 
	String toString();
	
}