DATEX-ASN allows different systems to exchange relevant data. This is contained in end-application messages. Each end-application message is defined as either a “subscription” or a “publication” according to the format as specified in ISO 14827-1. DATEX-ASN defines how these end-application messages are packaged to form a complete data packet and also defines the rules and procedures for exchanging these data packets. Systems using DATEX-ASN are free to implement additional end-application functionalities according to the user requirements. A DATEX-ASN network comprises a certain number of systems. Each system can be viewed as consisting of the interfaces. This part of ISO 14827 deals only with the communications interface. It has been designed to meet the unique requirements of TICS; however, it has been designed in a generic fashion and thus could be used for other data exchanges as well. Systems implementing this part of 14827 sometimes operate simultaneously as a client and server, using multiple sessions. The communications cloud between the two systems may be complex or simple.