Signalan

Signalan is a theoretical construct in signaling theory and digital communications used to describe a modular signaling layer that sits between the transport and application layers in a multi-agent system. The term is used in academic and speculative discussions to denote a standardized set of control messages that coordinate capabilities, synchronization, and flow control without conveying user data. The name combines signal with a suffix suggesting a system or collection.

Conceptually, Signalan defines a signaling alphabet or set of basic messages, an encoding scheme, and a stateful protocol engine that can operate over different transport substrates. It emphasizes decoupling of control information from payload, support for asynchronous delivery, and resilience to partial failures. Implementations in discussions typically presuppose explicit negotiation, versioning, and extensibility to accommodate new capabilities.

Usage in literature includes illustrating how a decoupled signaling layer can improve scalability and interoperability in distributed systems, IoT networks, and telecommunications. Since Signalan is a theoretical construct rather than a formally standardized protocol, real-world deployments use related concepts under varied names such as control plane protocols or session signaling. Critics note that without standardization, interoperability depends on aligning semantics and encoding across implementations.