There are a number of protocols that are capable of addressing real-time requirements for reliable delivery and timeliness:
[[MIL-STD-1553B]] and [[STANAG 3910]] are well-known examples of such timely and reliable protocols for [[avionics#aircraftAircraft networks|avionic data buses]]. MIL-1553 uses a 1 Mbit/s shared media for the transmission of data and the control of these transmissions, and is widely used in federated military [[avionics]] systems.<ref name="Ekman_SAAB">{{citation |author=Mats Ekman |title=Avionic Architectures Trends and challenges |url=https://www.kth.se/polopoly_fs/1.146328!/Menu/general/column-content/attachment/3_Ekman_Saab.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150203164824/https://www.kth.se/polopoly_fs/1.146328!/Menu/general/column-content/attachment/3_Ekman_Saab.pdf |archive-date=2015-02-03 |quote=Each system has its own computers performing its own functions}}</ref> It uses a bus controller (BC) to command the connected remote terminals (RTs) to receive or transmit this data. The BC can, therefore, ensure that there will be no congestion, and transfers are always timely. The MIL-1553 protocol also allows for automatic retries that can still ensure timely delivery and increase the reliability above that of the physical layer. STANAG 3910, also known as EFABus in its use on the [[Eurofighter Typhoon]], is, in effect, a version of MIL-1553 augmented with a 20 Mbit/s shared media bus for data transfers, retaining the 1 Mbit/s shared media bus for control purposes.
The [[Asynchronous Transfer Mode]] (ATM), the [[Avionics Full-Duplex Switched Ethernet]] (AFDX), and [[Time Triggered Ethernet]] (TTEthernet) are examples of packet-switched networks protocols where the timeliness and reliability of data transfers can be assured by the network. AFDX and TTEthernet are also based on IEEE 802.3 Ethernet, though not entirely compatible with it.
