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 * distributed with this work for additional information        *
 * regarding copyright ownership.  The ASF licenses this file   *
 * to you under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the            *
 * "License"); you may not use this file except in compliance   *
 * with the License.  You may obtain a copy of the License at   *
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 * "AS IS" BASIS, WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY       *
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package org.apache.james.protocols.api;

import org.apache.james.protocols.api.handler.ProtocolHandlerChain;

/**
 * Define a protocol
 */
public interface Protocol {
    String getName();

    /**
     * Return the {@link ProtocolHandlerChain} which is defined for the {@link Protocol}
     * @return protocol handler chain
     */
    ProtocolHandlerChain getProtocolChain();

    /**
     * Return the {@link ProtocolConfiguration} 
     * 
     * @return config
     */
    ProtocolConfiguration getConfiguration();
    
    
    /**
     * Create a new {@link ProtocolSession} for the given {@link ProtocolTransport} 
     * 
     * @param transport
     * @return session
     */
    ProtocolSession newSession(ProtocolTransport transport);

}
