The utility and cost-effectiveness of instrument\ud networks are enhanced by instrument interoperability. Today’s\ud oceanographic instruments are characterized by very diverse\ud non-standard software protocols and data formats. This diversity\ud of protocols poses serious challenges to integration of large-scale\ud sensor networks. Standard instrument protocols are now being\ud developed to address these challenges. Some of these standards\ud apply at the IP-network level and enable integration of existing\ud “lower level” proprietary instrument protocols and software\ud components. Other approaches are intended to be implemented\ud by the instrument device itself. These native instrument protocol\ud standards offer the possibility of more uniform and simpler\ud system architectures. We compare these various approaches,\ud describe how they can be combined with one another, and\ud describe some prototypes that implement them.Peer ReviewedPostprint (published version

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