This document frequently uses the following terms:
The unit of transmission in the network layer (such as IP). A datagram may be encapsulated in one or more packets passed to the data link layer.
The unit of transmission at the data link layer. A frame may include a header and/or a trailer, along with some number of units of data.
The basic unit of encapsulation, which is passed across the interface between the network layer and the data link layer. A packet is usually mapped to a frame; the exceptions are when data link layer fragmentation is being performed, or when multiple packets are incorporated into a single frame.
The other end of the point-to-point link.
The implementation discards the packet without further processing. The implementation SHOULD provide the capability of logging the error, including the contents of the silently discarded packet, and SHOULD record the event in a statistics counter.