TCP/IP defined the first two networking protocols, the Transmission Control Protocol (TCP) and the Internet Protocol (IP). The IEEE 802.2 standard provides a general interface between different protocols like TCP/IP and different network types such as Ethernet or Token Ring. The token ring IEEE 802.5 LAN protocol connects all stations in a ring where each station can directly hear transmissions from its immediate neighbor and needs permission to transmit granted by a circulating token.