The document discusses the OSI reference model, which is a conceptual model that characterizes and standardizes the communication functions of a telecommunication or computing system without regard to their underlying internal structure and technology. The OSI model structures network architecture into 7 layers, with each layer performing a specific set of functions. It defines the protocols used for communication between the layers of networked systems and allows networks to work together. The 7 layers are physical, data link, network, transport, session, presentation, and application layers. Each layer focuses on a specific task and provides services for the layer above it, hiding the details of its own implementation and the layers below it.