In order to quickly grasp the actual situation of the current protocol reverse solution, commonly used terms first collection protocol reverse engineering field, to describe the protocol reverse engineering and the formal definition of the protocol reverse reference model; then summarizes the existing protocol reverse solution in the main analysis techniques and algorithms, and discusses the application fields of reverse technology protocol; finally describes between actual situation and the ideal current protocol reverse engineering of the gap, and points out the defects existing in the current scheme monk unsolved problems, explore new directions for future research.