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Communication Channels

The transmission media on which data, instructions, or information travel, in either analog or digital form, depending on the type of communications channel. Two examples of communications channels are cable television lines and telephone lines

Transmission Media

Materials or substances that are capable of carrying one or more signals on a communications channel

IM (instant messaging)

real time internet communication service

P2P (peer to peer network)

Type of peer-to-peer network on which users connect directly to each other's hard disks and exchange files over the Internet. Also called a file sharing network

GPS (global positioning service)

Navigation system that consists of one or more earth-based receivers that accept and analyze signals sent by satellites in order to determine the receiver's geographic location

WISP (Wireless internet service provider)

type of internet service provider that provides wireless internet access to computers with wireless modems or access devices or to internet enabled mobile devices

ATM( asynchromous transfer mode)

Service that carries voice, data, video, and multimedia at extremely high speeds. Telephone networks, the Internet, and other networks with large amounts of traffic use ATM. ATM is short for Asynchronous Transfer Mode

PIM (personal Information Manager)

application software that includes features to help users oganize personal information

WAp (Wireless Application Protocol)

Communication protocol that allows wireless mobile devices such as smart phones and PDAs to access the Internet and its services


The most popular T-carrier line, which is used by many Internet access providers to connect to the Internet backbone and often is used by businesses to connect to the Internet

T- carrier

Any of several types of long-distance digital telephone lines that carry multiple signals over a single communications line by using multiplexing. T-carrier lines provide very fast data transfer rates

LAN (Local Area Network)

Network that connects computers and devices in a limited geographical area such as a home, school computer laboratory, office building, or closely positioned group of buildings. LANs often are used to share resources such as printers, large hard disks, and programs

MAN (Metroppolitan Area Network)

High-speed network that connects local area networks in a metropolitan area such as a city or town and handles the bulk of communications activity across that region

WAN (Wide Area Network)

Type of network that covers a large geographic area, such as a city, a country, or the world, using a communications channel that combines many types of media such as telephone lines, cables, and radio waves

WLAN (Wireless LAN)

Type of LAN that uses no physical wires

VAN ( Value Added Network)

Third-party business that provides networking services such as secure data and information transfer, e-mail, and management reports

Dedicated Line

Type of always-on connection that is established between two communications devices

Network Architecture


Bit Torrent


G Rokster


Bus Network

Type of network that consists of a single central cable, called a bus, to which all computers and other devices connect. Data, instructions, and information travel in both directions on a bus network

Ring Network

Type of network in which a cable forms a closed loop, or ring, with all computers and devices arranged along the ring. Data transmitted on a ring network travels from device to device around the entire ring, in one direction

Token Ring Network

Type of network technology that controls access to a network by requiring that devices on the network share or pass a special agent, called a token. Only one token exists per network, and only the device with the token can transmit data over the netw

Star Network

Type of network in which all of the computers and devices, or nodes, on the network connect to a central device, thus forming a star. The central device that provides a common connection point for nodes on the network is called the hub. All data that transfers from one node to another passes through the hub.

TCP/IP (Transmission Control Protocol/ Internet Protocol)

Network technology that manages data transmission by dividing it up into packets. Internet transmissions commonly use TCP/IP. TCP/IP is short for Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol

WiFi (distance possible)

The more widely implemented of the various 802.11 standards for wireless LANs.

Infrared light waves


ISDN (Integrated Services Digital Network)

Technology that provides higher-speed Internet connections using regular copper telephone lines. Also called Integrated Services Digital Network

CATV (Cable Transmission Network)


ATM (Asynchromonous Transfer Mode)


DSL (Digital Subscriber Line)


Home RF Network (wireless home network)


Twisted--Pair Cable

One or more twisted-pair wires that have been bundled together. Twisted-pair cable is one of the more commonly used transmission media for network cabling and telephone systems

Coaxial Cable


Fiber Optic Cable



Electrical disturbance that can degrade communications

Hot Spot

Area with the capability of wireless Internet connectivity

Broadcast Radio

Type of wireless transmission medium that distributes radio signals through the air over long distances such as between cities, regions, and countries and short distances such as within an office or home

Bluetooth (broadcast radio signal)

Wireless communication standard that uses short-range radio waves to transmit data between two Bluetooth devices

Home RF (broadcast radio signal)


WiFi (broadcast radio signal)


WiMax (broadcast radio signal)


WiFi (Wireles home Network)


WiMax (Worldwide Interoperable for Microwave Access)





Radio waves that can provide a high-speed signal transmission

Satellite: downlink vs uplink


Internet Telephony

Use of the Internet, instead of the public switched telephone network, to connect a calling party and one or more called parties. Also called Voice over IP (VoIP)

3G Network (cellular radio technology)

uses cellular radio technology to provide users with high-speed internet connections, as long as they are within the networks range

GPS (Global Positioning System)

is a navigation system that consists of one or more earth-based recievers that accept and analyze signals sent by satellites in order to determine the reciever's geographic location.

Computer Voice Mail

computer converts voice mail from analog to digital


each computer or device on a network is called a

Dedicated Server

perform a specific task and can be placed with other dedicated servers to perform multiple tasks

Print Server

manages printers and print jobs

Client/ Server Network

Type of network in which one or more computers act as a server and the other computers on the network request services from the server

Peer-to-peer Network

Simple, inexpensive network in which each computer, or peer, has equal responsibilities and capabilities on the network, shares resources with the other computers on the network, and stores files on its own storage devices

Analog/ digital

vhs vs dvd


Internal network that uses Internet technologies


Type of network technology that allows nodes to contend for access to a network. If two computers on the network attempt to send data at the same time, a collision occurs, and the computers must attempt to send their messages again. Etherne



802.11 (WiFi or Wireless Fidelity)

(WiFi) and wireless ethernet is a series of network standards that specifies how two wireless devices sommunicate over the air with each other

RFID (radio frequency identification)

A technology that uses radio signals to communicate with a tag placed in an object, an animal, or a person.

WAP (Wireless Application Protocol)


Telephone Network - analog or digital?

is the worldwide telephone system that handles voice oriented telephone calls almost all are digital technology

Modem- wireless modem

Type of communications device that either converts a computer's digital signals into analog signals so the signals can be transmitted over standard telephone lines or converts the analog signals back into digital signals that a computer can process Also called a dial-up modem

Phone Line Network

easy to install and inexpensive netowrk that uses existing telephone lines int the home

Dial-up Modem

Temporary connection that uses one or more analog telephone lines for communications




type of media that transmits multiple signals simultaneously

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