6. Data Communication Flashcards
Data communication
Electronic transfer of data from one location to another
Bandwidth
Amount of data that can be transferred from one point to another in a certain time period, usually a second.
Attenuation
Loss of power in a signal as it travels from the sending device to receiving device
Broadband
Multiple pieces of data are sent simultaneously to increase transmission rate
Protocols
Rules that govern aspects of data communication including error detection, message length, and transmission speed
Modem
A device that connects a user to the internet
Centralized processing
All processing is done at one central computer
Communication media
Or channels, connect sender and receiver devices. Can be conducted or radiated
Conducted media
Provides a physical path along which signals are transmitted
Radiated media
Use an antenna for transmitting data through air or water
Decentralized processing
Where each user or dept has its own computer for processing tasks
Narrowband
is a voice-grade transmission channel capable of transmitting a maximum of 56,000 bps, so only a limited amount of information can be transferred in a specific period of time.
Digital subscriber line (DSL)
a common carrier service, is a high-speed service that uses ordinary phone lines.
Distributed processing
maintains centralized control and decentralized operations. Processing power is distributed among several locations.
local area network (LAN)
A local area network (LAN) connects workstations and peripheral devices that are in close proximity.
Open Systems Interconnection (OSI) model
The Open Systems Interconnection (OSI) model is a seven-layer architecture for defining how data is transmitted from computer to computer in a network, from the physical connection to the network to the applications that users run. It also standardizes interactions between network computers exchanging information.
metropolitan area network (MAN)
A metropolitan area network (MAN) is designed to handle data communication for multiple organizations in a city and sometimes nearby cities as well.
wide area network (WAN)
A wide area network (WAN) can span several cities, states, or even countries, and is usually owned by several different parties.
network interface card (NIC)
A network interface card (NIC) is a hardware component that enables computers to communicate over a network.
network topology
A network topology represents a network’s physical layout, including the arrangement of computers and cables.
controller
A controller is a hardware and software device that controls data transfer from a computer to a peripheral device (for example, a monitor, a printer, or a keyboard) and vice versa.
star topology
The star topology usually consists of a central computer (the host computer, often a server) and a series of nodes (typically, workstations or peripheral devices).
hierarchical topology
A hierarchical topology (also called a “tree”) combines computers with different processing strengths in different organizational levels.
bus topology
The bus topology (also called “linear bus”) connects nodes along a network segment, but the ends of the cable are not connected, as they are in a ring topology.
