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A-Levels > A-Level Computer Science > Flashcards

A-Level Computer Science Flashcards

1
Q

What is the SDLC?

A

A project management model that allows the project to be on time and in budget

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2
Q

What does SDLC stand for?

A

System Development Life Cycle

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3
Q

What does the SDLC do?

A

Defines the stages involved in bringing a project from start to end

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4
Q

How many stages are on the SDLC?

A

7

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5
Q

How is each stage planned and carried out?

A

They are planned and carried out in a time frame, depending on the size of a problem

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6
Q

What happens if the software/hardware is out of date?

A

If the software/hardware is out of date, the system analyst may create an entire new system

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7
Q

What are the 7 stages of the SDLC?

A
  1. Feasibility Study
  2. Analysis
  3. Design
  4. Create
  5. Test
  6. Changeover
  7. Maintenence
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8
Q

What happens in the Feasibility Study stage of the SDLC?

A

Understand the problem the client has given you

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9
Q

What happens at the Analysis stage of the SDLC?

A

Analyse the problem given to you, breaking it down

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10
Q

What happens at the Design stage of the SDLC?

A

Produce designs for the problem

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11
Q

What happens at the Create stage of the SDLC?

A

Programming the design

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12
Q

What happens at the Test stage of the SDLC?

A

Make sure the code is bug free

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13
Q

What happens at the Changeover stage of the SDLC?

A

The code is installed into the new system

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14
Q

What happens at the Maintenence stage of the SDLC?

A

Maintaining the code making sure there are no errors

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15
Q

What are methodologies/system approaches?

A

Methods to ensure the project is on time and in budget

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16
Q

What are the 2 main methodologies?

A

Agile, Waterfall

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17
Q

What are some similarities and differences between the 2 methodologies?

A

Both follow the same 7 stages of the SDLC, however they have different approaches

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18
Q

What are some features of the Waterfall methodologies?

A

Fixed time and budget- no flexibility
Problems can be difficult and timely
Previous stage MUST be completed before going to next
Large amounts of documentation
Rigid
Needs to be clear on its responsibility
Suited for small projects

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19
Q

What are some features of the Agile methodologies?

A

Adaptable, focuses on customer’s needs
Several variations of Agile (Kanban, Scrum, Extreme Programming/XP)
Allows for feedback
Flexible
Suited for indecisive client
Can go between stages- does NOT have to be in order
Looping back may take time
Rapid method
Lack of emphasis on necessary designing and feedback

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20
Q

What are some features of the Feasibility Study?

A

Takes months
Has to decide if current hardware is good to use or should start from scratch
Has to decide what type of project it is

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21
Q

What is the acronym for the aspects Feasibility Study?

A

S- Schedule Feasibility
T- Technical Feasibility
O-Operational Feasibility
L-Legal Feasibility
E-Economic Feasibility

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22
Q

What would be considered under Schedule Feasibility?

A

Can it be done in a reasonable time?

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23
Q

What should be considered under Technical Feasibility?

A

Use current hardware or start from scratch?

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24
Q

What should be considered under Operational Feasibility?

A

Will there be extra work? Is anyone going to need to be trained?

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25
Q

What should be considered under Legal Feasibility?

A

Will there be any legal issues?

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26
Q

What should be considered under Economic Feasibility?

A

How much will it cost? Is it worth spending the money?

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27
Q

What is the Analysis stage of the SDLC?

A

Finding out exactly what needs to be done to solve the problem using various fact finding methods

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28
Q

What are the 4 main fact finding methods?

A

Observation
Questionnaire
Document Collecting
Interview

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29
Q

What is Observation?

A

The process of gaining data by observing events and behaviour in a systematic manner

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30
Q

Who is observed during an Observation study?

A

The End Users

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31
Q

What are some advantages and disadvantages of Observation?

A

Advantages: Accurate, used on End Users
Disadvantages: Time consuming, behaviour may change

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32
Q

What is Questionnaire?

A

Creating valid and reliable questions that relate to the assessment objectives

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33
Q

What are some advantages and disadvantages of Questionnaire?

A

Advantages: Cheap, accurate (used on End Users)
Disadvantages: May lack responses, may be time consuming

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34
Q

What is Document Collecting?

A

Collecting a set of documents that specify what the client needs

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35
Q

What are some advantages and disadvantages of Document Collecting?

A

Advantages: Easily shared with others working on the project, low cost
Disadvantages: May contain errors, might be time consuming to go through

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36
Q

What is Interview?

A

A one-on-one with the client to specify what they need

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37
Q

What are some advantages and disadvantages of Interviews?

A

Advantages: Personalised, allows the client to be specific
Disadvantages: Time consuming, expensive

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38
Q

What is Decomposition?

A

Breaks down a large problem into several smaller problems that are easier to tackle and work with

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39
Q

What is Abstarction?

A

Removes all specific details and only keeps the facts needed. Creates a general idea of what the problem is and how to solve it

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40
Q

How might a System Analyst represent data?

A

A Data Flow Diagram (DFD)

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41
Q

What does a D(ata) F(low) D(iagram) show?

A

The input and output of data, what processes were carried out and what data was sorted

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42
Q

What does this symbol represent?:

—————->

A

Flow of Data

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43
Q

What does this symbol represent?:

|
———————–

A

Storage

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44
Q

What does the phone symbol represent?

|

A

Process

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45
Q

What does this represent?:

----------    |           |    ---------- |           |  ----------
A

External Entities

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46
Q

What are the 2 programming languages?

A

Low level languages, High level languages

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47
Q

What is a Low level language?

A

Low level languages have certain code words instead of long Binary numbers. Converted into machine code

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48
Q

What is Machine Code?

A

The language the Computer understands

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49
Q

What is a High level language?

A

Coded in a way so humans can understand it. Close to the human language. Also converts into machine code

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50
Q

Which converts faster, and why?: Low level languages, High level languages

A

Low level languages convert faster than high level languages because Low level languages converts into High level languages

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51
Q

What is a Procedural Language?

A

Structured in sequence and order. It is an example of a Programming paradigm.

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52
Q

What are some features of Procedural Languages

A

Uses step-by-step instructions
Uses functions and procedures
Obeys instructions
Carries out actions/calculations
Programmer defines precisely each step when performing a task
Very versatile (covers a lot of the basic programming needs)
Many programmers learn to code with Procedural Languages

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53
Q

What is a Programming Paradigm?

A

A fundamental approach and structure of a programming language. Can be thought of as different categories of High level languages

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54
Q

What is the Programming Stage?

A

The Programmer replicates the design so you can have it on a computer

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55
Q

What’s the 5th stage of the SDLC?

A

Testing Stage

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56
Q

What is the Testing Stage?

A

The System Analyst ensures the system is useable and has no bugs before the program is installed

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57
Q

Why is the Testing Stage important?

A

To make sure the program is bug free

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58
Q

Why is a program being bug free important?

A

If there are many bugs, the system can keep crashing

Can be harmful to company, may lose customers

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59
Q

What are the 3 types of testing?

A

Alpha, Beta, User Acceptance

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60
Q

What is Alpha testing?

A

Still at development stage and is tested IN HOUSE

Changes may still be made to the system

Large companies use seperate software testing engineers

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61
Q

What is Beta testing?

A

Software is very close to completion

Given to users who have a general interest in the product

Used in ways software engineers don’t consider

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62
Q

What is User Acceptance testing?

A

When users buy the final product/staff use the new system

Tested in the ‘Real World’

Can still be updated to fix bugs or fix any weakpoints in the system

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63
Q

What is Continuity of Service?

A

Service offered by businesses has to be constantly offered. Can’t have the service drop

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64
Q

What are the 4 types of changeover?

A

Direct changeover

Pilot changeover

Phased changeover

Parallel changeover

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65
Q

What is Direct changeover?

A

Turn off the old system, turn on the new system

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66
Q

What are some advantages of Direct changeover?

A

New system is available immediately

Easiest method of changeover

Cheapest method of changeover

Doesn’t need multiple sets of data

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67
Q

What are some disadvantages of Direct changeover?

A

Riskiest method (if new system fails there is no other system to fall back on)

All data has to be moved to new system for old one to shut off

Period of downtime is created

Upheaval for staff who haven’t used the new system

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68
Q

What does ‘upheaval’ mean?

A

Making you use something you aren’t familiar with

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69
Q

What is Pilot changeover?

A

Some branches try the new system while the other branches keep the old system

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70
Q

What are some advantages of Pilot changeover?

A

Only a small part of the system is affected

Problems in the new system can be identified without affecting the whole company

Staff from the pilot branches can train other staff who haven’t used the new system

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71
Q

What are some disadvantages of Pilot changeover?

A

Chosen branches experience same disadvantages as other branches for a ‘direct changeover’

Staff on new system might find it hard to share data with staff on old system

Extra work for IT, have to manage 2 systems

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72
Q

What is Phased changeover?

A

The new system gets integrated with the old system, and the old system is slowly replaced by the new system

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73
Q

What are some advantages of Phased changeover?

A

Less risks of the system going wrong

Only effects one specific part

Staff are introduced to system in small stages

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74
Q

What are some disadvantages of Phased changeover?

A

Can take a long period of time

Users asking for changes holds up next phase of installation

Difficult to integrate old and new system

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75
Q

What is Parallel changeover?

A

Old and new system run at the same time

Once the new system is okay, it can be changed

If new system fails, old one is there

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76
Q

What are some advantages of Parallel changeover?

A

Less risk than over methods- if the old system fails, the old one is still available

Less stress for staff, still have security of old system

Staff can take their time learning the new system

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77
Q

What are some disadvantages of Parallel changeover?

A

Time consuming- data has to be entered on 2 systems

One system becomes out of sync with the other

Maintaining multiple sets of data can lead to errors

Extra cost of running and maintaining 2 systems

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78
Q

What is Documentation?

A

Documents that are produced throughout the stages of the SDLC

Includes design documents, diagrams, requirement specifications and reports

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79
Q

Who are the documents in the interest of?

A

All documents are of interest to the development team

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80
Q

When and why are documents important?

A

Important in the development cycle

Important for customers and end users

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81
Q

What is a user guide?

A

Guides the user on how to use the system

Used as training

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82
Q

What are some features of a user guide?

A

Instillation guide

Glossary

Material must be suited for novices

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) that help with common problems (trouble shooting)

Reference manual

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83
Q

What is a Technical guide?

A

Designed to help IT literate users maintain and potentially improve the system

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84
Q

What are some features of a Technical guide?

A

Algorithmic designs (pseudocode, flowcharts)

Annotated code listings (that abide by coding standards set by the company)

Variable lists

Data dictionary

Configuration guide and options

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85
Q

What is maintenance?

A

Monitoring the system to make sure there are no bugs

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86
Q

What are some features of maintenance?

A

Rarely free

Expensive

Needs monitoring

Have to pay someone with experience

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87
Q

What are the 3 types of maintenance?

A

Corrective maintenance

Adaptive maintenance

Perfective maintenance

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88
Q

What is Corrective maintenance?

A

Finding bugs in the system

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89
Q

What is Adaptive maintenance?

A

Making changes to the system due to external influence

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90
Q

What is perfective maintenance?

A

Minor improvements to systems that have been around for a while

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91
Q

What is the name for planning for data loss?

A

Disaster Planning

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92
Q

How can data be destroyed?

A

Fire
Theft
Disk failure
Hacking

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93
Q

What is a backup?

A

Keeping a copy of software and data so they can be recovered should there be a loss

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94
Q

Why is regular backup crucial for organisations?

A

The data they have is more valuable than anything else

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95
Q

What are periodic backups?

A

Backing up data on a regular basis, can differ from person to person/business to business

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96
Q

Name the 3 main backup methods

A

SSD
The Cloud
USB

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97
Q

What are SSD’s?

A

A storage medium that uses interconnected flash memories to store data without power

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98
Q

What are some advantages of SSD’s?

A

Fast read-write time
Energy efficient
Compact

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99
Q

What are some disadvantages of SSD’s?

A

Expensive
Less available
Read-write cycle concerns

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100
Q

What is The Cloud?

A

Storage medium that can be accessed by anyone with Wi-Fi

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101
Q

What are some advantages of The Cloud?

A

High speed
Reliable
Mobile

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102
Q

What are some disadvantages of The Cloud?

A

Security threats
Downtime
Lower Bandwidth

103
Q

What is a USB?

A

Small storage medium that can be carried with you

104
Q

What are some advantages of a USB?

A

Portable
Cheap
Secure

105
Q

What are some disadvantages of a USB?

A

Risk of malware
Not durable
Used to steal information

106
Q

What should every company have, in terms of backups?

A

Every company should have a Backup Policy

107
Q

What is a backup?

A

The process of copying files from main storage to a seperate area

108
Q

Why should the backup files always be tested?

A

So the backup data is ready for use should it be needed for use

109
Q

Why are backups important?

A

If a file gets deleted, the backup file can be collected for use

110
Q

What should the backup policy consider?

A

Where will the backup be stored?

What will the backup be stored on?

How often will the backup occur?

How long will the backup be kept?

111
Q

What should be considered when planning a backup procedure?

A

Content and type (What will be backed up?)

Timing (When will the best time for a backup be?)

Frequency (How often will a backup occur?)

Backup media (Which media should be used for the backup?)

Location (Where will the backup be kept?)

Responsibility (Whose responsibility will it be to ensure the backups are kept?)

112
Q

What is a full back up?

A

Copying all the files on the system to a seperate area

113
Q

What type of business would use a full backup?

A

Small businesses that don’t have a lot of data

114
Q

What are some advantages of full backups?

A

Ultimate protection

System can be restored at any time

Most efficient system (If files haven’t changed, the same files will be getting copied)

115
Q

What are some disadvantages of full backups?

A

As business grows, the time to back up all the data will grow

If the backups get stolen, the thief has access to all the company’s data

116
Q

What is a differential backup?

A

Only backing up the files that have been changed since the last full backup

117
Q

How does a differential backup compare to a full backup?

A

Faster than full backups

Data getting backed up grows until next full backup

More flexible, but unwieldly to do more than once a day

118
Q

What is incremental backup?

A

Only backing up data that has been changed since the last incremental backup

119
Q

What is recovery?

A

Taking the backup and copying the data to wherever the data is needed

120
Q

What is an algorithm?

A

A list of instructions carried out in order

121
Q

What is syntax?

A

The laws of the language that allow everything to run

122
Q

What is a Syntax Error?

A

Breaking the laws of the language

123
Q

What are some contemporary methods of HCI?

A

Voice inputs
Touch screen
Force feedback
Virtual reality
Augmented reality

124
Q

How is interaction between humans and computers evolving?

A

Moving away from interfaces like keyboards and mice, to more tactile and intuitive methods

125
Q

What is voice input?

A

Using the human voice to control computing systems

126
Q

What is an advantage of voice input?

A

Useful for those who can’t physically type

127
Q

What is touch screen?

A

Allows for gestures- such as swipes- to interact with computing systems

128
Q

What is force/haptic feedback?

A

Physical sense that tells you an action has occurred through vibrations

129
Q

What is virtual reality?

A

User is transported to a different world using technology

130
Q

What is one effect of virtual reality?

A

Takes over the user’s senses

131
Q

What is augmented reality?

A

Lays digital information over the real world

132
Q

What is needed to use AR (augmented reality)?

A

Special lense/phone camera

133
Q

What does HCI stand for?

A

Human Computer Interface

134
Q

What is Design Validation?

A

A check done after the new system has been designed to ensure the design meets original specifications set during the analysis stage

135
Q

Why is Design Validation important?

A

It makes sure there are no errors within the design, and makes sure any errors that are found within the design are rectified

136
Q

What are some aspects that are checked within Design Validation?

A

Checks the design has met the objectives

Checks the design corresponds with the specification set during the analysis stage

Checks the most appropriate techniques have been used

Checks the user interface is appropriate for the audience

137
Q

What is Design Evaluation?

A

When the development company and the client evaluate if the project has been successful

138
Q

How does design evaluation effect the developers?

A

If the design evaluation is unsuccessful for them, then they might not get paid

139
Q

What are the 5 key factors that are checked during design evaluation?

A

Requirements- has the project met the clear expectations set by the client?

Performance- is the performance optimal?

Robustness- is the server likely to crash/have bugs?

Cost- has the project ended in budget? (Little bit of tolerance offered)

Usability- how user friendly is the server?

140
Q

What makes up the processor?

A

Registers, the CU and the ALU

141
Q

What are the 2 tasks of components in a computer system?

A

Adding

Storing

142
Q

What are the functions of the processors?

A

The fetch, decode, execute cycle

143
Q

What is a register?

A

A temporary data store that holds the current instruction to be executed having been fetched from memory

144
Q

What is the ALU?

A

The process and manipulation of data. Normally consists of arithmetic operations or logical comparisons that allows a program to make a decision

145
Q

What is the CU?

A

Fetches each instruction in sequence, decodes it and then synchronises it before executing it. Sends control signals to other parts of the computer

146
Q

What is the Von Neumann Bottleneck?

A

Limitation between the CPU and RAM is lower than the speed the CPU can process data

147
Q

What is the Von Neumann Architecture?

A

When the data and the software are stored in RAM. The task being carried out by the computer can be changed by loading a different piece of memory

148
Q

What has been developed against the Von Neumann Bottleneck?

A

Cache memory- temporary data store that is very close to CPU

Multithreading- allows multiple threads to be processed by the CPU simultaneously

Parallel processing- using multiple processors to handle different tasks at the same time

149
Q

When is the Bottleneck created?

A

When the instructions are fetched at the same time as data operation on the same memory and bus system

150
Q

What is the first step in the Fetch-Decode-Execute cycle?

A

The PC displays the next address in RAM of the next instruction to be processed

This value is copied into the MAR

151
Q

What is the second step in the Fetch-Decode-Execute cycle?

A

The PC Register increases by 1

This prepares the CPU for the next instruction to be fetched

152
Q

What is the third step in the Fetch-Decode-Execute cycle?

A

The CPU checks the address in RAM which matches the address held in the MAR

153
Q

What is the fourth step in the Fetch-Decode-Execute cycle?

A

The instruction in RAM is transferred to the MDR

154
Q

What is the fifth step in the Fetch-Decode-Execute cycle?

A

The instruction in the MDR is copied into the CIR

155
Q

What is the sixth step in the Fetch-Decode-Execute cycle?

A

The instruction in the CIR is decoded and executed

Any result of the execution is stored in the ACC

156
Q

What is Disk Fragmentation?

A

Files are split up and stored on different parts of the disc

157
Q

What are some of the effects of Disk Fragmentation?

A

Increases disk head movement which disk access speed

158
Q

What is Serial Computing?

A

Problem broken down into a series of instructions

Instructions are executed sequentially

Executed on a single core (one at a time)

159
Q

What is parallel computing?

A

Problem broken down into a series of instructions that can be solved concurrently (at the same time)

Each part is broken down further into a series of instructions

Instruction are executed simultaneously on different processors

160
Q

What are some limits of Parallel Processing?

A

Latency, Bandwidth

161
Q

What is latency?

A

The amount of time it takes for data to travel from a device to the server, and back again

162
Q

What is latency measured in?

A

Milliseconds (ms)

163
Q

What is Bandwidth?

A

The capacity at which a network can transmit data

164
Q

What is Clock Speed?

A

a measure of how many clock cycles a CPU can perform

165
Q

What is Clock Speed measured in?

A

Gigahertz (GHz)

166
Q

What is the Data Bus?

A

Any data from any component travels down the data bus

For example, data from RAM travels down the data bus to a register

167
Q

What is the Address Bus?

A

Picks up the address (location) of data stored in RAM

Once an address is located, the data will travel down the data bus to the register

168
Q

What is the Control Bus?

A

Sends and receives signals from all parts from all parts of the computer which makes sure all processes take place at the right time in the right order

169
Q

What is an input device?

A

A device that gives instructions to the computer

170
Q

What is an output device?

A

A device that carries out the instructions given to it

171
Q

What is a hybrid device?

A

A device that is both input and output

172
Q

Name some examples of input devices

A

Joystick, microphone, controller

173
Q

Name some examples of output devices

A

Monitor, speaker, printer

174
Q

Name some examples of hybrid devices

A

Mobile phone, laptop, iPad

175
Q

What is Optical Character Recognition?

A

Converts an image or text into a format computers can understand

The computer saves the scan as an image file

176
Q

What is Optical Mark Recognition?

A

Recognises marks made on certain paper documents in a certain colour

Used for school examples, etc.

176
Q

What does OCR stand for?

A

Optical Character Recognition

177
Q

What does OMR stand for?

A

Optical Mark Recognition

178
Q

What is Magnetic Ink Character Recognition?

A

Prints characters on a document using a special ink that contains magnetic particles

Used in the banking industry

179
Q

What does MICR stand for?

A

Magnetic Ink Character Recognition

180
Q

What is Voiceprint Recognition?

A

Recognising the voicewaves in your voice so the software knows it’s you

181
Q

What is Voice Dictation?

A

When what you say gets typed up

182
Q

How is voiceprint recognition useful, in terms of data protection?

A

It will only understand a certain voice- the voice won’t be able to be faked

183
Q

How are most computers connected?

A

Through wired/wireless links

184
Q

What is a computer network?

A

Interconnected computers that have the ability to communicate with one another

185
Q

What does a network ned to work?

A

Switch/router and an ethernet cable

186
Q

How do computers transmit data?

A

Through Wi-Fi

187
Q

What is an NIC?

A

Allows data packets to travel between computers and network

Each NIC has its own unique 48 bit code called a MAC address

188
Q

What is a MAC address?

A

a unique identifier assigned to a network interface controller (NIC) for use as a network address in communications within a network segment

189
Q

What is a Router?

A

Forwards data when it arrives from one network to another

190
Q

What steps happen when data arrives at a router?

A

Reads packet’s destination address

Looks at all the paths to the address

Checks which path will be quickest

Sends packet down fastest path

191
Q

What is a HUB?

A

Connects multiple computers together

Allows them to share data packets

192
Q

How do computers communicate together?

A

Using a Protocol Suite (TCP/IP protocol)

193
Q

How many layers is the Protocol Suite made up of?

A

4

194
Q

What is the role of the layers within the Protocol Suite?

A

Each layer depicts what task is carried out by which protocol

Each layer has more than one protocol

195
Q

What is the Application layer?

A

Allows the user to create messages that can be sent across the internet using a number of protocols

Any application will need the data to be formatted

196
Q

What is the Transport layer?

A

Controls the flow of data across the internet

Breaks down messages into packets and labels them ready to be sent to other computers

Checks the packets have arrived safely

197
Q

What is the Internet layer?

A

Delivers messages based on the address

Routes data between networks

Ensures relevant information is added to each packet (Destination Address, Source Address, Packet Number etc)

198
Q

What is the Network Interface layer?

A

Physical connection that allows packets to be sent from one network interface to another

Determines how data is physically transmitted along a network

199
Q

What protocols fall into the Application layer?

A

HTTP
FTP
POP
IMAP
SMTP
SNMP

200
Q

What protocols fall into the Transport layer?

A

ICP
UDP

201
Q

What protocols fall into the Internet layer?

A

IP
ICMP

202
Q

What protocols fall into the Network Interface layer?

A

MAC
Ethernet

203
Q

What is TCP (Transmission Control Protocol)?

A

Establishes connections between devices on a network, guarantees packets reach their destination

204
Q

What is UPD (User Data Protocol)?

A

Sets up networks like a TCP, however doesn’t guarantee the arrival of the packet

“Fire and forget”

Faster than a TCP

205
Q

What is IP (Internet Protocol)?

A

Determines fields of information to be sent in packets (source address, destination address, packet number)

206
Q

What is SMTP (Simple Mail Transfer Protocol)?

A

Mail server which stores sent mail until the user is online

207
Q

What is POP3 (Post Office Protocol)?

A

Allows users to receive mail from the mail server

Used to download the email from the mail server

208
Q

What is FTP (File Transfer Protocol)?

A

Controls how files are sent over the network

209
Q

What is HTTP (Hyper Text transfer Protocol)?

A

Determines how the files that make up webpages are exchanged

210
Q

What is SNMP (Simple Network Management Protocol)?

A

Allows certain administrative devices to see information about the devices connected to a network

211
Q

What is ICMP (Internet Control Message Protocol)?

A

Handles transmission errors, alerts devices to any errors that have occurred and specifies what the issue was

212
Q

What is a Network Standard?

A

A set of rules that enable hardware to be compatible with each other and communicate when sending and receiving data, using different hardware/software brands

213
Q

What would happen without network standards?

A

Technology developed by different companies wouldn’t work with each other, unless everyone used the same brand

We wouldn’t be able to send/view different formats (sending a PDF to someone without a PDF reader)

214
Q

What do protocols allow?

A

Protocols allow different devices to communicate with each other (computer to printer)

215
Q

What is the Operating System?

A

Interacts with the users and applications, including the Kernel

216
Q

What is the Kernel?

A

Manages system resources like the CPU, memory, I/O devices

Interacts with the hardware

Links the user, applications and hardware

217
Q

What are the roles of the Operating System?

A

User interface- provides a general purpose interface to interact with applications

Security- deals with user access rights, typically through a password, device becomes a Multi-User OS

Backing store (secondary software)- The storage of the data on the hard disk

Utility software- Has other utility software involved, helps maintain software, increases life expectancy. File managers, firewalls, network managers, task managers ,etc.

218
Q

What are the roles of the Kernel?

A

Peripheral management- oversees system devices which include I/O devices and storage devices. Ensures data exchanges between devices and applications, handling information flow

Memory management (RAM)- Kernel allocates and deallocates memory for processes by keeping track of the sections of memory. Stores active processes in memory, releases memory when processing ends

Process management (CPU)- Kernel allocates time to each process. After a process completes its execution, the Kernel starts the next one and assesses it’s state (ready, running, blocked)

Interrupt handling (CPU instructions)- Kernel manages task priorities, allowing high-priority tasks to take precedence. Handles system calls (essentially software interrupts)

219
Q

What is the Ready State?

A

A state in which a process is ready and waiting for its execution

220
Q

What is the Blocked State?

A

A state in which a process doesn’t execute unless a process event occurs (completion of an input/output operation)

221
Q

What is the Running State?

A

A state in which a process is currently executing

222
Q

What is Time Slicing?

A

Allowing each process a short interval of processing time on the CPU

223
Q

What is Paging?

A

Enables processes to access more memory than is physically available

224
Q

What is Segmentation?

A

Organises and allocates memory for processes in flexible and module manner

225
Q

What are Interruptions?

A

Stops a program running. Can be a computer stopping a program (closing a window) or a virus

226
Q

What is a High Level Interrupt?

A

When interrupting a program can damage the software

227
Q

What is a Low Level Interrupt?

A

When interrupting a program has no effect on the software

228
Q

What is Data Transmission?

A

The way in which data can be transferred between devices within a computer network and between devices connected to it

229
Q

What are the two ways data can be sent?

A

Parallel, Serial

230
Q

What is Serial Transmission?

A

Data is split up into packets and sent one by one across a single wire

231
Q

What are some features of Serial Transmission?

A

Used over long distances (e.g. computer and printer), slower than parallel

232
Q

What is Parallel Transmission?

A

Data is sent over multiple wires, bit by bit, that are parallel to each other

233
Q

What are some features of Parallel Transmission?

A

Data is sent over small distances (e.g. within a computer system), faster than parallel, has the skew effect

Suitable for scenarios which need a high transfer rate

Needs more advanced hardware and cabling

234
Q

What is the skew effect?

A

Time distance between multiple pieces of data being transferred. Millisecond difference, not noticed by humans

235
Q

What are some advantages of serial transmission?

A

Low power consumption
Low cost
Simple hardware and cabling
Suitable for long-distance communication

236
Q

What are some disadvantages of serial transmission?

A

Not suitable for large amounts of data
Slow data transfer rate
Limited bandwidth

237
Q

What are some advantages of parallel transmission?

A

High transfer rate
Suitable for large amounts of data

238
Q

What are some disadvantages of parallel transmission?

A

Higher power consumption
Higher cost
Limited maximum cable length
Complex hardware and cabling

239
Q

What is multiplexing?

A

Managing various signals between devices

240
Q

What are the three common methods of multiplexing?

A

Simplex, half-duplex, full-duplex

241
Q

What is simplex?

A

Data can be sent in one direction and one direction only, e.g. a speaker

242
Q

What is half-duplex?

A

Data can be sent in both directions but only one at a time, e.g. a walkie talkie

243
Q

What is full-duplex?

A

Data can be sent in both directions at the same time, e.g. a mobile phone

244
Q

What is switching?

A

The process of transferring data from one device to another

245
Q

What are 2 common methods of switching?

A

Packet switching, circuit switching

246
Q

What is packet switching?

A

Breaking down data into packets, sending them across a network and then reassembling them at their destination address

247
Q

What is circuit switching?

A

A dedicated communication path between two devices for communication

248
Q

What are the 3 parts to a TCP packet?

A

Trailer, payload, header

249
Q

What is the purpose of the Trailer?

A

Informs recipient’s device that the packet has been received

250
Q

What is in the Payload?

A

The data being transferred

251
Q

What is in the Header?

A

Source Address (allows tracing of sender)

Checksum (calculation that checks for errors)

Packet number (allows packet to be reassembled correctly at end)

Packet address (allows packet to be routed to destinsation)

252
Q

What is a network collision?

A

Two devices on the same network attempting to send data at the same time

253
Q

What happens to packets after they collide?

A

They get discarded

A-Levels (3 decks)

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