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Computer Science A-level > Fundamentals of communication and networking > Flashcards

Fundamentals of communication and networking Flashcards

1
Q

Asynchronous transmission

A

The transmission of data intermittently between devices without the use of an external clock signal.

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2
Q

Parallel transmission

A

The transmission of data through multiple channels allowing for several bits to be transmitted at a time.

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3
Q

Serial transmission

A

The transmission of data through a single channel of a single bit at a time.

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4
Q

Start bit

A

The bit used to indicate the beginning of a unit of data in asynchronous transmission.

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5
Q

Stop bit

A

The bit used to indicate the end of a unit of data in asynchronous transmission.

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6
Q

Synchronous transmission

A

The transmission of data as a continuous between devices whose time signals are synchronised via a common clock.

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7
Q

Bandwidth

A

The range of frequencies at which data can be transmitted through a channel, measured in Hertz.

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8
Q

Baud rate

A

The number of symbol changes, waveform changes, or signalling events across a channel per unit time.

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9
Q

Bit rate

A

The number of bits transmitted per unit time.

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10
Q

Latency

A

The time delay between the transmitter sending the data and the recipient receiving the data.

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11
Q

Protocol

A

A common set of rules followed during data transmission over a network to minimise inconsistencies.

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12
Q

Logical bus topology

A

A network arrangement where every host computer is connected to a single main data cable.

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13
Q

Physical star topology

A

A network arrangement where every host computer has a dedicated connection to a central hub computer or switch.

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14
Q

Client-server network

A

A type of network organisation where networked computers (clients) connect to one or more powerful central computers (servers) that handles service requests and has resources.

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15
Q

Peer-to-peer network

A

A type of network organisation where networked computers are connected to each other with equal status and share resources and workloads without any central server.

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16
Q

Carrier sense multiple access with collision avoidance (CSMA/CA)

A

A wireless protocol where computers attempt to avoid interference or collision in the channel by transmitting data only after the channel is sensed to be idle.

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17
Q

Media access control address (MAC)

A

A hardware identification number assigned to network interface cards used to uniquely identify a device on a network for communication purposes.

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18
Q

Request to send / clear to send (RTS/CTS)

A

A protocol to prevent data collision during transmission on a wireless network, involving the transmitter sending a RTS to the receiver, and the receiver sending a CTS back to confirm it is idle.

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19
Q

Service set identifier (SSID)

A

A local 32 character identifier for a group of wireless network devices, used to identify the network as a whole.

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20
Q

Wi-Fi

A

A wireless local area network that is based on international standards.

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21
Q

Wi-Fi protected access (WPA/WPA2)

A

A security certification program that secures wireless networks by encrypting transmitted data.

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22
Q

Wireless network adapter

A

A physical device that allows a computer system to connect to a wireless network.

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23
Q

Wireless access point

A

A physical device that creates a wireless local area network that allows multiple devices to connect to a wired network.

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24
Q

Domain name

A

The name that locates a domain on the internet. It is included as part of a URL.

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25
Q

Domain name server (DNS) system

A

A hierarchical and decentralised naming system for computer systems connected to the Internet. It contains the IP addresses of all domain names on the internet.

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26
Q

Fully qualified domain name (FQDN)

A

A domain name specifying the exact location of a domain in the Domain Name Server System hierarchy.

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27
Q

Gateway

A

A device that allows data to flow from one network to another.

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28
Q

Internet

A

A global network of computer systems communicating using TCP/IP.

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29
Q

Internet registries

A

Organisations responsible for the allocation and distribution of domain names and IP addresses.

30
Q

IP address

A

A numerical address assigned to any device communicating via Internet Protocol on a network that identifies its host and addresses its location.

31
Q

Packet

A

A block of data.

32
Q

Packet switching

A

A method for sending data over a network by breaking data into several data packets which are sent independently and then reassembled once they all reach their destination.

33
Q

Routers

A

A device used to direct packets being transmitted between networks.

34
Q

Uniform resource locator (URL)

A

A reference to a resource on the Internet that is able to locate and retrieve it.

35
Q

Firewalls

A

A security checkpoint application that monitors incoming and outgoing network traffic, designed to prevent external users from gaining unauthorised access between two networks.

36
Q

Asymmetric encryption

A

An encryption technique where a public key available to everyone is used to encrypt the data, and the data is decrypted by the paired private key known only by the recipient.

37
Q

Symmetric encryption

A

An encryption technique where the same key is used to encrypt and decrypt data. A copy of the key must be transferred between both parties.

38
Q

Digital certificate

A

An electronic document providing ownership of a public key and hence authenticating your identity.

39
Q

Digital signature

A

A mathematical scheme for producing a unique signature, that verifies the authenticity of encrypted digital messages.

40
Q

Trojan

A

A malware that hides within another file and misleads the user of its true intent.

41
Q

Virus

A

A program that attaches itself to another computer file to infect a computer system by replicating itself and inserting its code into other files.

42
Q

Worm

A

A standalone virus capable of spreading and infecting a computer without being attached to a file.

43
Q

Ports

A

A communication endpoint that addresses a service on a network. It is used to represent services or applications.

44
Q

Sockets

A

A software that serves as an endpoint for sending and receiving data across a network.

45
Q

Transmission Control Protocol / Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) stack

A

A suite of networking protocols that allow networked computers to communicate, consisting of 4 connected layers. Incoming and outgoing data packets are passed through these layers.

46
Q

Email server

A

A computer system on a network designated to handle emails being sent and received by other computers on the network.

47
Q

File transfer protocol (FTP)

A

A protocol used for downloading or uploading files from a computer system.

48
Q

Hyper text transfer protocol (HTTP)

A

A protocol used to fetch, render and transmit webpages.

49
Q

Hyper text transfer protocol secure (HTTPS)

A

An encrypted version of HTTP.

50
Q

Post office protocol version 3 (POP3)

A

An application-layer internet standard protocol used to receive emails from a server.

51
Q

Secure shell (SSH)

A

A cryptographic network protocol for secure remote access to computers.

52
Q

Simple Mail Transfer Protocol (SMTP)

A

An internet standard communication protocol for sending emails.

53
Q

Web browser

A

An application software used to view webpages a computer system had requested from a web server.

54
Q

Web server

A

A computer system on a network designated to handle web requests through HTTP(S).

55
Q

Host identifier

A

A series of bits that form part of the IP address that uniquely identify the computer on the network it is in.

56
Q

Network identifier

A

A series of bits that form part of the IP address and identify the network the computer connected to the internet is on.

57
Q

Subnets

A

A smaller network that forms a subset of a whole network.

58
Q

Non-routable IP address

A

A private IP address used for a device on a private network hidden behind a router or firewall.

59
Q

Routable IP address

A

A public IP address that is registered under the DNS.

60
Q

Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP)

A

A protocol for allocating unique dynamic IP addresses for computers on a local network when the local network attempts to connect to the internet.

61
Q

Network address translation (NAT)

A

The process of mapping a private IP address to a public IP address by modifying address information in the packet header when the packet is sent through the router.

62
Q

Port forwarding

A

The process of routing data through additional ports to allow a server in a non-routable network to provide services to the internet.

63
Q

Client server model

A

A model where the client sends a request message to the server, and the server responds to the request by replying with a response message to the client.

64
Q

CRUD applications

A

A web application with create, retrieve, update, and delete functionality.

65
Q

Extension markup language (XML)

A

A markup language for encoding documents to be sent over a network in a human-readable and machine-readable format.

66
Q

JavaScript object notation (JSON)

A

A human-readable file format used for transmitting information in attribute-value pairs and arrays.

67
Q

REST

A

A representational state transfer methodology used to map a network’s functionality to database operations.

68
Q

Web socket Protocol

A

A protocol specification which defines an API (Application programming interface) establishing a full-duplex ‘socket’ connection between a web browser and a server over TCP. This creates a persistent connection between client and server.

69
Q

Thick client computing

A

A network where the clients have sufficient processing power and storage to handle its requests, while the server acts as external storage.

70
Q

Thin client computing

A

A network where a powerful, central server computer, contains the majority of the processing power and storage capacity to handle client requests.

Computer Science A-level (13 decks)

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