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
T1
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
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.

ISDN (Integrated Services Digital Network)
Technology that provides higher-speed Internet connections using regular copper telephone lines. Also called Integrated Services Digital 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
Noise
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
WiFi (Wireles home Network)
The more widely implemented of the various 802.11 standards for wireless LANs.

Microwave
Radio waves that can provide a high-speed signal transmission
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
Node
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
Intranet
Internal network that uses Internet technologies
Ethernet
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)
Communication protocol that allows wireless mobile devices such as smart phones and PDAs to access the Internet and its services
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
Broadband
type of media that transmits multiple signals simultaneously