Acc 270 Test 2 Chapter 6

Front 1

telecommunications medium

Back 1

Any material substance that carries an electronic signal and serves as an interface between a sending device and a receiving device

Front 2

Synchronous communications

Back 2

a form of communications where the receiver gets the message instantaneously, when it is sent

Front 3

Asynchronous communications

Back 3

a form of communications where the receiver gets the message after some delay - sometimes hours or days after the message is sent

Front 4

simplex channel

Back 4

a communications channel that can transmit data in only one direction

Front 5

half-duplex channel

Back 5

a communications channel that can transmit data in either direction, but no simultaneously

Front 6

full-duplex channel

Back 6

a communications channel that permits data transmission in both directions at the same time, so a full-duplex channel is like two simplex channels

Front 7

channel bandwidth

Back 7

the rate at which data is exchanged over a communications channel, usually measured in bits per second (BPS)

Front 8

broadband communications

Back 8

a telecommunications system in which a very high rate of data exchange is possible

Front 9

narrowband communications

Back 9

a telecommunications system that supports a much lower rate of data exchange than broadband

Front 10

analog signal

Back 10

a variable signal continuous in both time and amplitude so that any small fluctuations in the signal are meaningful

Front 11

digital signal

Back 11

a signal that represents bits

Front 12

modem

Back 12

a telecommunications hardware device that converts (modulates and demodulates) communications signals so they can be transmitted over the communication media

Front 13

mutliplexer

Back 13

a device that encodes data from two or more data sources onto a single communications channel, thus reducing the number or communications channels needed and therefore, lowering telecommunications costs

Front 14

front-end processor

Back 14

a special-purpose computer that manages communications to and from a computer system serving hundreds or even thousands of users

Front 15

digital subscriber line (DSL)

Back 15

a telecommunications service that delivers high-speed internet access to homes and small businesses over the existing phone lines of the local telephone network

Front 16

computer network

Back 16

the communications media, devices, and software needed to connect two or more computer systems and/or devices

Front 17

personal area network (PAN)

Back 17

a network that supports the interconnection of information technology within a range of 33 feet or so

Front 18

local area network (LAN)

Back 18

a network that connects computer systems and devices within a small area, such as an office, home, or several floors in a building.

Front 19

metropolitan area network (MAN)

Back 19

a telecommunications network that connects users and their devices in a geographical area that spans a campus or city

Front 20

wide area network (WAN)

Back 20

a telecommunications network that ties together large geographic regions

Front 21

international network

Back 21

a network that links users and systems in more than one country

Front 22

mesh networking

Back 22

a way to route communications between network nodes (computers or other device) by allowing for continuous connections and reconfiguration around blocked paths by "hopping" from node to node until a connection can be established

Front 23

centralized processing

Back 23

processing alternative in which all processing occurs at a single location or facility

Front 24

decentralized processing

Back 24

processing alternative in which processing devices are placed at various remote locations

Front 25

distributed processing

Back 25

processing alternative in which computers are placed at remote locations but are connected to each other via a network

Front 26

client/server

Back 26

an architecture in which multiple computer platforms are dedicated to special functions such as database management, printing, communications, and program execution

Front 27

communications protocol

Back 27

a set of rules that governs the exchange of information over a communications channel

Front 28

switch

Back 28

a telecommunications device that uses the physical device address in each incoming message on the network to determine to which output port it should forward the message to reach another device on the same network

Front 29

bridge

Back 29

a telecommunications device that connects one LAN to another LAN that uses the same telecommunications protocol

Front 30

router

Back 30

a telecommunications device that forwards data packets across two or more distinct networks toward their destinations, through a process known as routing

Front 31

gateway

Back 31

a telecommunication device that serves as an entrance to another network

Front 32

network operating system (NOS)

Back 32

systems software that controls the computer systems and devices on a network and allows them to communicate with each other

Front 33

network-management software

Back 33

software that enables a manager on a networked desktop to monitor the use of individual computers and shared hardware (such as printers), scan for viruses, and ensure compliance with software licenses

Front 34

voice mail

Back 34

technology that enables users to send, receive, and store verbal messages for and from other people around the world

Front 35

electronic document distribution

Back 35

a process that enables the sending and receiving of documents in a digital form, without being printed

Front 36

telecommuting

Back 36

a work arrangement whereby employees work away from the office using personal computers and networks to communicate via e0mail with other workers and to pick up and deliver results

Front 37

videoconferencing

Back 37

a telecommunications system that combines video and phone call capabilities with data or document conferencing

Front 38

electronic data interchange (EDI)

Back 38

an intercompany, application-to-application communication of data in a standard format, permitting the recipient to perform a standard business transaction, such as processing purchase orders

Front 39

public network services

Back 39

systems that give personal computer users access to vast databases and other services, usually for an initial fee plus usage fees

Front 40

electronic funds transfer (EFT)

Back 40

a system of transferring money from one bank account directly to another without any paper money changing hands

Front 41

wire transfer

Back 41

an extremely fast, reliable means to move funds from one account to another

Front 42

automated clearing house (ACH)

Back 42

a secure, private network that connects all U.S. financial institutions to one another by way of the Federal Reserve Board or other ACH operators

Front 43

distance learning

Back 43

the use of telecommunications to extend the classroom