Data Communication and Computer Networks Vocabulary

Vocabulary flashcards covering key terms and definitions from the unit on data communication networks, signal types, transmission media, network classifications, and Internet fundamentals.

Telecommunications

Distance communication between two or more people by means of devices or infrastructures.

Telematics

The discipline arising from the convergence of telecommunications and computer science that handles the long-distance transmission of data, text, sounds, and images using IT technologies.

Computer Network

A collection of computers or autonomous processing units connected by a communication system, capable of exchanging messages or sharing resources using established protocols.

Node (or Host)

An autonomous processing unit attached to a computer network, such as a computer, network printer, modem, or router.

Communication Protocol

A set of rules used by programs and software to communicate and dialogue correctly across a network.

Analog Signal

A signal whose value varies continuously over time within a range $(min, max]$, taking any real value within that continuous interval.

Digital Signal

A discrete signal that can only assume a discrete sequence of specific values.

Binary Signal

A special case of a digital signal that can take on only two values: $0$ and $1$.

Bandwidth

The maximum data transmission rate or capacity over a specific connection at a given moment, measured in bits per second ($bps$).

Transmission Medium

The physical support through which a signal propagates from one point to another within a network.

Communication Channel

The physical or logical connection established between two communicating entities.

UTP (Unshielded Twisted Pair)

A network copper cable comprising four pairs of twisted wires without any shielding.

FTP (Foiled Twisted Pair)

A network copper cable featuring a single overall shield protecting all contained twisted wire pairs.

STP (Shielded Twisted Pair)

A network copper cable featuring an individual shield around each twisted pair as well as an overall global shield.

Core (Optical Fiber)

The central glass inner part of an optical fiber cable through which light impulses propagate.

Cladding (Optical Fiber)

The glass layer surrounding the core of an optical fiber cable that keeps light confined inside the core.

Personal Area Network (PAN)

A small network extending over a few meters around a single user to interconnect devices such as smartphones, tablets, and laptops.

Local Area Network (LAN)

A network covering a small geographic range, typically within a single building, commonly using Ethernet technology.

Metropolitan Area Network (MAN)

A network covering an entire city, historically created to supply cable television services.

Wide Area Network (WAN)

A network that connects computers across national, international, or intercontinental distances.

Global Area Network (GAN)

A network spanning multiple continents via various transmission technologies, with the Internet being the prime example.

ARPANet

A project created by ARPA (US Department of Defense) during the Cold War to establish a robust, redundant telecommunications network between military and government researchers.

Internetworking

The capability and set of rules (such as IP and TCP) that enable data transmission across different types of interconnected networks.

Internet Service Provider (ISP)

A company that provides Internet access services to clients through subscription plans.

Modem

A device (short for Modulator/Demodulator) that carries out analog-to-digital conversion (modulation) and digital-to-analog conversion (demodulation).

Data Packet

The fundamental unit of information sent across a network, consisting of a header (containing source/destination IP addresses and sequence numbers) and a payload (the actual data).

Circuit Switching

A networking technique that maintains a dedicated physical or logical channel for the entire duration of a communication session.

Packet Switching

A networking technique where data is split into independent packets sent separately across a network and reassembled at the destination.

Modulation

The process of altering one or more properties of a high-frequency carrier wave (amplitude, frequency, or phase) according to variations in a modulating signal.