A Level CS 9618 14 Communication & Internet Technology

Protocol

A set of rules governing communication across a network: the rules are agreed by both sender and recipient.

HTTP

hypertext transfer protocol.

Packet

A message/data is split up into smaller groups of bits for transmission over a network.

Segment (transport layer)

A unit of data (packet) associated with the transport layer protocols.

FTP

file transfer protocol

SMTP

Simple Mail Transfer Protocol.

Push protocol

protocol used when sending emails, in which the client opens the connection to the server and keeps the connection active all the time, then uploads new emails to the server.

Binary file

A file that does not contain text only. The file is machine-readable but not human-readable.

MME

multi-purpose internet mail extension. A protocol that allows email attachments containing media files as well as text to be sent.

POP

post office protocol.

IMAP

Internet Message Access Protocol.

TCP

Transmission Control Protocol.

Pull protocol

protocol used when receiving emails, in which the client periodically connects to a server, checks for and downloads new emails from a server and then closes the connection.

Host-to-host

a protocol used by TCP when communicating between two devices.

Host

a computer or device that can communicate with other computers or devices on a network.

BitTorrent

A protocol used in peer-to-peer networks when sharing files between peers.

Peer

a client who is part of a peer-to-peer network/file sharing community.

Metadata

A set of data that describes and gives information about other data.

Pieces

Splitting up of a file when using peer-to-peer file sharing.

Tracker

central server that stores details of all other computers in the swarm.

Swarm

connected peers (clients) that share a torrent/tracker.

Seed

a peer that has downloaded a file (or pieces of a file) and has then made it available to other peers in the swarm.

Leech

a peer with negative feedback from swarm members.

Lurker

user/client that downloads files but does not supply any new content to the community.