HSC ICT Chapter 02: Communication Systems and Networking Vocabulary

A comprehensive set of vocabulary flashcards based on HSC Board Exam questions covering communication systems, networking devices, topologies, and mobile technologies.

Roaming

The continuous access to data services by a mobile phone user even when they move outside their network's coverage area.

Asynchronous Transmission

A data transfer method where each data unit begins with a Start bit and ends with a Stop bit to identify and separate data correctly without complete synchronization between the sender and receiver.

4G (Fourth Generation)

A mobile phone standard that uses Internet Protocol-based networks, offers data transfer rates up to approximately $1\,Gbps$, and is about $50$ times faster than $3G$.

LTE (Long Term Evolution)

A system standard used in $4G$ mobile phones for fast data, voice, and multimedia transfer.

IEEE 802.11

The wireless standard for Wi-Fi, generally used for short-distance connections covering $50-100\,meters$.

IEEE 802.16

The wireless standard for WiMax, used for long-distance broadband connections covering $10-50\,kilometers$.

Repeater

A type of connectivity device that amplifies weak signals and sends them to the destination.

Modem

A communication device that converts digital signals to analog for sending (modulation) and analog signals back to digital for receiving (demodulation).

Optical Fiber Cable

A transmission medium made from specially purified glass strands that transmits data at the speed of light and is immune to electromagnetic interference (EMI).

Core

The innermost part of an optical fiber cable, made of glass or plastic with a diameter of $4$ to $100\,\mu m$, used for transmitting light signals.

Cladding

The layer surrounding the optical fiber core that reflects light back into the core, typically with a diameter of $125\,\mu m$.

Piconet

The basic component of a network formed using Bluetooth technology.

Cellular Phone

A mobile phone system where the communication area is divided into small regions called cells, each containing a base station to ensure network coverage.

Star Topology

A network configuration where each device connects to a central device such as a hub or switch, which manages all data transfer.

Client-server Network

A network type where one computer works as a server providing services (data, software, printers) to other connected computers called clients.

Bandwidth

The rate at which data is transferred from one place to another per second, measured in bps (bits per second).

Bluetooth

A wireless technology using radio frequency to exchange data between devices over short distances ($3-10\,meters$) at $2.45\,GHz$.

Switch

An intelligent networking device that uses MAC addresses to send data specifically to intended devices and supports full-duplex mode.

Isochronous Transmission

A real-time data transfer method where data is sent continuously at regular intervals without waiting for error correction, used for audio/video streaming.

Bit Synchronization

The technique used in serial data transmission to synchronize bits while sending signals from the client computer.

Gateway

A network device, also known as a protocol converter, that connects two or more networks using different protocols.

Ring Topology

A network setup where each device is connected to its two neighbors in a circular path, creating a closed loop.

Tree Topology

A hierarchical network configuration where nodes are arranged like branches, often formed by connecting multiple individual star topologies.

Simplex Mode

A data transmission mode where data flows in only one direction, such as keyboard to computer or radio/television broadcasts.

Half-duplex Mode

A transmission mode where data can travel in both directions but not at the same time, such as SMS or Walkie-talkies.

Full-duplex Mode

A transmission mode that allows for simultaneous bidirectional data exchange, used in telephones and WiMax.

Cloud Computing

An online service technology that allows users to rent computer resources like storage, servers, and software on-demand and on a pay-as-you-go basis.

MAC (Media Access Control)

A unique address used by switches to identify and direct data signals to a specific port/device.

NIC (Network Interface Card)

A card installed in computers to establish a connection between two or more computers, also known as a LAN card.

Synchronous Transmission

A method where data is transmitted in equal-timed blocks or packets, making it faster and more efficient for long-distance transfer than asynchronous methods.