CHAPTER 7 - TELECOMMUNICATIONS, THE INTERNET, AND WIRELESS TECHNOLOGY

Network – two or more connected computers.

Network Operating System (NOS) – routes and manages communications on the network and coordinates network resources.

Server – performs important network functions. It also sets the rules of communication for the network.

Switch – filters and forwards data to a specified destination on the network.

Router – used to route packets of data through diff networks, ensuring that the data sent gets to the correct address.

Software-defined networking (SDN) - Centralized control of network traffic; beneficial in cloud environments for efficient data management.

Client/Server Computing - distributed computing model in which some of the processing power is located within small, inexpensive client computers.

Packet Switching - method of slicing digital messages into parcels called packets, sending the packets along different communication paths as they become available, and then reassembling the packets once they arrive at their destinations.

Protocol – set of rules and procedures governing transmission of information between two points in a network.

Transmission Control Protocol (TCP) – handles the movement of data between computers.

Internet Protocol (IP) – responsible for the delivery of packets and includes the disassembling and reassembling of packets during transmission.

Application layer – enables access to the other layers and defines the protocols that apps use to exchange data.

Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP) – used to transfer Web page files

Transport Layer – provides the Application layer with communication and packet services.

Internet Layer - responsible for addressing, routing, and packaging data packets called IP datagrams.

Network Interface Layer - responsible for placing packets on and receiving them from the network medium.

Analog - Continuous signals for traditional voice communication

Digital - Binary (on/off) signals used by computers

Modem (Modulator-Demodulator) – connects computer to internet

Local Area Network (LAN): Connects computers within a limited area (up to 500 meters).

Campus Area Network (CAN): Covers larger areas like a university or corporate campus (up to 1,000 meters)

Metropolitan Area Network (MAN): Spans a city or metropolitan area.

Wide Area Network (WAN): Covers global area like broad regions, states, or continents.

Bandwidth – ranges of frequencies that can be accommodated on a particular telecommunications channel; Highest less lowest frequencies.

Internet - World’s largest client/server network connecting millions of networks

Internet Service Provider (ISP) – commercial organization with a permanent connection to the Internet that sells temporary connections with a retail subscriber.

Internet Protocol (IP) Address - a 32-bit number represented by four strings of numbers ranging from 0 to 255 separated by periods.

Chatting and instant messaging – interactive conversations

Newsgroups – Discussion groups on electronic bulletin boards

Telnet - Logging on to one computer system and doing work on another

File Transfer Protocol (FTP) - Transferring files from computer to computer

World Wide Web - Retrieving, formatting, and displaying information (including text, audio, graphics, and video) using hypertext links

Voice over IP - technology delivers voice information in digital form using packet switching, avoiding the tolls charged by local and long-distance telephone networks.

Unified Communications - Integrates multiple communication modes (e.g., voice, video, email).

Virtual Private Network (VPN) - Secure, encrypted network using the public internet.

Uniform Resource Locator (URL) - HTTP + Domain Name

Hotspots - one or more access points providing wireless Internet access in a public place.

Bluetooth - Short-range wireless connection for devices. Popular name for 802.15 wireless networking standard useful for PAN.

WiMax (Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access) - powerful enough to beam high-speed Internet connections to rooftop antennas of homes and businesses that are miles away.

Active RFID tags - powered by an internal battery and typically enable data to be rewritten and modified.

Passive RFID tags - do not have their own power source and obtain their operating power from the radio frequency energy transmitted by the RFID reader.