Computer Info Systems: Chapter 10 Study Sheet

what is noise?

An electrical disturbance that can degrade communications

A server is also known as a ____.

host

who invented the Ethernet?

Robert Metcaffe

describe the token ring standard

Specifies that computers and devices on the network share or pass a special signal, call the token, in a uni-directional manner and in a preset order

which devices use the IrDA standard, and what does infrared require?

Television remote controls. Infrared requires line-of-sight transmission, or the sending device in the receiving device must be in line with each other so that nothing obstructs the path of the infrared light wave

what is a wireless access point? (see also figure 10-14)

A Central Communications device that allows computers and devices to transfer data wirelessly among themselves or to a wired network using Wireless technologies like Wi-Fi

what is a router?

A Communications device that connects multiple computers are other routers together and transmits data to its correct destination on a network of any size

what is a LAN?

A local area network is a network that connects computers and devices in a limited geographical area, such as a home, school, office building, or closely positioned group of buildings

what is P2P file sharing?

A network configuration on which users access one another's hard drives and exchange files directly via a file-sharing program

what is the Ethernet?

A network standard that specifies no Central Computer or device on the network should control when data can be transmitted

what is a peer-to-peer network?

A simple, inexpensive Network architecture that typically connects fewer than 10 computers. each computer or mobile device has equal responsibilities and capabilities, sharing Hardware such as a printer, data, or information with other computers and mobile devices on the network

define protocol

A standard that outlines characteristics of how two devices communicate on a network

how is a star network configured? (see figure 1 page 5 supplement)

A star network contains a single, central device through which all computers and devices on the network communicate.

based on table 10-2, which dedicated digital line has the fastest transfer rate?

ATM

give examples of applications of communications satellite technology

Air navigation, television and radio broadcast, weather forecasting, videoconferencing, paging, GPS, and internet connections

-what is a WLAN, and how does it work?

An LAN that uses no physical wires ("wireless"). A WLAN may communicate with a wired LAN for access to its resources, such as software, hardware, and the internet

what is an intranet?

An internal network that uses Internet technology

define communications device and give examples

Any type of Hardware capable of transmitting data, instructions, and information between a sending device and a receiving device. modems, wireless access points, routers, network cards, and hubs and switches

describe BAN

BAN stands for body area network. A type of PAN that wirelessly connects sensors worn by, carried by, implanted in, or attached to a human body.

for best performance, _____ should be high and _____ low (page 10-26)

Bandwidth; latency

what is the distance range between 2 Bluetooth devices, and how far can it be extended? (see also page 10-13 for more info on Bluetooth technology for your own sake)

Bluetooth devices often must be within about 33 ft but can be extended to about 325 feet with additional equipment

_____ media transmit multiple signals simultaneously

Broadband

what does a hub or switch do (see also figure 10-18)

Connect several devices in a network together, as well as connect to other networks

what is the purpose of a network card?

Coordinates the transmission and receipt of data, instructions, and info to and from the computer or device containing the network card

what is the purpose of a network standard?

Defines guidelines that specify the way computers access the medium to which they are connected, the types of medium used, the speeds on different types of networks, and the types of physical cable and / or the wireless technology used

define Wi-Fi

Identifies any network based on the 802.11 standards

what is a disadvantage of a ring network? (Study Sheet Exam 10 Supplement pg 5-6)

If a computer or device on a ring network fails, the entire network potentially could stop functioning.

on a star network, what happens if the central device fails? (Study Sheet Exam 10 Supplement pg 5-6)

If the central device fails, the entire network is inoperable until the device is repaired.

types of wireless transmission media used in communications include?

Infrared, broadcast radio, cellular radio, microwaves, and communication satellites

describe MAN

MAN stands for metropolitan network. Man is a high-speed network that connects local area networks in the metropolitan area such as a city or town and handles the book of communications activity across that region. Typically includes 1+ LANs, But covers a smaller geographic area than a WAN. Usually managed by a group of users or by a single Network provider that sells the service to the users.

define transmission media

Materials or substances capable of carrying one or more communication signals

what is NFC, and what are some examples of NFC-enabled devices? (see also figure 10-10) can you buy a blank NFC tag? (page 10-16)

NFC is a protocol based on RFID that defines how a network uses close-range radio signals to communicate between two devices are objects equipped with NFC technology. smartphones, digital cameras, televisions, and terminals

describe a client/server network

On a client/server network, one or more computers act as a server, and the other computers on the network request services from the server

describe a ring network (see figure 3 page 6 supplement)

On a ring network, all connected devices form a continuous loop.

describe PAN

PAN stands for personal area network. a network that connects computers and devices in an individual's workspace using wired and wireless technology

physical transmission media use _________to send communications signals

Wire, cable, and other tangible materials

define latency

With respect to Communications, the time it takes a signal to travel from one location to another on a network

describe a broadband modem

a Communications device that sends and receives data and info to and from a digital line

be familiar with the TCP/IP network protocol

a network protocol that defines how messages (data) are routed from one end of a network to the other

for successful communications, you need

a sending device, a communication device that connects the sending device to transmission media, transmission media/communications channel, a communications device that connects the transmission media to a receiving device, a receiving device

what is 802.11?

a series of network standard that specifies how to wireless devices communicate over the air with each other

describe a dedicated line

a type of always-on physical connection that is established between two communication devices

be familiar with the three types of broadband modems

cable modem, DSL modem, wireless modem

most of today's computer networks do not use ______ because other transmission media transmit signals at faster rates (page 10-28)

coaxial

a ________ is a transmission media on which data, instructions, or information travel

communications channel

define communications software

consists of programs and apps that: (1) help users establish a connection to another computer, mobile device, or network; (2) manage the transmission of data, instructions, and information; (3) provide an interface for users to communicate with one another

define server

controls access to the hardware, software, and other resources on the network and provides a centralized storage area for programs, data, and information

some servers are ___________ that perform a specific task and can be placed with other servers to perform multiple tasks, e.g. a network server manages network traffic, and a web server delivers requested webpages to computers or mobile devices (page 10-7)

dedicated servers

the more widely used network communications standards for both wired and wireless networks include ______ (table 10-1)

ethernet, token ring, TCP/IP, Wi-Fi, LTE, Bluetooth, UWB, IrDA, RFID, NFC

Mbps is one ______ bits per second

megabyte (8,000,000 bits)

communications devices such as ________ connect transmission media to a sending or receiving device

modems, wireless access points, and routers

the configuration (design) of computers, devices, and media in a network is sometimes called the ____ and is sometimes categorized as either ____ or ______ (page 10-7)

network architecture. client/server, peer-to-peer

each computer on a LAN is called a _______

node

define clients

other computer / mobile devices on the network that rely on the server for its resources

for smaller business and home networks, a _______ allows multiple computers to share a single broadband Internet connection

router

what does a bus network consist of? (see figure 2 page 6 supplement)

share a single data path

what might you use a peer-to-peer network for?

share resources and files located on computer and to access shared resources found on other computers on the network

broadcast radio is ____ and more susceptible to _____ than physical transmission media, but it provides ____ and ______ (page 10-29)

slower, noise, flexibility and portability

what is packet switching?

technique of breaking a message into individual packets, sending the packets along the best route available, and then reassembling the data. when a computer sends data over the Internet, the data is divided into packets. Each packet contains the data, as well as the recipient (destination), the origin (sender), and the sequence information used to reassemble the data at the destination. each packet travels along the fastest individual available path to the recipient's computer or mobile devices via routers.

define bandwidth

the amount of data, instructions, and info that can travel over transmission media

the risk to a bus network is that _______ (Study Sheet Exam 10 Supplement pg 5-6)

the bus itself might become inoperable.

Define network topology and know the 3 commonly used network topologies (Study Sheet Exam 10 Supplement pg 5-6)

the layout of the computers and devices in a communications network. star, bus, and ring.

define digital communications

the process in which 2+ computers/devices transfer, data, instructions, and info

what does twisted-pair cable consist of?

two separate insulated copper wires that are twisted together

transmission media can be _____ or ______ (page 10-3)

wired or wireless

what are the advantages of fiber-optic cable?

The capability of carrying significantly more signals than wire cables; faster data transmission; less susceptible to noise interference from other devices, such as a copy machine; better security for signals during transmission because they are less susceptible to noise; smaller size, much thinner and lighter weight

what is the maximum transfer transmission rate for communications satellites? (Table 10-4)

Up to 2.56 tbps

how are nodes often connected?

Via cables

describe WAN

WAN stands for wide area network. A network that covers a large geographic area, such as a city, country, or the world, using a variety of wired and wireless transmission media. Can be one large Network or can consist of multiple LANs connected together.

what is a microwave station?

An earth-based reflective dish that contains the antenna, transceivers, and other equipment necessary for microwave communications