CSIS 2200 Chapter 9 - 11

multiple input/multiple output - MIMO

A wireless networking technology incorporated in the IEEE 802.11n and 802.11ac standards that uses multiple data streams and multiple antennas to achieve higher transmission speeds and substantially increase wireless range over earlier standards.

point-of-sale - POS

The part of an information system that handles daily sales transactions and maintains the online inventory file.

hierarchical network

A network design where one computer, typically a mainframe, controls the entire network. Satellite computers or servers control lower levels of processing and network devices.

backup

The process of saving a series of file or data copies to be retained for a specified period of time. Data can be backed up continuously, or at prescribed intervals.

Gbps - gigabits per second

A bandwidth or throughput measurement.

distributed database management system

(DDBMS) A system for managing data stored at more than one location. Using a DDBMS offers several advantages: Data stored closer to users can reduce network traffic; the system is scalable, so new data sites can be added without reworking the system design; and with data stored in various locations, the system is less likely to experience a catastrophic failure. A potential disadvantage of distributed data storage involves data security. It can be more difficult to maintain controls and standards when data is stored in various locations.

Mbps - megabits per second

A bandwidth or throughput measurement.

data processing center

A central location where physical data was delivered or transmitted in some man- ner and entered into the system. Users in the organization had no input or output capability, except for printed reports that were distributed by a corporate IT department.

access point

A central wireless device that provides network services to wireless clients.

wireless access point - WAP

A central wireless device that provides network services to wireless clients. Also called an access point.

application server

A computer acting as "middlemen" between customers and an organization's databases and applications. Often used to facilitate complex business transactions.

bus network

A computer network where a single communication path connects the mainframe computer, server, workstations, and peripheral devices. Information is transmitted in either direction from any workstation to another workstation, and any message can be directed to a specific device.

router

A device that connects network segments, determines the most efficient data path, and guides the flow of data.

net-centric computing

A distributed environment where applications and data are downloaded from serv- ers and exchanged with peers across a network on an as-needed basis.

802.11

A family of wireless network specifications developed by the IEEE.

Bluetooth

A form of wireless transmission very popular for short-distance wireless communication that does not require high power.

binary storage format

A format that offers efficient storage of numeric data. For example, when numeric data types are specified using Microsoft Access, there are a variety of storage formats choices, including integer and long integer, among others.

byte

A group of eight bits is called a byte, or a character. A set of bytes forms a field, which is an individual fact about a person, place, thing, or event.

character

A group of eight bits is called a character, or a byte. A set of bytes forms a field, which is an individual fact about a person, place, thing, or event.

n-tier design

A multilevel design or architecture. For example, three-tier designs are also called n-tier designs, to indicate that some designs use more than one intermediate layer.

mesh network

A network design in which each node connects to every other node. While this design is very reliable, it is also expensive to install and maintain.

local area network - LAN

A network design that allows the sharing of data and hardware, such as print- ers and scanners. Advances in data communication technology have made it possible to create powerful networks that use satellite links, high-speed fiber-optic lines, or the Internet to share data.

fat client

A network design that locates all or most of the application processing logic at the client. Also called a thick client design.

multipath design

A network design that relies on multiple data paths to increase bandwidth and range, using MIMO, multiple input/multiple output, technology.

two-tier design

A network design where the user interface resides on the client, all data resides on the server, and the application logic can run either on the server or on the client, or be divided between the client and the server.

star network

A network design with a central device and one or more workstations connected to it in a way that forms a star pattern.

transparent

A network is _____ if a user sees the data as if it were stored on his or her own workstation.

ring network

A network resembling a circle of computers that communicate with each other. A ring net- work often is used when processing is performed at local sites rather than at a central location.

wide area network - WAN

A network spanning long distances that can link users who are continents apart.

MAN - metropolitan area network

A network that uses 802.16 standards, which are broadband wireless communications protocols.

proxy server

A networking device that provides Internet connectivity for internal LAN users.

Wi-Fi Alliance

A nonprofit international association formed in 1999 to certify interoperability of wireless network products based on IEEE 802.11 specifications.

knee of the curve

A performance characteristic of a client/server computing environment. Client/server response times tend to increase gradually and then rise dramatically as the system nears its capacity. The point where response times increase dramatically.

node

A physical device, wired or wireless, that can send, receive, or manage network data.

roaming

A process that allows wireless clients to move from one access point to another, automatically associating with the stronger access point and allowing for uninterrupted service.

Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers - IEEE

A professional organization that establishes standards for telecommunications.

code

A set of letters or numbers that represents a data item. Codes can be used to simplify output, input, and data formats.

platform

A specific hardware and software configuration that supports IT business goals, such as hardware connectivity and easy integration of future applications. Also called an environment.

web-centric

A strategy or approach that emphasizes a high degree of integration with other web-based components. A web-centric architecture follows Internet design protocols and enables a company to integrate the new application into its ecommerce strategy.

thick client

A system design that locates most or all of the application processing logic at the client. Also called a fat client design.

thin client

A system design that locates most or all of the processing logic at the server.

mainframe architecture

A system design where the server performs all the processing.

system architecture

A translation of the logical design of an information system into a physical structure that includes hardware, software, network support, and processing methods.

combination key

A type of data validation check that is performed on two or more fields to ensure that they are consistent or reasonable when considered together. Even though all the fields involved in a combination check might pass their individual validation checks, the combination of the field values might be inconsistent or unreasonable.

1:M

A type of entity relationship. A one-to-many relationship, abbreviated 1:M, exists when one occurrence of the first entity can be related to many occurrences of the second entity, but each occurrence of the second entity can be associated with only one occurrence of the first entity.

1:1

A type of entity relationship. A one-to-one relationship, exists when exactly one of the second entity occurs for each instance of the first entity.

logical topology

A view of a network that describes the way the components interact, rather than the actual network cabling and connections.

wiki

A web-based repository of information that anyone can access, contribute to, or modify.

corporate portal

A website that provides various tools and features for an organization's customers, employees, suppliers, and the public.

Basic Service Set / BSS -infrastructure mode

A wireless network configuration in which a central wireless device called an access point is used to serve all wireless clients

Extended Service Set - ESS

A wireless network configuration made up of two or more Basic Service Set, BSS, networks, which allows wireless clients to roam from BSS to BSS.

abbreviation code

Alphabetic abbreviation. For example, standard state codes include NY for New York, ME for Maine, and MN for Minnesota.

802.11n

An IEEE wireless network specification adopted in 2009 that uses multiple input/multiple out- put (MIMO) technology to achieve speeds of 200+ Mbps while increasing the wireless range, and is backward-compatible with 802.11 a, b, and g.

802.11g

An IEEE wireless network specification introduced in 2003 based on a frequency of 2.4 GHz and maximum bandwidth of 54 Mbps; compatible with and replaced 802.11b, and has been super- seded by the 802.11n standard.

802.11ac

An IEEE wireless network specification, approved in 2014, that uses expanded multiple input/ multiple output (MIMO) technology to achieve theoretical speeds of nearly 7 Gbps while increasing the wireless range, and is backward-compatible with 802.11 a, b, g, and n.

common field

An attribute that appears in more than one entity. Common fields can be used to link entities in various types of relationships.

associative entity

An entity that has its own set of attributes and characteristics. Associative entities are used to link between many-to-many or M:N relationships.

portal

An entrance to a multifunction website. After entering a portal, a user can navigate to a destination, using various tools and features provided by the portal designer.

HTTP/2

The second major version of the network protocol used by the web. Released as a standard in 2015.

switch

Central networking device in a star network, which manages the network and acts as a conduit for all network traffic.

category code

Cipher that identifies a group of related items. For example, a local department store may use a two-character category code to identify the department in which a product is sold.

block sequence code

Cipher that uses blocks of numbers for different classifications.

cardinality notation

Code that shows relationships between entities.

distributed system

Company-wide systems that are connected by one or more LANs or WANs. The capa- bilities of a distributed system depend on the power and capacity of the underlying data communica- tion network.

server

Computer in a client/server design that supplies data, processing, and services to client workstations.

Wi-Fi wireless fidelity

Family of popular IEEE local area network wireless networking standards, also known as 802.11, including 802.11a, b, g, and n. 802.11n is the most recent standard. 802.11ac and 802.11ad are proposed new standards.

client/server architecture

Generally refers to systems that divide processing between one or more net- worked clients and a central server. In a typical client/ server system, the client handles the entire user interface, including data entry, data query, and screen presentation logic. The server stores the data and provides data access and database management functions. Application logic is divided in some manner between the server and the clients.

online system

Handling transactions when and where they occur and providing output directly to users. Because it is interactive, online processing avoids delays and allows a constant dialog between the user and the system.

three-tier design

In a ____ _____ _____, the user interface runs on the client and the data is stored on the server, just as in a two-tier design. A three-tier design also has a middle layer between the client and server that processes the client requests and translates them into data access commands that can be understood and carried out by the server.

action code

Indicates what action is to be taken with an associated item. For example, a student records program might prompt a user to enter or click an action code such as D - to display the student's record, A - to add a record, and X - to exit the program.

Internet operating system

Part of the Web 2.0 model, an online computing environment created by online communities and services, based on layers of shared information that can contain text, sound bytes, images, and video clips.

application

Part of the information system, an application handles the input, manages the processing logic, and provides the required output.

audit log files

Record details of all accesses and changes to a file or database and can be used to recover changes made since the last backup.

clickstream storage

Recording web visitor behavior and traffic trends for later data mining use.

extensibility

Refers to a system's ability to expand, change, or downsize easily to meet the changing needs of a business enterprise. Also known as scalability.

bit

The smallest unit of data is one binary digit.

glueware / middleware.

Software that connects dissimilar applications and enables them to communicate and exchange data. For example, middleware can link a departmental database to a web server that can be accessed by client computers via the Internet or a company intranet.

composite key

Sometimes it is necessary for a primary key to consist of a combination of fields. In that case, the primary key is called a combination key, composite key, concatenated key, or multi- valued key.

candidate key

Sometimes it is possible to have a choice of fields or field combinations to use as the primary key. Any field that could serve as a primary key is called a candidate key.

audit fields

Special fields within data records to provide additional control or security information. Typical audit fields include the date the record was created or modified, the name of the user who performed the action, and the number of times the record has been accessed.

802.16 / Wi-Max

Specifications developed by the IEEE for broadband wireless communications over MANs, metropolitan area networks

ASCII

Stands for American Standard Code for Information Interchange, a data storage coding method used on most personal computers and workstations.

client

Workstation that users interact with in a client/server design. These workstations, or computers, are supplied data, processing services, or other support from other computers, called servers.

scaling on demand

The ability to match network resources to needs at any given time; a feature of cloud computing. For example, during peak loads, additional cloud servers might come on line automatically to support increased workloads.

bandwidth

The amount of data that the system can handle in a fixed time period. Bandwidth require- ments are expressed in bits per second (bps).

clicks to close

The average number of page views to accomplish a purchase or obtain desired information.

hub

The center of a star network. Switches in modern networks have largely replaced hubs.

physical topology

The connection structure of an actual network's cabling.

supply chain management - SCM

The coordination, integration, and management of materials, information, and finances as they move from suppliers to customers, both within and between companies. In a totally integrated supply chain, a customer order could cause a production planning system to schedule a work order, which in turn could trigger a call for certain parts from one or more suppliers.

legacy data

The data associated with an older, less technologically advanced legacy system.

absolute date

The total number of days from some specific base date. To calculate the number of days between two absolute dates, subtract one date from the other. For example, using a base date of January 1, 1900, September 27, 2012, has an absolute date value of 41179 and July 13, 2011, has an absolute date of 40737. If the earlier date value is subtracted from the later one, the result is 442 days.

application logic

The underlying business rules or logic for an application.

network topology

The way a network is configured. LAN and WAN networks typically are arranged in one of four common patterns: hierarchical, bus, star, and ring.

data frames

Traffic on a computer network.

cipher code

Use of a keyword to encode a number. A retail store, for example, may use a 10-letter word, such as CAMPGROUND, to code wholesale prices, where the letter C represents 1, A represents 2, and so on. Thus, the code, GRAND, would indicate that the store paid $562.90 for the item.

alphabetic code

Uses alphabet letters to distinguish one item from another based on a category, an abbreviation, or an easy-to-remember value, called a mnemonic code.

stand-alone

When personal computers first appeared in large numbers in the 1990, users found that they could run their own word processing, spreadsheet, and database applications, without assistance from the IT group, in a mode called stand-alone computing.

OSI - Open Systems Interconnection

model Describes how data actually moves from an application on one computer to an application on another networked computer. The OSI consists of seven layers, and each layer performs a specific function.

semantic web - Sometimes called Web 3.0.

semantic web An evolution of the web where the documents shared on the Internet have semantics - meaning - and not just syntax - HTML markup

wireless local area network - WLAN

wireless local area network (WLAN) A wireless network that is relatively inexpensive to install and is well-suited to workgroups and users who are not anchored to a specific desk or location.