I

idling signal

Any signal applied to a communications line that indicates that no data is being sent. Such a signal is often used to reassure receiving stations that the line is still electrically intact and, in systems that recover clocking information from data, to keep the clock recovery circuits prepared for the arrival of data.

IEEE

The Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers, an information exchange, publishing, and standards-making body responsible for many standards used in local area networks, notably the 802 series.

impedance

An electrical property similar to resistance, but varying with frequency.

impedance discontinuity

A point at which the electrical properties of a transmission medium change, either because the medium itself has changed (different type of cable, for example) or because additional devices or sections of cable have been joined to the medium at that point. A change in impedance is important because when an electrical signal arrives at the point where the change occurs, a portion of that signals energy will be reflected back in the direction from which the signal arrived, possibly causing a malfunction.

interpacket gap

The time between the conclusion of the transmission (or reception) of one packet and the transmission (or reception) of the next.

intermediate system

Another name for router .

Internet (the)

A worldwide network of computer and communications facilities.

interrupt

A signal given to a computer that, when acknowledged, causes the computer to stop what it was doing (storing the details thereof) and turn its attention to the device...

< Previous Excerpt Next Excerpt >

Purchase This Book

Local Area Networks: An Introduction to the Technology

TABLE OF CONTENTS

I

Contact Preferences

This is embarrasing...

Customize Your GlobalSpec Experience

Select Your Free Newsletters

Industry Newsletters

Select Your Free Product Alerts

This is embarrasing...