Telecommunications link
In a
A telecommunications link is generally based on one of several types of information transmission paths such as those provided by
The term link is widely used in computer networking to refer to the communications facilities that connect nodes of a network.[1]
Sometimes the communications facilities that provide the communication channel that constitutes a link are also included in the definition of link.
Types
Point-to-point
A
Broadcast
Broadcast links connect two or more nodes and support broadcast transmission, where one node can transmit so that all other nodes can receive the same transmission. Classic Ethernet is an example.
Multipoint
Also known as a multidrop link, a multipoint link is a link that connects two or more nodes. Also known as general topology networks, these include ATM and Frame Relay links, as well as X.25 networks when used as links for a network layer protocol like IP.
Unlike broadcast links, there is no mechanism to efficiently send a single message to all other nodes without copying and retransmitting the message.
Point-to-multipoint
A
Private and public
Links are often referred to by terms that refer to the ownership or accessibility of the link.
- A private link is a link that is either owned by a specific entity or a link that is only accessible by a specific entity.
- A public link is a link that uses the public switched telephone network or other public utility or entity to provide the link and which may also be accessible by anyone.
Direction
Uplink
- Pertaining to high altitude platform station.
- Pertaining to NSSmay also be identified as uplink and downlink.
- Pertaining to computer networks, an uplink is a connection from network core. This is also known as an upstreamconnection.
Downlink
- Pertaining to earth station.
- In the context of satellite communications, a downlink (DL) is the link from a satellite to a ground station.
- Pertaining to cell phone. Traffic and signalling flowing within the base station subsystem (BSS) and network switching subsystem(NSS) may also be identified as uplink and downlink.
- Pertaining to computer networks, a downlink is a connection from data communications equipment toward data terminal equipment. This is also known as a downstream connection.
Forward link
A forward link is the link from a fixed location (e.g., a
Reverse link
The reverse link (sometimes called a return channel) is the link from a mobile user to a fixed base station.
If the link includes a
References
- ^ ATIS committee PRQC. "network topology". ATIS Telecom Glossary 2007. Alliance for Telecommunications Industry Solutions. Archived from the original on 2018-08-03. Retrieved 2008-10-10.
- ^ Basics of C & Ku Band Archived 2015-07-24 at the Wayback Machine Scatmag.com
- This article incorporates public domain material from Federal Standard 1037C. General Services Administration. Archived from the original on 2022-01-22. (in support of MIL-STD-188).
- This article incorporates public domain material from Dictionary of Military and Associated Terms. United States Department of Defense.