Glossary of Terms

MAC address (Media Access Control address)

A 12-digit hexadecimal identification number that is assigned to LAN cards and LAN boards in a computer. Complex device arrangements may use IP addresses, but whereas IP addresses are assigned as required by a network system administrator, MAC addresses are burned into the LAN card at the time of manufacture. Ethernet uses the MAC address as the basis for transmission of data.

Memory

A memory device is a semiconductor device that stores digital data in units of single bits (binary digits) that consist of either 0s or 1s.

Modem

A device that converts between analog signals (from telephone lines) and digital signals (such as from computers).

Network

A variety of computers and other devices that are connected together by means of cables (wired) or via a wireless LAN so that they can exchange data with each other.

Port number

This is a number that is used to identify applications on the Internet. For example, SMTP for e-mail is normally 25 and HTTP (web-related software) is usually 80.

PPP (Point to Point Protocol)

A protocol (communication standard) that determines the process by which two points (computers) are connected across a network using telephone lines.

Resolution

This indicates the quality of images. The numbers represent the degree of detail for the images during printing or displaying, and the units used are “dpi” (dots per inch).

Router

A device that connects one network to another network. It looks up IP addresses for network devices and determines what route should be used for the information to be transmitted to and from these devices.

SMTP (Simple Mail Transfer Protocol)

A protocol (communication standard) for sending and receiving electronic mail via the Internet and Intranets. It controls the flow of mail between servers and is also used when clients send mail.

Stop bit

A symbol that is added at the end of a byte of data (8 bits) during data transmission to indicate the end of that byte.

Subnet mask

An IP address consists of a network ID and a host ID. A subnet mask is used to mask part of an IP address in order to specify whether the IP address is on a local or a remote network.

TCP/IP (Transmission Control

Protocol/Internet Protocol)

A network protocol (communication standard) that was developed by the Network Project that was funded by the United States Department of Defense. It can be thought of as the communication technology that makes it possible to send and receive data over the Internet. Computers that are connected via the Internet use this protocol, and it works regardless of the type of device. Basically IP controls the sending of data in separate blocks called “packets”, and TCP receives these packets, opens them to look at their contents, and then puts all of them back together into one.

URL (Uniform Resource Locator)

A method of specifying a resource on the Internet. An example of an URL that is used to access a website on the Internet is “http://www.sanyo.com/”.

Web browser

Software that is used to view web pages. The two most commonly-used web browsers are Microsoft Internet Explorer and Netscape navigator from Netscape Communications.

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