Network Overview
Lynne D. Green · 2019
An information network connects a number of information systems together. The typical network consists of digital point-to-point data links connecting stations. Other networks connect analog information systems, such as sensors and signal processors. A network’s main function is to allow users to share information. A point–to–point link is a single interconnection within a network. A point–to–point link performs two functions: it formats the data into physical signals, and it moves these signals between two stations. The Reference Model of Open Systems Interconnect (OSI), developed by the International Standards Organization, provides a framework for discussing network issues. Many network standards deal with the bottom 3 or 4 layers within the OSI model. The lowest level of the OSI model describes the physical transmission medium. When fiber optics is to be used in a network, the designer typically specifies transmitter and receiver sets. The sets are matched in their coding scheme, data rate, and optical characteristics.