A communications network, such as the Internet, in which a message or data file is broken into segments called packets which contain the destination address. The packets travel independently through the network, taking the most efficient path to their destination, where they are reassembled into the original file.
A PSN transports information by breaking up the bit stream into addressable digital “packets†that are transmitted independently and then reassembled in the correct sequence at the destination. Because these networks allow “sharing†of communications links, they are more efficient than circuit-switched networks.
A network in which data exchanged between nodes are broken into packets that contain origin and destination information, packet length data, the actual data, and a flag that the packet has ended. The Internet is a packet-switched network.
A message delivery system in which information is broken into small units (packets) and routed through a computer network using the most efficient route available for each. The packets may travel along different paths, but are reassembled into one message by the receiving computer.
A network that divides messages into smaller packets, each with its own identifying and routing information. Packets travel to their destinations by a variety of routes. For data transmissions, a packet-switched network does not dedicate a channel for the duration of a call like a circuit-switched network. Instead, it queues packets and sends them on a standby-basis as channel capacity becomes available. The Internet is an example of a packet-switched network.
A networking technique where data is broken into small packets and then transmitted to other networks over a WAN to computers configured as packet switches where the data is then reassembled. The packets get routed and rerouted, depending on the size of the network or the distance the packets travel to their destination.
Computer network which exchanges messages between different computers not by seizing a dedicated circuit, but by sending a message in a number of uniformly sized packets along common channels, shared with other computers. See also: Circuit-switched network.
A network which breaks messages into packets and sends each packet individually to its destination, where the packets are re-assembled.
networks that transfer packets of data (see Packet). These networks are a more reliable method of transferring wireless data than a circuit-switched network. Packet-switched networks eliminate the need to dial in to send or receive information because they are "always on," transferring data without the need to dial.
A network that allows a message to be broken into small “packets” of data that are sent separately by a source to the destination. The packets may travel different paths and arrive at different times, with the destination sites reassembling them into the original message. Packet switching is used in most computer networks because it allows a very large amount of information to be transmitted through a limited bandwidth.
network in which data is transferred in discrete chunks, called packets. The Internet is a packet-switched network. Packet-switched networks are generally considered more efficient than circuit-switched networks like the telephone system because multiple connections can use the same network simultaneously.
Networks that transfer packets of data. Packet-switched networks are “always on,†eliminating the need to dial in to send or receive data. See also packet.
A network that does not establish a dedicated path through the network for the duration of a session but instead transmits data in units called packets in a connectionless manner.
A network consisting of a series of interconnected switches that route individual packets of data over one of several redundant routes. Packet-switched networks include X.25, Frame Relay, IP, and ATM.