Linksys WUSB54AG User Manual page 22

like background noise. There are two main alternatives, Direct Sequence
Spread Spectrum (DSSS) and Frequency Hopping Spread Spectrum (FHSS).
SSID (Service Set IDentifier) - A unique name shared among all points in a
wireless network. The SSID must be identical for each point in the wireless network
and is case-sensitive.
Static IP Address - A permanent IP address that is assigned to a node in a
TCP/IP network.
Subnet Mask - The method used for splitting IP networks into a series of subgroups,
or subnets. The mask is a binary pattern that is matched up with the IP
address to turn part of the host ID address field into a field for subnets.
TCP (Transmission Control Protocol) - A method (protocol) used along with
the IP (Internet Protocol) to send data in the form of message units (datagram)
between network devices over a LAN or WAN. While IP takes care of handling
the actual delivery of the data (routing), TCP takes care of keeping track of the
individual units of data (called packets) that a message is divided into for efficient
delivery over the network. TCP is known as a "connection oriented" protocol
due to requiring the receiver of a packet to return an acknowledgment of
receipt to the sender of the packet resulting in transmission control.
TCP/IP (Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol) - The basic communication
language or set of protocols for communications over a network
(developed specifically for the Internet). TCP/IP defines a suite or group of
protocols and not only TCP and IP.
Topology - A network's topology is a logical characterization of how the
devices on the network are connected and the distances between them. The
most common network devices include hubs, switches, routers, and gateways.
Most large networks contain several levels of interconnection, the most important
of which include edge connections, backbone connections, and wide-area
connections.
USB (Universal Serial Bus) - A "plug-and-play" interface between a computer
and peripherals, such as digital cameras, scanners, game controllers, speakers,
keyboards, portable data storage, or printers. With USB, you can add a new
peripheral to your computer without having to add an adapter card or powering
down the computer. USB also supports hot-swapping, the addition or removal
of devices while the computer is running.
USB 1.1-compliant devices support data rates of 1.5Mbps (low-speed) and up
to 12Mbps (full-speed). USB 2.0-compliant devices are backward compatible
with earlier USB devices, and they support data rates of 1.5Mbps (low-speed),
12Mbps (full-speed), and up to 480Mbps (high-speed).