In
telecommunications
Telecommunication is the transmission of information by various types of technologies over wire, radio, optical, or other electromagnetic systems. It has its origin in the desire of humans for communication over a distance greater than that fe ...
, information transfer is the process of moving messages containing
user information
User information is information transferred across the functional interface between a source user and a telecommunications system for delivery to a destination user.
In telecommunications systems, user information includes user overhead informat ...
from a
source
Source may refer to:
Research
* Historical document
* Historical source
* Source (intelligence) or sub source, typically a confidential provider of non open-source intelligence
* Source (journalism), a person, publication, publishing institute o ...
to a
sink
A sink is a bowl-shaped plumbing fixture for washing hands, dishwashing, and other purposes. Sinks have a tap (faucet) that supply hot and cold water and may include a spray feature to be used for faster rinsing. They also include a drain t ...
via a
communication channel
A communication channel refers either to a physical transmission medium such as a wire, or to a logical connection over a multiplexed medium such as a radio channel in telecommunications and computer networking. A channel is used for informa ...
. In this sense, information transfer is equivalent to
data transmission
Data transmission and data reception or, more broadly, data communication or digital communications is the transfer and reception of data in the form of a digital bitstream or a digitized analog signal transmitted over a point-to-point o ...
which highlights more practical, technical aspects.
The information
transfer rate may or may not be equal to the
transmission modulation rate.
Bidirectional information transfer is called
information exchange
Information exchange or information sharing means that people or other entities pass information from one to another. This could be done electronically or through certain systems. These are terms that can either refer to bidirectional '' inform ...
.
Non-technical meaning
In a non-technical context, information transfer is sometimes used to signify
knowledge transfer or
teaching
Teaching is the practice implemented by a ''teacher'' aimed at transmitting skills (knowledge, know-how, and interpersonal skills) to a learner, a student, or any other audience in the context of an educational institution. Teaching is closely ...
.
See also
*
Federal Standard 1037C
Federal Standard 1037C, titled Telecommunications: Glossary of Telecommunication Terms, is a United States Federal Standard issued by the General Services Administration pursuant to the Federal Property and Administrative Services Act of 1949, a ...
in support of
MIL-STD-188
MIL-STD-188 is a series of U.S. military standards relating to telecommunications.
Purpose
Faced with "past technical deficiencies in telecommunications systems and equipment and software…that were traced to basic inadequacies in the applicat ...
.
Data transmission
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