MULTIPLE ACCESS

In telecommunications, a 'multiple access method', also called channel access method, is a scheme that allows two or more terminals connected to the same physical medium to transmit over it, and to share its capacity.
A '''multiple access protocol''' is synonym to ''media access control'' (MAC).

Contents

Application examples

Local area networks

Satellite communications

Switching centers

See also

Application examples

Local area networks

In local area networks (LANs), multiple access methods enable bus networks, ring networks, hubbed networks and wireless networks, but are not required in point-to-point serial lines between network switches and routers. The most common multiple access method is CSMA/CD, which is used in Ethernet.

Satellite communications

In satellite communications, the capability of a communications satellite to function as a portion of a communications link between more than one pair of satellite terminals concurrently. Three types of multiple access presently used with communications satellites are code-division, frequency-division, and time-division multiple access.

Switching centers

The connection of a user to two or more switching centers by separate access lines using a single message routing indicator or telephone number.

See also

★ Channel access method