Point-to-point telecommunications
Encyclopedia
In telecommunications, a point-to-point connection refers to a communications connection between two nodes or endpoints. An example is a telephone call
, in which one telephone is connected with one other, and what is said by one caller can only be heard by the other. This is contrasted with a point-to-multipoint
or broadcast
communication topology, in which many nodes can receive information transmitted by one node. Other examples of point-to-point communications links are leased line
s, microwave relay links, and two way radio. Examples of point-to-multipoint communications systems are radio and television broadcasting.
The term is also used in computer networking and computer architecture
to refer to a wire or other connection that links only two computers or circuits, as opposed to other network topologies such as bus
es or crossbar switch
es which can connect many communications devices.
Point-to-point is sometimes abbreviated as P2P or Pt2Pt. This usage of P2P is distinct from P2P referring to peer-to-peer
file sharing
networks.
interface, or something similar. Computers in close proximity may be connected by wires directly between their interface cards .
When connected at a distance, each endpoint would be fitted with a modem
to convert analog telecommunications signals into a digital data stream. When the connection used a telecommunications provider, the connections were called a dedicated
, leased
, or private line
. The ARPANET
used leased lines to provide point-to-point data links between its packet-switching nodes
, which were called Interface Message Processor
s.
data communications for Internet
or Voice over IP via radio
frequencies in the multi-gigahertz range. It also includes technologies such as laser
for telecommunications but in all cases expects that the transmission medium is line of sight and capable of being fairly tightly beamed from transmitter
to receiver
. The Telecommunications Industry Association
's engineering committees develop U.S. standards for point-to-point communications and related cellular tower structures. Online tools help users find if they have such line of sight.
The telecommunications signal is typically bi-directional, either time division multiple access
(TDMA) or channelized
.
In hubs and switches, a hub provides a point-to-multipoint (or simply multipoint) circuit which divides the total bandwidth supplied by the hub among each connected client node. A switch on the other hand provides a series of point-to-point circuits, via microsegmentation
, which allows each client node to
have a dedicated circuit and the added advantage of having full-duplex connections.
Telephone call
A telephone call is a connection over a telephone network between the calling party and the called party.-Information transmission:A telephone call may carry ordinary voice transmission using a telephone, data transmission when the calling party and called party are using modems, or facsimile...
, in which one telephone is connected with one other, and what is said by one caller can only be heard by the other. This is contrasted with a point-to-multipoint
Point-to-multipoint
Point-to-multipoint communication is a term that is used in the telecommunications field which refers to communication which is accomplished via a specific and distinct type of one-to-many connection, providing multiple paths from a single location to multiple locations.Point-to-multipoint is often...
or broadcast
Broadcasting
Broadcasting is the distribution of audio and video content to a dispersed audience via any audio visual medium. Receiving parties may include the general public or a relatively large subset of thereof...
communication topology, in which many nodes can receive information transmitted by one node. Other examples of point-to-point communications links are leased line
Leased line
A leased line is a service contract between a provider and a customer, whereby the provider agrees to deliver a symmetric telecommunications line connecting two or more locations in exchange for a monthly rent . It is sometimes known as a 'Private Circuit' or 'Data Line' in the UK or as CDN in Italy...
s, microwave relay links, and two way radio. Examples of point-to-multipoint communications systems are radio and television broadcasting.
The term is also used in computer networking and computer architecture
Computer architecture
In computer science and engineering, computer architecture is the practical art of selecting and interconnecting hardware components to create computers that meet functional, performance and cost goals and the formal modelling of those systems....
to refer to a wire or other connection that links only two computers or circuits, as opposed to other network topologies such as bus
Computer bus
In computer architecture, a bus is a subsystem that transfers data between components inside a computer, or between computers.Early computer buses were literally parallel electrical wires with multiple connections, but the term is now used for any physical arrangement that provides the same...
es or crossbar switch
Crossbar switch
In electronics, a crossbar switch is a switch connecting multiple inputs to multiple outputs in a matrix manner....
es which can connect many communications devices.
Point-to-point is sometimes abbreviated as P2P or Pt2Pt. This usage of P2P is distinct from P2P referring to peer-to-peer
Peer-to-peer
Peer-to-peer computing or networking is a distributed application architecture that partitions tasks or workloads among peers. Peers are equally privileged, equipotent participants in the application...
file sharing
File sharing
File sharing is the practice of distributing or providing access to digitally stored information, such as computer programs, multimedia , documents, or electronic books. It may be implemented through a variety of ways...
networks.
Basic point-to-point data link
A traditional point-to-point data link is a communications medium with exactly two endpoints and no data or packet formatting. The host computers at either end had to take full responsibility for formatting the data transmitted between them. The connection between the computer and the communications medium was generally implemented through an RS-232RS-232
In telecommunications, RS-232 is the traditional name for a series of standards for serial binary single-ended data and control signals connecting between a DTE and a DCE . It is commonly used in computer serial ports...
interface, or something similar. Computers in close proximity may be connected by wires directly between their interface cards .
When connected at a distance, each endpoint would be fitted with a modem
Modem
A modem is a device that modulates an analog carrier signal to encode digital information, and also demodulates such a carrier signal to decode the transmitted information. The goal is to produce a signal that can be transmitted easily and decoded to reproduce the original digital data...
to convert analog telecommunications signals into a digital data stream. When the connection used a telecommunications provider, the connections were called a dedicated
Dedicated line
In computer networks and telecommunications, a dedicated line is a communications cable or other facility dedicated to a specific application, in contrast with a shared resource such as the telephone network or the Internet....
, leased
Leased line
A leased line is a service contract between a provider and a customer, whereby the provider agrees to deliver a symmetric telecommunications line connecting two or more locations in exchange for a monthly rent . It is sometimes known as a 'Private Circuit' or 'Data Line' in the UK or as CDN in Italy...
, or private line
Private line
In wired telephony, a private line or tie line is a service that involves dedicated circuits, private switching arrangements, and/or predefined transmission paths, whether virtual or physical, which provide communications between specific locations. Most private lines connect only two locations...
. The ARPANET
ARPANET
The Advanced Research Projects Agency Network , was the world's first operational packet switching network and the core network of a set that came to compose the global Internet...
used leased lines to provide point-to-point data links between its packet-switching nodes
Node (networking)
In communication networks, a node is a connection point, either a redistribution point or a communication endpoint . The definition of a node depends on the network and protocol layer referred to...
, which were called Interface Message Processor
Interface Message Processor
The Interface Message Processor was the packet-switching node used to interconnect participant networks to the ARPANET from the late 1960s to 1989. It was the first generation of gateways, which are known today as routers. An IMP was a ruggedized Honeywell DDP-516 minicomputer with...
s.
Modern point-to-point links
More recently (2003), the term point-to-point telecommunications relates to fixed wirelessFixed wireless
Fixed wireless is the operation of wireless devices or systems used to connect two fixed locations with a radio or other wireless link, such as laser bridge. Usually, fixed wireless is part of a wireless LAN infrastructure. The purpose of a fixed wireless link is to enable data communications...
data communications for Internet
Internet
The Internet is a global system of interconnected computer networks that use the standard Internet protocol suite to serve billions of users worldwide...
or Voice over IP via radio
Radio
Radio is the transmission of signals through free space by modulation of electromagnetic waves with frequencies below those of visible light. Electromagnetic radiation travels by means of oscillating electromagnetic fields that pass through the air and the vacuum of space...
frequencies in the multi-gigahertz range. It also includes technologies such as laser
Laser
A laser is a device that emits light through a process of optical amplification based on the stimulated emission of photons. The term "laser" originated as an acronym for Light Amplification by Stimulated Emission of Radiation...
for telecommunications but in all cases expects that the transmission medium is line of sight and capable of being fairly tightly beamed from transmitter
Transmitter
In electronics and telecommunications a transmitter or radio transmitter is an electronic device which, with the aid of an antenna, produces radio waves. The transmitter itself generates a radio frequency alternating current, which is applied to the antenna. When excited by this alternating...
to receiver
Receiver (radio)
A radio receiver converts signals from a radio antenna to a usable form. It uses electronic filters to separate a wanted radio frequency signal from all other signals, the electronic amplifier increases the level suitable for further processing, and finally recovers the desired information through...
. The Telecommunications Industry Association
Telecommunications Industry Association
The Telecommunications Industry Association is accredited by the American National Standards Institute to develop voluntary, consensus-based industry standards for a wide variety of ICT products, and currently represents nearly 400 companies...
's engineering committees develop U.S. standards for point-to-point communications and related cellular tower structures. Online tools help users find if they have such line of sight.
The telecommunications signal is typically bi-directional, either time division multiple access
Time division multiple access
Time division multiple access is a channel access method for shared medium networks. It allows several users to share the same frequency channel by dividing the signal into different time slots. The users transmit in rapid succession, one after the other, each using its own time slot. This...
(TDMA) or channelized
Channelized
Channelized in a telecommunications environment means that the line that communications have been transmitted over contains more than one message thread, separated in some fashion....
.
In hubs and switches, a hub provides a point-to-multipoint (or simply multipoint) circuit which divides the total bandwidth supplied by the hub among each connected client node. A switch on the other hand provides a series of point-to-point circuits, via microsegmentation
Microsegmentation
Microsegmentation in computer networking is a term used to describe the segmentation of a collision domain into as many segments as there are circuits, minus one . This microsegmentation performed by the switch cuts the collision domain down so that only two nodes coexist within each collision domain...
, which allows each client node to
have a dedicated circuit and the added advantage of having full-duplex connections.