channel - technical definition

(1) A high-speed metal or optical fiber subsystem that provides a path between the computer and the control units of the peripheral devices. Used in mainframes and high-end servers, each channel is an independent unit that transfers data concurrently with other channels and the CPU. For example, in a 32-channel computer, 32 streams of data are transferred simultaneously. In contrast, the PCI bus in a desktop computer is a shared channel between all devices plugged into it.

(2) The physical connecting medium in a network, which could be twisted wire pairs, coaxial cable or optical fiber between clients, servers and other devices.

(3) A subchannel within a communications channel. Multiple channels are transmitted via different carrier frequencies or by interleaving bits and bytes. This usage of the term can refer to both wired and wireless transmission. See FDM and TDM.

(4) The Internet counterpart to a TV or radio channel. Information on a particular subject is transmitted to the user's computer from a Webcast site via the browser or push client. See Webcast, push client and push technology.

(5) The distributor/dealer sales channel. Vendors that sell in the channel rely on the sales ability of their dealers and the customer relationships they have built up over the years. Such vendors may also compete with the channel by selling direct to the customer via catalogs and the Web.

(6) See alpha channel.