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Definitions[]

Broadcasting[]

A channel is a circuit or portion of a frequency spectrum set aside for carrying information.

General[]

A channel is an information transfer path within a system or the mechanism by which the path is affected.

Internet[]

A channel is a “gathering place” for IRC users and is either public (anyone can join) or private (users must use a password to gain entry or only invitees can join). Users can join more than one channel at a time or create their own channels. Channel names are strings of characters beginning with a “#” or “&.”

The first person that joins a channel effectively creates it and is, at least initially, in charge of the channel as a channel operator (“channel-op”). A channel will remain open until the last user exits. Channel operators control the channel settings and can designate other users as channel operators. By default, a channel is public. Any user can type a notice to send to a public channel, acquire a list of its users, or join the conversation. Users can easily be located on IRC unless a user’s mode is set to “invisible.”

Channel operators can change the characteristics of their channel by changing the mode settings. Some set­tings allow operators to —

  • Make the channel accessible only by invitation.
  • Allow only designated users to be able to post messages.
  • Make a channel private or secret.
  • Ban a user from entering the channel.

Sound[]

Channel means a single stream of recorded sound with a location in a sound field.

Storage[]

A channel is

[a] magnetic track running along a length of tape that can be magnetized in bit patterns to represent data.[1]

Wireless[]

A channel is

[o]ne of a number of discrete frequency ranges utilized by a base station to transmit and receive information from cellular terminals (such as mobile handsets).[2]

References[]

  1. Auditing and Financial Management: Glossary of EDP Terminology, at 3.
  2. ITU Glossary of Mobile Cellular Terms 1 (1999) (full-text).

See also[]

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