Communication channel - definition

A Communication Channel is a technical term referring to the physical or logical medium through which an information signal is transmitted from a sender to a receiver. In telecommunications and IT terms, a communication channel is an integral component of a data transmission system, responsible for carrying information in the form of analogue or digital signals. It can be in a tangible form, such as electrical wire, e.g. fibre optic, radio waves, or intangible - in the case of virtual channels in the logic layers of computer systems.

Each channel is characterised by certain transmission parameters, such as bandwidth, bandwidth, delay, attenuation, noise level and error correction capability. These parameters determine the quality and reliability of the transmitted information and also influence the choice of coding methods, modulation and transmission protocols. In information theory, a communication channel is analysed from the perspective of its capacity - the maximum amount of information it can transmit at a given level of interference, according to Shannon's theorem.

Communication channels can be unidirectional (simplex), bidirectional alternating (half-duplex) or simultaneous (full-duplex), depending on the ability to transmit a signal in both directions. In digital systems, it is common for physical channels to be split into multiple logical channels so that the medium can be shared by multiple users - using multiplexing techniques (e.g. TDMA, FDMA, CDMA) or packet transmission.

In the context of Computer Networks the communication channel is responsible for the transfer of data between nodes, and is based on specific layers of the OSI or TCP/IP model. A channel can include both wired and wireless links, including satellite, radio, microwave and optical. In industrial systems and Automation, communication channels play a key role in the exchange of data between measuring devices, Controllers and host systems, using standards such as Modbus, CAN, Profibus or Ethernet.

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