 - Information theory is a branch of mathematics that overlaps into communications engineering, biology, medical science, sociology, and psychology. The theory is devoted to the discovery and exploration of mathematical laws that govern the behavior of data as it is transferred, stored, or retrieved.
In 1948, Claude Shannon , a mathematician at Bell Labs, published a paper entitled A Mathematical Theory of Communication. The paper caught the immediate attention of mathematicians and scientists worldwide. Several disciplines spun off as the result of reactions to this paper, including information theory, coding theory, and the entropy theory of abstract dynamical systems.
Whenever data is transmitted, stored, or retrieved, there are a number of variables such as bandwidth, noise, data transfer rate, storage capacity, number of channels, propagation delay, signal-to-noise ratio, accuracy (or error rate), intelligibility, and reliability. In audio systems, additional variables include fidelity and dynamic range. In video systems, image resolution, contrast, color depth, color realism, distortion, and the number of frames per second are significant variables. One of the most important applications of information theory is to determine the optimum system design for a given practical scenario.
Information theory is an evolving discipline and continues to generate interest among experimentalists and theorists.
 |
Learn more about Network Administration |
| Networking FAQ: These FAQs for networking will help you learn networking basics. |
| Network user management: Use this guide to learn how to manage problem users on your network -- from un-savvy Internet novices to toxic bosses -- to keep your network secure. |
| Troubleshooting -- 'Network Know-How' Chapter 17: Troubleshooting, Chapter 17 of 'Network Know-How,' shows tools and methods that identify and solve network problems. Use this chapter as a tutorial to fixing computer connections. |
| Network management frameworks: FCAPS and ITIL: Network management is a complex topic. Thus far, two frameworks exist that can be of some use for understanding and taming network management: FCAPS and ITIL. |
| Networking podcasts: Listen to our networking podcasts and learn more about technologies you need to know to keep your network running smoothly. |
| The IT Guy: Networking comics: In our networking comic series, the IT guy and his office coworkers encounter day-to-day network challenges. |
| LAST UPDATED: |
13 Feb 2002
|
 |
Do you have something to add to this definition? Let us know.
Send your comments to techterms@whatis.com
|
|
More resources from around the web:
|
 |
 |
| |
RELATED GLOSSARY TERMS
| Terms from Whatis.com − the technology online dictionary |
 |
availability
(SearchNetworking.com)
1) In a telephone circuit, availability is the ratio between the time during which the circuit is operational and elapsed time.
2) In a network...
|
|
carrier detect
(SearchNetworking.com)
|
|
|
Show me everything on 