Definitions for teachers by teachers
IRD Network
IRD Network- This stands for Infra Red Network. This is a special form of wirless networking that computers to share information and go online without being plugged in to a network outlet. This is a special form of transmission where focused ray of light in the infrared frequency spectrum is modulated with information and sent from a transmitter to a receiver over a relatively short distance, up to two kilometers. This type of networking would work well in old buildings where the space isn't condusive to re-wiring the enitre building. This would allow all the users in a particular building to have access to the internet and its' vast capabilies without the stress of reconfiguring the enitre building.by Sarah Barnett
The fields of an IRD have a default value only after the statement has been prepared or executed and the IRD has been populated, not when the statement handle or descriptor has been allocated. Until the IRD has been populated, any attempt to gain access to a field of an IRD will return an error.
Some descriptor fields are defined for one or more, but not all, of the descriptor types (ARDs and IRDs, and APDs and IPDs). When a field is undefined for a type of descriptor, it is not needed by any of the functions that use that descriptor.
Necessary?
No
I don't need to be this technical in my job situation. I would like
to know more about what a descriptor field is.
by Zan Brixey
IRD NETWORK (i r d net' wurk): An IRD Network is short for Infra Red Network. Such a device allows for wireless digital data transmission between two points as far apart as two kilometers. Transmissions speeds range from 25 Mb/s to 622 Mb/s which are fast enough for most common network traffic. High speed, bi-directional bandwidth and auto-tracking allow for uninterrupted Ethernet, FDDI or ATM transmission where no optical cable exists. In theory, such a system can work at the same speed as optical fiber cables while avoiding the cost of laying those cables. This system is particularly appealing to managers operating LANs over a number of buildings, such as a hospital or university complex. Transmissions are interference free, reliable and secure. Installation is relatively simple, requiring that two units be placed with an unobstructed view of each other. Installation costs typically run a great deal less than that of traditional cable networks and running costs approximate those of minor electricity and maintenance fees. Adverse weather conditions should not interfere with transmissions either. The network link is maintained by movement in the optical axis that detects and compensates for horizontal and vertical deviation. IRD Networks can even transmit over greater distances by utilizing a 3R function that enables relay transmissions without any loss of signal quality.
Relevance: If these systems are as inexpensive and trouble free as claimed to be, they might make an intelligent alternative to networking school buildings that either are too old to wire optically or when considering networks for new consturction. For those buildings already wired, it does not make sense to convert to IRD Networks.
by Becky Trieger
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Last updated: 31 July 2000