Channel (information theory)

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A channel (also information channel , transmission channel , transmission or Shannon 'sches channel model )'s information theory to model a concept to the information loss caused by disturbances in the transmission. The channel is not limited to the medium via which the transmission takes place, but describes the entire transmission path from the transmitter to the receiver. The transmitter output stage and the receiver input stage as well as any devices connected in between can also cause interference. The channel concept is a central component of the transmitter-receiver model .

Details

In practice, a channel is typically a copper or fiber optic cable or, in mobile communications, the relatively complex interplay between the transmitter and receiver unit and all other interference during radio transmission, e.g. B. multipath, dispersion or Doppler effect.

A storage medium (e.g. a hard drive or DVD) is also a channel in this sense, since data is sent to it (here: written) and can later be received from it (here: read).

In general, data is transmitted over a channel so that it bridges a spatial or temporal distance. A spatial transmission would be e.g. A network connection (downloading a website), a temporal transmission e.g. B. a video recording on a DVD.

The theory of channel coding deals with how information can be transmitted correctly despite interference from the channel.

The ratio of interference signal to useful signal is called the signal-to-noise ratio , which determines the maximum data rate .

Information channel-neu.png

Types of channels

A distinction is made between different types of channels. A channel is called

deterministic
if there are no errors due to disruption of the transmission.
memoryless
if the output value only depends on the current input value, but not previous (or even future) ones.
trouble-free
if the channel is both lossless and deterministic.
symmetrical
if all possibilities for falsifying data due to disturbances occur equally frequently.
lossless
if no information is lost during the transfer. This is also known as equivocation .

Interference-free channels practically do not exist. However, by means of suitable channel coding methods, the interference can be minimized, with a corresponding effort up to practically freedom from interference.

See also

literature

  • Otto Mildenberger: Information Theory and Coding. 2nd Edition. Friedrich Vieweg & Sohn Verlagsgesellschaft, Wiesbaden 1992, ISBN 3-528-13046-6 .
  • F. Topsoe: Information Theory. An introduction. BG Teubner Verlag, Stuttgart 1972, ISBN 3-519-02048-3 .
  • Jürgen Lindner: Information transfer. Basics of communication technology. Springer Verlag, Berlin / Heidelberg 2005, ISBN 3-540-21400-3 .
  • Martin Bossert: Introduction to communications technology. Oldenbourg, Munich 2012, ISBN 978-3-486-70880-6 .
  • Jens-Rainer Ohm, Hans Dieter Lüke: Signal transmission. Basics of digital and analog communication systems. 10th edition. Springer Verlag, Berlin / Heidelberg 2007, ISBN 978-3-540-69256-0 .

Web links