access method

[′ak‚ses ‚meth·əd]

(communications)

The procedures required to obtain access to a communications network.

(computer science)

A set of programming routines which links programs and the data that these programs transfer into and out of memory.

access method

(networking)

1. The way that network devices access the network medium.

2. Software in an SNA processor that controls the flow of data through a network.

This article is provided by FOLDOC - Free Online Dictionary of Computing (foldoc.org)

access method

A software routine that is part of the operating system or network control program which performs the storing/retrieving or transmitting/receiving of data. It is also responsible for detecting a bad transfer of data caused by hardware or network malfunction and correcting it if possible. See also access mode.

Disk Access Methods
Indexed access methods are widely used to keep track of records in a file and files on disk. The index is a table of contents with pointers to the location of each file on the disk or each record within the file. A common approach is the indexed sequential access method (ISAM), which uses an index in sequential order that points to records stored in random order. For fastest retrieval, there direct access methods convert the record's identifying field, such as account number, into a physical storage address. The pure sequential method may also be used if direct access is not required. See ISAM, direct access method and sequential access method.

Communications Access Methods
Local area network (LAN) access methods, such as CSMA/CD in Ethernet, transfer data to and from connected computers on the network. These methods reference layers 1 and 2 of the OSI model. See CSMA/CD.

Mainframe access methods, such as IBM's TCAM and VTAM, transfer data between a host computer and remote terminals. These routines place the data into frames with appropriate control codes and reference layers 3, 4 and 5 of the OSI model. See TCAM and VTAM.

Tape Access Methods
Tapes use the sequential access method (SAM), which keeps records in order by a key field such as account number. Each record must be compared to find the desired one. Modern drives allow fast forwarding to index points where different groups of records are stored. This provides a direct access capability to sections of the tape, although very slow by comparison to disks.

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References in periodicals archive

Ouksel and Mayer [1992] proposed an access method called a nested interpolation-based grid file that is closely related to the BANG file.

Multidimensional Access Methods

To achieve this goal, the CSMA/CARP is proposed as the channel access method which uses IFS by setting priorities to the Wireless Personal Area Networks according to their packet size of its packet to be transmitted to the Base Station.

An efficient MAC management in WSN for precision agriculture

The IP Roamer client software that the company utilizes for the service enables wireless Internet and corporate network access via multiple access methods with a single sign on process.

REMOTEPIPES UNVEILS EXPANDED WIRELESS INTERNET ACCESS

The access methods should be integrated well enough to allow the customer-service rep to pick up the transaction where it was left on the Web and to continue servicing individual policyholders at their convenience.

Custom-made contacts: call centers are morphing into one-stop customer-service shops equipped with more sophisticated skills and tools. (Technology: Customer Service)

Figuring out connection speeds, whether through a standard dial-up modem connection or a high-bandwidth access method, is further complicated by the fact that many of these methods are asymmetric -- access takes place at different speeds in different directions.

Super Highway

Section 4 discusses in more detail the basic characteristics that a good transaction or bitemporal access method should have.

Comparison of Access Methods for Time-Evolving Data

The access method describes the technique by which the nodes actually gain the use of the common trunk or channel to transmit messages.

Introduction to local-area networks

Equipped with fully integrated switch ports, a capacitive touch screen and a full-sized USB port, the T15 can support multiple access methods, allowing users to communicate through touch, scanning and head mouse input.

DYNAVOX UNVEILS DEDICATED SPEECH-GENERATING TABLET

Many enterprises are finding that unified communications gives mobile workers the flexibility to choose which access method fits their work style and environment.

Unified communications unplugged

The Direct Access File System (DAFS) protocol is a new file access method designed to provide application servers with high performance low latency access to shared storage pools over Fibre Channel, Gigabit Ethernet, InfiniBand, and other VT-compliant transports in data center environments.

DAFS: Enabling Data Center Applications

DAFS demonstrates that very soon the storage networking question will no longer be SAN versus NAS, but "what is the best data access method for my environment...block mode access or file mode access?"

Storage Networking And The Data Center Of The Future

The service, developed in conjunction with mobility services provider iPass (Nasdaq:IPAS), reportedly aggregates provider and access technologies into fixed-price packages, providing affordable and easy to budget remote access, irrespective of access method or location.

Sirocom introduces Siroconnect Price Bundling