data channel

data channel

[′dad·ə ‚chan·əl]

(computer science)

A bidirectional data path between input/output devices and the main memory of a digital computer permitting one or more input/output operations to proceed concurrently with computation.

McGraw-Hill Dictionary of Scientific & Technical Terms, 6E, Copyright © 2003 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.

data channel

(communications)

A channel (on a BRI or PRI line) used to carry control information, to set up connections on the associated bearer channels. The name wasn't too bad back when users were sending voice (not data) over the bearer channels, but in 1997 it's quite a misnomer.

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