Which term describes sharing a single channel among several instruments?

Which term describes sharing a single channel among several instruments?

• A. Scanning
• B. Multiplexing
• C. Polling
• D. Tone-frequency multiplexing

Answer: (B)

Multiplexing is the technique of sharing a single communication channel among several instruments by interleaving or separating signals so they can travel together without interfering. It’s used to maximize the use of a single line or link by assigning different time slots, frequency bands, or codes to each device’s signal. In practice, there are several ways to implement multiplexing, such as time-division multiplexing, which allocates different time windows to each instrument, or frequency-division multiplexing, which assigns distinct frequencies to each signal. Tone-frequency multiplexing is a specific type that uses different tones to carry separate signals on the same channel. The term described in the question is the general concept of multiplexing; the other option—tone-frequency multiplexing—is just one particular method within that broader idea. Scanning and polling, while related to how a system collects data from multiple devices, describe the data-collection approach rather than the method of sharing a channel among multiple instruments.

Multiplexing is the technique of sharing a single communication channel among several instruments by interleaving or separating signals so they can travel together without interfering. It’s used to maximize the use of a single line or link by assigning different time slots, frequency bands, or codes to each device’s signal.

In practice, there are several ways to implement multiplexing, such as time-division multiplexing, which allocates different time windows to each instrument, or frequency-division multiplexing, which assigns distinct frequencies to each signal. Tone-frequency multiplexing is a specific type that uses different tones to carry separate signals on the same channel. The term described in the question is the general concept of multiplexing; the other option—tone-frequency multiplexing—is just one particular method within that broader idea.

Scanning and polling, while related to how a system collects data from multiple devices, describe the data-collection approach rather than the method of sharing a channel among multiple instruments.