Simplex Definition
(telecommunications) Unidirectional.
A transmission path or circuit designed to support information transfer in one direction only. Physically, the circuit may be able to support duplex, or two-way, information transfer, but the equipment on either end will not allow it. In other words, the protocol is simplex. Burglar alarm, intrusion alarm, and fire alarm circuits are simplex in nature, as they are designed to support information transfer from a sensor to a central alarm answering point, but will not support information transfer in the reverse direction. It would be unwise to reset such an alarm remotely without a physical inspection. Rather, the cause of the alarm must be analyzed by a human being who is physically present at the alarm point.The human being can then reset the alarm locally.Two simplex circuits, one in each direction, can be used to provision a full duplex circuit, i.e., a circuit that supports simultaneous transmission in both directions. See also duplex, full duplex, half duplex, and protocol.
Other Word Forms of Simplex
Noun
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