inter-packet gap

1 definition found

inter-packet gap - Free On-line Dictionary of Computing (26 May 2007) :

  inter-packet gap
  
     <networking> A time delay between successive data packets
     mandated by the network standard for protocol reasons.
  
     In Ethernet, the medium has to be "silent" (i.e., no data
     transfer) for a few microseconds before a node can consider
     the network idle and start to transmit.  This is necessary for
     fairness reasons.  The delay time, which approximately equals
     the signal propagation time on the cable, allows the "silence"
     to reach the far end so that all nodes consider the net idle.
  
     (1995-11-11)