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Table 2.
Terms and Definitions
Term
Description
Local Area Network
• A LAN is a computer network that allows computers and other
devices in a relatively small area such as in a home or in a
suite of offices to communicate with one another.
• LANs were originally based on copper wire cables, but now
can be wired, wireless (WLAN), or a mix of both technologies.
LAN is the generic term for all.
Remote Facilities Portal
Special Lennox remote website that allows the consumer
to connect to and control an iCON system from a laptop, or
desktop computer anywhere in the world through the Internet.
The iCON system must be connected to a Wi-Fi network that is,
in turn, connected to the Internet, and the iCON system must be
registered on the Lennox iCON cloud servers.
Router Wireless Router
or Wireless Broadband
Router
• A router connects networks together.
• Typically, a router connects a home LAN to the Internet
(through a modem), and contains the security mechanisms
that protect the LAN from Internet threats.
• A router often contains a wireless access point, network
switch, and router all in a single compact enclosure. This is
usually called a Wireless Router.
• When a broadband modem is included, it is usually called a
Wireless Broadband Router and connects directly to the ISP.
Switch or Network Switch
•
A switch connects two or more devices together to form a
network.
• A switch sends data only to its intended recipient instead of to
all devices on the local area network, allowing efficient use of
the network and the devices connected to it.
•
A wireless access point performs switching services by
sending data only to the intended recipient on the wireless
local area network instead of to all devices on the WLAN.
Wide Area Network
A wide area network (WAN) covers a large area (neighborhood,
city, county, state, etc.), connects local area networks in that area
together, and provides connections to distant WANs and LANs
through the Internet.
Wi-Fi
Wi-Fi is a trademark of the Wi-Fi Alliance for a wireless local area
network (WLAN) based on the 802.11 standards. Wi-Fi is now the
common term for a WLAN.
Wi-Fi Direct
• Wi-Fi Direct is a trademark of the Wi-Fi Alliance for a wireless
network standard that allows nearby devices to easily connect
directly to each other and form an ad hoc peer-to-peer
network without requiring a fixed wireless access point and
the associated infrastructure.
• A Central Hub Wi-Fi network has similar functionality, but
does not fully comply with the standard and, therefore, is not
Wi-Fi Direct certified.
Wireless Ad-hoc Network
A wireless ad hoc network – sometimes called a peer-to-peer
(P2P) network – is a decentralized type of wireless network that
does not rely on a pre-existing infrastructure like fixed access
points, switches, and routers. A wireless connection is made
directly between participants.
Table 2.
Terms and Definitions
Term
Description
Wireless Device
A wireless device connects to an access point via radio signals.
Many computers, printers, cameras, tablets, Central phones, and
related devices have built-in wireless connectivity (Wi-Fi) and can
join a nearby Wi-Fi network.
Wireless Local Area
Network
A wireless local area network consists of nearby wireless devices
connected together through a wireless access point. The access
point typically connects the devices on the WLAN to a router and
through the router to the Internet.
