Übertragungsebene

Übertragungsebene refers to the lowest layer in a layered communication model, such as the OSI model or the TCP/IP model. Its primary function is to manage the physical transmission of raw data bits over a communication medium. This layer is responsible for the actual movement of data from one device to another across a network.

The Übertragungsebene defines the electrical, mechanical, procedural, and functional specifications for activating, maintaining, and deactivating the physical link between end systems. It deals with aspects like voltage levels, data rates, physical connectors, and the type of cabling used. For example, it specifies how bits are represented as electrical signals, light pulses, or radio waves.

Key functions of the Übertragungsebene include bit synchronization, which ensures that the sender and receiver agree on when each bit starts and ends. It also handles the detection of transmission errors at the physical layer, though more sophisticated error correction is typically handled by higher layers. The Übertragungsebene does not concern itself with the meaning or format of the data being transmitted, only with the reliable transmission of the raw bits. Examples of technologies operating at this layer include Ethernet, Wi-Fi, and cellular networks.