One of the two techniques for communicating between parallel processes (the other being shared memory). A common use of message passing is for communication in a parallel computer. A process running on one processor may send a message to a process running on the same processor or another. The actual transmission of the message is usually handled by the run-time support of the language in which the processes are written, or by the operating system. Message passing scales better than shared memory, which is generally used in computers with relatively few processors. This is because the total communications bandwidth usually increases with the number of processors. A message passing system provides primitives for sending and receiving messages. These primitives may by either synchronous or asynchronous or both. A synchronous send will not complete (will not allow the sender to proceed) until the receiving process has received the message. This allows the sender to know whether the message was received successfully or not (like when you speak to someone on the telephone). An asynchronous send simply queues the message for transmission without waiting for it to be received (like posting a letter). A synchronous receive primitive will wait until there is a message to read whereas an asynchronous receive will return immediately, either with a message or to say that no message has arrived. Messages may be sent to a named process or to a named mailbox which may be readable by one or many processes. Transmission involves determining the location of the recipient and then choosing a route to reach that location. The message may be transmitted in one go or may be split into packets which are transmitted independently (e.g. using wormhole routing) and reassembled at the receiver. The message passing system must ensure that sufficient memory is available to buffer the message at its destination and at intermediate nodes. Messages may be typed or untyped at the programming language level. They may have a priority, allowing the receiver to read the highest priority messages first. Some message passing computers are the {MIT J-Machine (http://ai.mit.edu/projects/cva/cva_j_machine.html)}, the {Illinois Concert Project (http://www-csag.cs.uiuc.edu/projects/concert.html)} and transputer-based systems. Object-oriented programming uses message passing between objects as a metaphor for procedure call. (1994-11-11)

A wireless repeater (also called wireless range extender or wifi extender) is a device that takes an existing signal from a wireless router or wireless access point and rebroadcasts it to create a second network. When two or more hosts have to be connected with one another over the IEEE 802.

n.

In telegraphy an instrument for repeating the signals through a second line. It is virtually a relay which is operated by the sender, and which in turn operates the rest of the main line, being situated itself at about the middle point of the distance covered. In the simpler forms of repeater two relays are used, one for transmission in one direction the other for transmission in the other. An attendant switches one or the other in as required. Thus a common relay is virtually a repeater for its local circuit. If such a relay is placed half way down a line, and if the line beyond it is connected as its local, it becomes a repeater. Some forms of repeaters are automatic, and repeat both ways without the need of an attendant. It is the practice to somewhat prolong the signals sent through a repeater.

In computing, a private message, personal message, or direct message (abbreviated as PM or DM) refers to a private communication sent or received by a user of a private communication channel on any given platform. Unlike public posts, PMs are only viewable by the participants.

In cryptography, a message authentication code (MAC), sometimes known as a tag, is a short piece of information used for authenticating a message. In other words, to confirm that the message came from the stated sender (its authenticity) and has not been changed.

A variable- (also changeable-, electronic-, or dynamic-) message sign, often abbreviated VMS, CMS, or DMS, and in the UK known as a matrix sign,

<networking, communications> A network or communications device which propagates electrical signals from one cable to another, amplifying them to restore them to full strength in the process. Repeaters are used to counter the attenuation which occurs when signals travel long distances (e.g. across an ocean). A network repeater is less intelligent than a bridge, gateway or router since it works at the physical layer. (1998-07-16)

In telecommunications, a repeater is an electronic device that receives a signal and retransmits it. Repeaters are used to extend transmissions so that the signal can cover longer distances or be received on the other side of an obstruction.