control signal

(computer science) A set of pulses used to identify the channels to be followed by transferred data.
(control systems) The signal applied to the device that makes corrective changes in a controlled process or machine.

A pulse or frequency of electricity or light that represents a control command as it travels over a network, a computer channel or wireless. In the data communications world, control signals typically travel the same path as the data either as separate packets or contained within the data packets. In the traditional telephone communications world, control signals are sent over a separate network (see SS7). Contrast with data signal. See signal and signaling.

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