Step 1: Define the terms related to computer connections.
Link: A general term for a connection between two devices or points, but not specifically a collection of wires for multiple devices in a system context.
Directional wires: A descriptive term for wires that transmit signals in a specific direction, but not a standard term for a collection of wires connecting multiple devices.
Cable: A physical assembly of one or more wires, typically insulated and often bundled together, used for transmitting electrical signals or power. While a cable contains wires, it doesn't specifically imply a shared pathway for multiple devices in a system architecture context.
Bus: In computer architecture and distributed systems like those found in Computer Integrated Manufacturing (CIM), a bus is a communication system that transfers data between components inside a computer or between computers. It consists of a set of parallel wires (or lines) that allow multiple devices to share common communication paths. This enables various devices (e.g., sensors, actuators, controllers, computers) in a CIM system to exchange data.
Step 2: Identify the term that best describes a collection of wires connecting several devices in a system.
The term that specifically refers to a collection of wires or lines that serve as a common pathway for connecting multiple devices and transferring data between them in a system is a bus. This is fundamental to how components communicate in CIM environments.
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