Lecture 08 (Morley Ch 7)

CSC 101 – Introduction

to Computing
Outline

 Networking Concepts
 Networking Applications
 Telecom Industry
 Videoconferencing
 Network Characteristics:
 Types of networks
 Network Topologies
 Network Architectures
 Network Size & Coverage Area
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 What Is a
Network?
• Network
– A connected system of objects or people
• Computer network
– A collection of computers and other hardware devices
connected together so users can share hardware,
software, and data, and electronically communicate
• Computer networks are converging with telephone and other
communications networks
• Networks range from small private networks to the Internet
• In most businesses, computer networks are essential

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 Networking
Applications
• The Internet
– Largest computer network in the world
• Telephone Service
– POTS Network
• One of the first networks
• Still used today to provide telephone service to landline
phones
– Mobile Phones (wireless phones)
• Use a wireless network for communications

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 Networking
Applications
• Cellular (cell) Phones
– Must be within range of cell tower to function
• Dual-mode Phones
– Allow users to make telephone calls using more
than one communications network
– Cellular/Wi-Fi dual-mode phones can switch
seamlessly between the Wi-Fi network and a
cellular network
• Satellite Phones
– Communicate via satellite technology
– Most often used by individuals such as soldiers,
journalists, wilderness guides, and researchers

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Networking
Applications

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 Networking
Applications
• Television and Radio Broadcasting
– Still used to deliver TV and radio content to the public
– Other networks involved with television content delivery
are cable TV networks, satellite TV networks, and private
closed-circuit television systems
• Global Positioning System (GPS) Applications
– Uses satellites and a receiver to determine the exact
geographic location of the receiver
– GPS receivers
• Commonly used by individuals to determine their
geographic location

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 Networking
Applications
• GPS receivers
– Used on the job by surveyors, farmers, and fishermen
– Used to guide vehicles and equipment
– Used by the military to guide munitions and trucks, and to
track military aircraft, ships, and submarines

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 Networking
Applications
• Monitoring Systems
– Use networking technology to determine the current
location or status of an object
• RFID-based Systems
– Monitor the status of objects
• GPS-based Monitoring Systems
– Monitor the physical location of objects
– Vehicle and child monitoring systems
• Electronic Medical Monitors
– Home healthcare

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 Networking
Applications
• Sensors are used in some monitoring systems
– Sensor networks
– Home automation
(smart thermostats,
etc.)

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 Networking
Applications
• Multimedia Networking
– Distributing digital multimedia content, typically via a
home network
– Necessary networking capabilities are often built into
devices being used
– Might need to use multimedia networking device
such as a
digital media receiver or digital media streamer
– Placeshifting Content
• Allows individuals to view multimedia content at a
more convenient location, i.e., Slingbox

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 Networking
Applications
• Videoconferencing, Collaborative Computing, and
Telecommuting
– Videoconferencing
• Use of computers, video cameras, microphones, and
networking technologies to conduct face-to-face
meetings over a network
– Telepresence Videoconferencing
• A setup that more closely mimics a real-time meeting
environment

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 Networking
Applications
– Collaborative Computing (workgroup computing)
• Enables individuals to work together on documents and
projects
– Telecommuting
• Individuals work from a remote location (usually home)
and communicate with their places of business and
clients using networking technologies
• Allows for employee flexibility

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 Networking
Applications
• Telemedicine
– Use of networking technology to provide medical
information and services
– Remote monitoring and consultations
– Remote diagnosis
– Telesurgery
• Robot assisted surgery where doctor’s physical
location is different from the patient’s and robot’s
• Will be needed for long-term space exploration

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Networking
Applications

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 Network
Characteristics
• Wired vs. Wireless Networks
– Wired
• A network in which computers and other devices are
physically connected to the network with cables
• Found in schools, businesses, and government facilities
– Wireless
• A network in which computers and other devices are
connected to the network without physical cables
• Data is typically sent via radio waves
• Found in homes, schools, and businesses

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 Network
Characteristics
• Network Topologies: Indicate how the devices in the network
are arranged
– Star Networks
• All networked devices connect to a central
device/server
• If the central device fails, the network
cannot work
– Bus Network
• Uses a central cable to which all network devices
connect
– Mesh network
• Multiple connections among the devices on the
network so that messages can take any of several
possible paths 17
Network
Characteristics

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 Network
Characteristics
• Network Architectures
– Client-Server Networks
• Client
– Computer or other device on the network that
requests and utilizes network resources
• Server
– Computer dedicated to processing client
requests

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Network
Characteristics

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 Network
Characteristics
– Peer-to-Peer (P2P) Networks
• Central server is not used
• All computers on the
network work at the
same
functional level
• Users have direct access to the computers and devices
attached to the network
• Less complicated and less expensive to implement than
client-server networks
• Internet P2P Computing
– Content is exchanged over the Internet directly
between users 21
 Network
Characteristics
• Network Size and Coverage Area
– Personal Area Networks (PANs)
• Connect an individual’s personal devices
– Devices must be physically located close together
– Local Area Networks (LANs)
• Connect devices located in a small geographic area
– Metropolitan Area Networks (MANs)
• Cover a metropolitan area such as a city or county
– Wide Area Networks (WANs)
• Cover a large geographic area
• Two or more LANs connected together

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 Network
Characteristics
– Intranets and Extranets
• Intranet
– Private network designed to be used by an
organizations’ employees; set up like the Internet
• Extranet
– Company network accessible by authorized
outsiders
– Virtual Private Networks (VPNs)
• Private, secure path over the Internet that provides
authorized users a secure means of accessing a private
network via the Internet
• Uses tunneling and special encryption technology

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 Data Transmission
Characteristics
• Bandwidth
– The amount of data that can be
transferred in a given period of time
– Measured in bits per second (bps),
Kbps (thousands), Mbps (millions ), or
Gbps (billions)
• Analog vs. Digital Signals
– Data represented by two discrete
states: 0s and 1s
– Conventional telephone systems
use
analog signals
• Represent data with continuous
waves 24
 Data Transmission
Characteristics
• Transmission Type and Timing
– Serial
• Data sent one bit at a time,
one after another, along a
single path
– Parallel
• Data sent at least one byte at
time with each bit in the
byte taking a different path

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 Data Transmission
Characteristics
• Synchronous Transmission
– Blocks of data are transferred at regular, specified intervals
– Most data transmissions within a computer and over a
network are synchronous
• Asynchronous Transmission
– Data is sent when ready without being synchronized
– Start bits and stop bits used to identify the bits that belong
in each byte
• Isochronous Transmission
– Data sent at the same time as other, related, data

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 Data Transmission
Characteristics

Understanding Computers: Today and Tomorrow, 15th Edition 27

 Data Transmission
Characteristics
• Simplex Transmission
– Data travels in a single direction only
• Half-Duplex Transmission
– Data travels in either direction but only one way at a time
• Full-Duplex Transmission
– Data travels in both directions at the same time

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 Data Transmission
Characteristics
• Delivery Method
– Circuit-Switching
• Dedicated path over a network is established between
sender and receiver; all data follows that path
– Packet-Switching
• Messages are separated into small units called packets
and travel along the network separately; packets are
reassembled once destination is reached
– Broadcasting
• Data is sent out to all other nodes on the network and
retrieved only by the intended recipient; primarily used
with LANs
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 Data Transmission
Characteristics

Understanding Computers: Today and Tomorrow, 15th Edition 30

 Networking
Media
• Wired Networking Media
– Twisted-Pair Cable
• Pairs of insulated wires twisted together
• Used for telephone and network connections (LANs)
– Coaxial Cable
• Thick center wire surrounded by insulation
• Used for computer networks and cable television
delivery
– Fiber-Optic Cable
• Utilizes hundreds of thin transparent clear glass or
plastic fibers over which lasers transmit data as light
• Used for high-speed communications
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 Networking
Media

Understanding Computers: Today and Tomorrow, 15th Edition 32

 Networking
Media
• Wireless Networking Media
– Data is sent through the airwaves using radio signals
– The Electromagnetic and Wireless Spectrum
• Radio frequencies are assigned by the FCC and are
measured in hertz (Hz)
• The electromagnetic spectrum is the range of
common
electromagnetic radiation (energy)
• Different parts of the spectrum have different
properties, which make certain frequencies more
appropriate for certain applications

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 Networking
Media

Understanding Computers: Today and Tomorrow, 15th Edition 34

 Networking
Media
• Frequencies assigned to an application usually consist of a
range of frequencies to be used as needed
• Most wireless networking applications use frequencies in the
RF band at the low end of the spectrum—up to 300 GHz
– Often called the wireless spectrum
• The 900 MHz, 2.4GHz, 5 GHz, and 5.8 GHz frequencies are within
an unlicensed part of the spectrum and can be used by any
product or individual
– Cordless landline phones, garage door openers,
Wi-Fi, WiMAX, and Bluetooth

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 Networking
Media
• Cellular Radio Transmissions
– Use cellular towers within honeycomb-shaped zones called
cells
– Calls are transferred from cell tower to cell tower as the
individual moves
– Cell tower forwards call to the MTSO
– MTSO routes call to the recipient’s phone
– Data sent via cell phones works in similar manner
– The speed of cellular radio transmissions depends on
the type of cellular standard being used

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Networking
Media

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 Networking
Media
• Microwave and Satellite Transmissions
– Microwaves
• High-frequency radio signals that are sent and received
using microwave stations or satellites
• Signals are line of sight, so microwave stations are
usually built on tall buildings, towers, mountaintops
– Microwave stations
• Earth-based stations that transmit signals directly to
each other within a range of 30 miles
• Stations designed to communicate with satellites
(television and internet services) are called satellite
dishes

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Networking
Media

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Summary

 Networking Concepts
 Networking Applications
 Telecom Industry
 Videoconferencing
 Network Characteristics:
 Types of networks
 Network Topologies
 Network Architectures
 Network Size & Coverage Area
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