Chapter

6
Telecommunications
and
Networks

Overview of Communication
Communications is the transmission of a signal by
way of a medium from a sender to a receiver.

Telecommunications
Electronic transmission of signals for
communications

Telephone
Radio
Television

Lessens barriers of time and distance

Telecommunications
Data communications
Specialized subset of telecommunications
Includes the electronic collection, processing, and
distribution of data

Telecommunications media
Anything that carries an electronic signal and interfaces
between a sending device and a receiving device

Elements of a Telecommunications
System

[Figure 6.3]

Analog and Digital Signals

Analog
Continuous fluctuations over time between high and low
voltage

Digital
A discrete voltage state

Analog and Digital Signals

Analog
signal
Digital
signal

Fig. 6.4

Analog Waves
Frequency
The number of times per second a continuous wave
completes one cycle

Amplitude
The difference of the extremes from the midpoint in a
cycle

Basic Modulation Techniques

Amplitude modulation (AM)
Converts digital data to analog signals using a single
frequency carrier signal
High-amplitude wave denotes a binary 1
Low-amplitude wave denotes a binary 0

Basic Modulation Techniques

Frequency modulation (FM)
Uses a constant amplitude carrier signal and two
frequencies to distinguish between 1 and 0

Phase modulation
Uses a phase shift at transition points in the carrier
frequency to represent 1 or 0

Communications Speed
Bits per second (bps)
Number of bits that can be transferred in one second

Bandwidth
Range of signal frequencies that can be sent over a
medium at the same time

Broadband
Bandwidth of 256,000 to 1 million bps

Types of
Communications Media
Twisted wire cable
Coaxial cable
Fiber-optic cable
Microwave transmission
Cellular transmission
Infrared transmission

Twisted Wire Cable

A cable consisting of pairs of twisted wires
The twist helps the signal from bleeding into
the next pair

Coaxial Cable
Inner conductor wire surrounded by insulation,
called the dielectric

Dielectric is surrounded by a conductive shield,

which is in turn covered by a layer of
nonconductive insulation, called the jacket

Fiber-Optic Cable
Consists of many extremely thin strands of glass
or plastic bound together in a sheathing

Transmits signals with light beams

Wireless Transmission
Microwave: Terrestrial
Microwave: Satellite
Cellular
PCS

Telecommunications Devices
Modems
Fax modems
Special-purpose modems
Multiplexers
Communications processors

How a Modem Works

Multiplexers
Allow several telecommunication signals to be
transmitted over a single communications
medium concurrently
Time division multiplexer (TDM)

Multiple incoming signals are sliced into small time

intervals

Frequency division multiplexer(FDM)

Incoming signals are placed on different frequency ranges

Time Division and Frequency

Division Multiplexers

[Figure 6.14]

Communications Processors
Called front-end processors because they are in
front of and before the main system CPU
Incoming and
outgoing jobs

[Figure 6.15]

Main
system

Front-end
processor

Telecommunications
Carriers and Services
Common carriers
Long-distance telephone companies

Value-added carriers
Companies that have developed private
telecommunications systems and offer their services for a
fee

Telecommunications
Carriers and Services
Switched line
Standard telephone line that uses switching equipment to
allow one transmission device to be connected to others

Dedicated line
Provides a constant connection between two points
Also called a leased line

Telecommunications
Carriers and Services
Private branch exchange (PBX)
Manages both voice and data transfer within a building
and to outside lines

Wide area telephone services (WATS)

A billing method for heavy users of voiceband media

Phone and dialing services

Additional services from the common carriers (i.e. ANI)

Telecommunications
Carriers and Services
Integrated services digital network (ISDN)
Technology that uses existing common-carrier lines to
simultaneously transmit voice, video, and image data in
digital form

Digital subscriber line (DSL)

Businesses/homes that have a DSL over existing phone
wires can use a special modem that transmits up to 768
Kbps

Telecommunications Act
of 1996
Completely rewrites the 62-year-old
Communications Act
Goal: To promote competition and eliminate
monopolies for a wide range of communication
services
May cause profound changes in U.S.
communications that can lead to a complete
renovation in the way information is delivered to
consumers

Global Telecommunications
One of the largest and fastest growing sectors of
the global economies

Criticality of implementing and managing global

networks

Increase of international acquisitions and mergers

Need to compete on a global basis

Computer Network
Includes communications media, devices, and
software needed to connect two or more computer
systems and/or devices
Benefits of a Network

Can turn a company into an agile, powerful and creative

organization, giving it long-term competitive advantage
Can be used to share hardware, programs, and databases
across the organization

Basic
Data Processing Strategies
Centralized processing
All processing occurs in a single location

Decentralized processing
Processing devices are placed at various remote locations

Distributed processing
Computers at remote locations are connected to each other
via telecommunications devices

Network Concepts
and Considerations
Network topology
Logical models that describe how networks are structured
or configured

Star network
A network that has a central hub or computer system

Four Basic Types

of Network Topology

(a) ring

(b) bus

(c) hierarchical

(d) star

[Figure 6.17]

Types of Networks
Local area networks (LAN)
Connect computer systems and devices within the same
geographical area

Regional networks
Tie regional areas together via telecommunications
systems

Types of Networks
Wide area networks (WAN)
Tie large geographic regions together using microwave and satellite
transmission or telephone lines

Private WANs
Computer equipment owned by users and data communications
equipment provided by a common carrier

Value-added networks (VAN)

Offer services in addition to those offered by a traditional network
(e.g., CompuServe)

International networks
Link system together between countries

Terminal-to-Host
Dumb
terminal

Fig 6.20

Applications and databases reside on the same host

computer
User interacts with the application using a dumb
terminal

LANs and WANs

[Figure 6.18]

A Typical LAN in a BUS Topology

[Figure 6.19]

A Wide Area Network

File Server

Fig 6.21

Applications and databases reside on the same host

computer
File server transfers data and programs to PCs on the
network, which do the processing

Client/Server

Fig 6.22

Applications and databases reside on specialized host

computers
Servers do most or all of the processing and transmit
the results to the client

The Client/Server Approach

Advantages
Cost potential
Improved performance
Increased security

Disadvantages
Increased cost potential
Loss of control
Complex multivendor environment

Functions of
Communications Software
Error checking
Message formatting
Communications logs
Data security and privacy
Translation capabilities for networks

Communications Software
Network operating systems
Systems software that controls the computer systems and
devices on a network and allows them to communicate
with each other

Network management software

Software tools and utilities available for managing
networks

Communications Protocols
Open systems interconnection (OSI)
A protocol (or standard) endorsed by the International Standards Committee

TCP/IP
Developed by the U.S. government to link its defense research agencies

SNA
IBMs communications protocol

Ethernet
A popular protocol often used with local area networks

Other protocols

Bridges, Routers,
and Gateways
Bridge
Connects two or more networks

Router
Features more sophisticated addressing software than bridges

Gateway
Links LANs or networks that employ different higher-level
protocols

Bridges, Routers,
and Gateways

[Figure 6.24]

Coordinating Communications and

Networks
Polling
A procedure in which the main computer checks each
device one at a time to see if there are any messages
waiting to be communicated to other network devices

Token passing
A technique in which an electronic token is passed from
one device to another

Contention
A procedure in which a device checks to see if a message
is currently being transmitted

Data Transfer Modes

Packet switching
Communications process that divides electronic messages
into small segments (data packets)

Frame relay
Uses wideband communications media and high speed
switching devices

Voice-over frame relay

Moves voice traffic onto frame relay to bypass the public
telephone network

Data Transfer Modes

Asynchronous transfer mode (ATM)
A high-speed network technology that provides transport
for voice, video, text, and other multimedia data

Fiber distributed data interface (FDDI)

Designed specifically to serve the needs of highperformance, mission-critical LAN applications

Telecommunications Applications
Links between PCs and mainframes
Facilitates the upload or download of data

Voice storage and forwarding

Sometimes called voice mail
Allows users to leave, receive, and store verbal messages
for and from people around the world

Telecommunications Applications
Electronic mail
Users connected to a network can send messages to others
by computer

Electronic document distribution

Involves transporting documents over communications
lines and networks

Telecommunications Applications
Electronic software distribution
Involves installing software on a file server for users to
share by signing onto the network and downloading the
software onto their computers over the network

Telecommuting
Working at home on a PC and communicating with the
central office or other workers via networks

Telecommunications Applications
Teleconferencing
Allows groups to have conferences in one connected voice
phone call

Videoconferencing
An extension of teleconferencing that combines voice,
video, and audio transmission

Telecommunications Applications
Electronic data
interchange (EDI)

Uses network systems and

follows standards and
procedures that allow output
from one system to be
processed directly as input to
other systems, without human
intervention

[Figure 6.27]

Telecommunications Applications
Public network
services

Give PC users access to

vast databases and other
services, usually for an
initial fee plus usage fees

[Figure 6.28]

Telecommunications Applications
Specialized information systems
Include legal, patent, and technical information

Regional information systems

Include local electronic bulletin boards and electronic mail
facilities that offer information regarding local club,
school, and government activities

Distance learning
Extends the classroom by using telecommunications

Network Design Considerations

Reliability
Security
Response time
Privacy issues
Vendor services and support
Company support

Communications Audits
Purpose:

To make sure the communications

system is operating as intended

Types of communications audits:

Walk-thorough
Software check
Network check
Policy and procedures
Program and database check