Chapter 6 Telecommunications and Networks

An Overview of Telecommunications

• Telecommunications is the electronic transmission of signals for communications

• Telecommunications medium is any material substance that carries an electronic signal to

support communications between a sending and receiving device

• Networking protocol is a set of rules, algorithms, messages, and other mechanisms that enable
software and hardware in networked devices to communicate effectively

• Synchronous communications: – Receiver gets message instantaneously

• Asynchronous communications: – Receiver gets message after some delay

Basic Telecommunications Channel Characteristics

• Simplex channel: – Transmits data in only one direction

• Half-duplex channel: – Transmits data in either direction, but not simultaneously

• Full-duplex channel: – Permits data transmission in both directions at the same time

• Channel bandwidth: – Rate at which data is exchanged, measured in bits/sec

• Circuit switching network: – Sets up a circuit between the sender and receiver before any
communications can occur

• Packet switching network: – No fixed path is created between the communicating devices

• Telecommunications media – Categories: guided transmission media and wireless

• Guided transmission media types: – Available in many types

• Twisted-pair wire: – Classified by category: category 2, 3, 5, 5E, and 6

• Coaxial cable: – Offers cleaner and crisper data transmission (less noise) than twisted-
pair wire

• Fiber-optic cable: – Transmits signals with light beams

• Wireless communications options: – Wireless transmission involves the broadcast of

communications in one of three frequency ranges • Radio, microwave, or infrared frequencies
Short Range Wireless Options

• Near field communication (NFC) – Short-range wireless connectivity technology designed

for cell phones and credit cards

• Bluetooth – Wireless communications specification that describes how cell phones,

computers, personal digital assistants, etc., can be interconnected

• Ultra wideband (UWB) – Short-range communications that employs extremely short

electromagnetic pulses lasting 50 to 100 picoseconds over a range of 10 to 50 meters

• Infrared transmission – Sends signals at a frequency of 300 GHz and above – Used to
transmit data captured by sensors to data recorder

• Zigbee – Form of wireless communications frequently used in security systems and

heating and cooling control systems – Relatively low cost and requires little power

Medium-Range Wireless Options

• Wi-Fi:

– Wireless telecommunications technology brand owned by the Wi-Fi Alliance

– Employs wireless access point that consists of a transmitter with an antenna that
receives the signal and decodes it

– Wi-Fi access points have maximum range of about 300 feet outdoors and 100 feet
within a drywalled building

Wide Area Wireless Network Types

• Microwave transmission:

– High-frequency (300 MHz–300 GHz) signal sent through the air

– Common forms of satellite communications:

• Geostationary satellite

• Low-earth orbit (LEO) satellite

• Very small aperture terminal (VSAT)

• Wireless mesh: – Uses multiple Wi-Fi access points to link a series of interconnected
local area networks

• 3G wireless communications: – Support wireless voice and broadband speed data

communications in a mobile environment

• 4G wireless communications: – Provides increased data transmission rates in the 5–40

Mbps range

• Long Term Evolution (LTE) – Standard for wireless communications for mobile phones
based on packet switching

• Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access (WiMAX):

– A 4G alternative

– Set of IEEE 802.16 wireless metropolitan area network standards

Networks and Distributed Processing

• Computer network:

– Consists of communications media, devices, and software needed to connect two or more
computer systems or devices

– Can transmit and receive information to improve organizational effectiveness and

efficiency

Network Types

• Personal area networks – Support interconnection of information technology within a range

of about 33 feet

• Local area networks – Connect computer systems and devices within a small area (e.g.,
office or home)

• Metropolitan area networks – Connect users and their devices in a geographical area that
spans a campus or city

• Wide area networks: – Connect large geographic regions

Basic Processing Alternatives

• Centralized processing: – All processing occurs in a single location or facility

• Decentralized processing: – Processing devices are placed at various remote locations

• Distributed processing: – Processing devices are placed at remote locations but are
connected to each other via a network

• File server systems: – Users can share data through file server computing

Client/Server Systems

• Client/server architecture: – Multiple computer platforms are dedicated to special

functions

• Client: – Any computer that sends messages requesting services from the servers on the
network

• Database server: – Sends only the data that satisfies a specific query, not the entire file

Telecommunications Hardware

• Smartphones – Combine the functionality of a mobile phone, camera, Web browser, e-

mail tool, MP3 player, and other devices – Have their own software operating systems

• Modems – Modulation/demodulation devices

• Multiplexers – Combine data from multiple data sources into a single output signal that
carries multiple channels

• Private branch exchange (PBX)

– Telephone switching exchange that serves a single organization

– Enables users to share outside lines to make calls to people outside the organization

– Provides other services such as routing of calls, voice mail, Voice over IP calls, voice paging,
threeway calling, call transfer, and call waiting

• Switches, bridges, routers, and gateways

– Switch: uses the physical device address in each incoming message on the network
 – Bridge: connects two LANs together using the same telecommunications protocol

– Router: forwards data packets across two or more distinct networks toward their
destinations

– Gateway: serves as an entrance to another network

Telecommunications Software

• Network operating system (NOS): – Systems software that controls the computer systems
and devices on a network

• Network management software:

– Protects software from being copied, modified, or downloaded illegally

– Locates telecommunications errors and potential network problems

Securing Data Transmission

• Encryption: – Converting an original message into a form that can only be understood
by the intended receiver

• Encryption key: – Variable value that is applied (using an algorithm) to a set of

unencrypted text to produce encrypted text or to decrypt encrypted text

• Securing wireless networks:

– Wired equivalent privacy (WEP):

• Used encryption based on 64-bit key, which has been upgraded to a 128-bit key

– Wi-Fi Protected Access (WPA):

• Security protocol that offers significantly improved protection over WEP

– War driving:

• Involves hackers driving around with a laptop and antenna trying to detect
insecure wireless access points

Virtual Private Network (VPN)

 • Private network that uses a public network (usually the Internet) to connect multiple remote
locations

• Provides network connectivity over a potentially long physical distance

• Supports secure, encrypted connections between a company’s private network and remote
users

Telecommunications Services and Network Applications

• Cellular phone services:

– Cellular phones:

• Operate using radio waves to provide two-way communications

• May be linked to a cordless phone via a Bluetooth connection

– Femtocell: • Miniature cellular base station designed to serve a very small area such as part
of a floor inside a building

Cellular Phone Services

• Digital subscriber line (DSL) service: – Telecommunications service that delivers highspeed
Internet access

– Asymmetric DSL (ADSL) line:

• Designed to provide download speed that is three to four times faster than upload speed

– Symmetric DSL (SDSL):

• Used mainly by small businesses

• Does not allow you to use the phone at the same time

• The speed of receiving and sending data is the same

Voice Mail

• Users can send, receive, and store verbal messages for and from other people around the world

• Voice mail-to-text services

 – Capture voice mail messages, convert them to text, and send them to an e-mail account

• Reverse 911 service – Delivers emergency notifications to users in a selected geographical

area

Home and Small Business Networks

• DSL modem: – Enables each computer in the network to access the Internet

• Firewall: – Filters the information coming from the Internet into your network

• Router: – Encrypts all wireless communications to keep your network secure

Electronic Document Distribution

• Lets you send and receive documents in a digital form without printing them

• Much faster to distribute electronic documents via networks than to mail printed forms

• Viewing documents on screen instead of printing – Saves paper and document storage
space

Call Centers

• Location where an organization handles customer and other telephone calls

• Used by:

– Customer service organizations – Telemarketing companies – Computer product

help desks – Charitable and political campaign organizations

Telecommuting and Virtual Workers and Workgroups

• Telecommuting: – Use of computing devices and networks so that employees can work
effectively away from office

• Telecommuters: – Need to be strongly self-motivated, organized, focused on their tasks

with minimal supervision
• Jobs unsuitable for telecommuting: – Those that require frequent face-to-face interaction,
need much supervision, and have many short-term deadlines

Electronic Meetings

• Videoconferencing:

– Enables people at multiple locations to communicate using simultaneous two-way video

and audio transmissions

– Reduces travel expenses and time

– Increases managerial effectiveness through: • Faster response to problems, access to

more people, and less duplication of effort

Electronic Data Interchange

• Idea behind EDI: – Connecting corporate computers among organizations

• EDI:

– Can link the computers of customers, manufacturers, and suppliers

– Eliminates the need for paper documents and substantially cuts down on costly errors

• Electronic funds transfer – System of transferring money from one bank account directly to
another without any paper money changing hands

– Used for:

• Credit transfers, such as payroll payments

• Debit transfers, such as mortgage payments

– Benefits:

• Reduced administrative costs

• Increased efficiency • Simplified bookkeeping and greater security