Multiplexing in networks

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Categories of Multiplexing
Introduction
Under the simplest conditions, a medium can carry only one signal at
any moment in time.
For multiple signals to share one medium, the medium must somehow
be divided, giving each signal a portion of the total bandwidth.
The current techniques that can accomplish this include
•frequency division multiplexing (FDM)
•time division multiplexing (TDM)
•Synchronous vs statistical
•wavelength division multiplexing (WDM)
•code division multiplexing (CDM)
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 Frequency-division Multiplexing (FDM)

• FDM is an analog technique that can be applied when the bandwidth of

a link is greater than the combined bandwidths of the signals to be
transmitted.
 Frequency-division Multiplexing (FDM)
• In FDM signals
generated by each
device modulate
different carrier
frequencies. These
modulated signals are
combined into a single
composite signal that
can be transported by
the link.
FDM is an analog multiplexing technique
that combines signals.
 11.4 Frequency Division Multiplexing

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Figure 6.12 Time Division Multiplexing (TDM)

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Figure 6.13 Synchronous time-division multiplexing

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TDM System
 Synchronous time division multiplexing
So that the receiver may stay synchronized with the incoming data
stream, the transmitting multiplexor can insert alternating 1s and 0s
into the data stream.

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 11.9 Synchronous TDM

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 11.12 The Problem with
Synchronous TDM: Unfilled Slots

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TDM frames
Synchronous Time Division Multiplexing
Three types popular today:
•T-1 multiplexing (the classic)
•ISDN multiplexing
•SONET (Synchronous Optical NETwork)

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Statistical Time Division Multiplexing
A statistical multiplexor transmits only the data from
active workstations (or why work when you don’t have
to).
If a workstation is not active, no space is wasted on the
multiplexed stream.
A statistical multiplexor accepts the incoming data
streams and creates a frame containing only the data to
be transmitted.

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Statistical Time Division Multiplexing
A statistical multiplexor does not require a line over as high a speed line as
synchronous time division multiplexing since STDM does not assume all sources
will transmit all of the time!
Good for low bandwidth lines (used for LANs)
Much more efficient use of bandwidth!

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 11.13 Statistical TDM

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Wavelength Division Multiplexing (WDM)
Give each message a different wavelength
(frequency)
Easy to do with fiber optics and optical sources

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Dense Wavelength Division Multiplexing
(DWDM)
Dense wavelength division multiplexing is often called just wavelength division
multiplexing
Dense wavelength division multiplexing multiplexes multiple data streams onto a
single fiber optic line.
Different wavelength lasers (called lambdas) transmit the multiple signals.
Each signal carried on the fiber can be transmitted at a different rate from the
other signals.
Dense wavelength division multiplexing combines many (30, 40, 50, 60, more?)
onto one fiber.

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Code Division Multiplexing (CDM)
Old but now new method
Also known as code division multiple access (CDMA)
An advanced technique that allows multiple devices to transmit on the same
frequencies at the same time using different codes
Used for mobile communications

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Code Division Multiplexing
An advanced technique that allows multiple devices to transmit on the same
frequencies at the same time.
Each mobile device is assigned a unique 64-bit code (chip spreading code)
To send a binary 1, mobile device transmits the unique code
To send a binary 0, mobile device transmits the inverse of code

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• Multiplexing
• Types of multiplexing
• TDM
• Synchronous TDM (T-1, ISDN, optical fiber)
• Statistical TDM (LANs)
• FDM (cable, cell phones, broadband)
• WDM (optical fiber)
• CDM (cell phones)

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SONET/SDH
• Synchronous Optical Network (ANSI)
• Synchronous Digital Hierarchy (ITU-T)
• Compatible
• Signal Hierarchy
• Synchronous Transport Signal level 1 (STS-1) or Optical Carrier level 1 (OC-1)
• 51.84Mbps
• Carry DS-3 or group of lower rate signals (DS1 DS1C DS2) plus ITU-T rates (e.g.
2.048Mbps)
• Multiple STS-1 combined into STS-N signal
• ITU-T lowest rate is 155.52Mbps (STM-1)
 Example

Assume that a voice channel occupies a bandwidth of

4 kHz. We need to combine three voice channels into
a link with a bandwidth of 12 kHz, from 20 to 32 kHz.
Show the configuration, using the frequency domain.
Assume there are no guard bands.

Solution:
We shift (modulate) each of the three voice channels
to a different bandwidth, as shown in following Figure.
We use the 20- to 24-kHz bandwidth for the first
channel, the 24- to 28-kHz bandwidth for the second
channel, and the 28- to 32-kHz bandwidth for the third
one. Then we combine them as shown in Figure 4.
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 Figure 4: Multiplexing Example

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 Example 2

Five channels, each with a 100-kHz bandwidth, are to be

multiplexed together. What is the minimum bandwidth of
the link if there is a need for a guard band of 10 kHz
between the channels to prevent interference?

Solution
For five channels, we need at least four guard bands. This
means that the required bandwidth is at least
5 × 100 + 4 × 10 = 540 kHz,
as shown in following Figure 5.

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 Figure 5

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 Example 3

Four data channels (digital), each transmitting at 1

Mbps, use a satellite channel of 1 MHz. Design an
appropriate configuration, using FDM.

Solution
The satellite channel is analog. We divide it into four
channels, each channel having a 250-kHz bandwidth.
Each digital channel of 1 Mbps is modulated such that
each 4 bits is modulated to 1 Hz. One solution is 16-
QAM modulation. Figure 6 shows one possible
configuration.
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 Figure 6:

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