Applications of Information and

Communication Technology
Lecture # 7

Muhammad Nasir
Department of Computer Science
CUI Lahore Campus
mnasir@cuilahore.edu.pk
The slides are adapted from the publisher’s material
Understanding Computers: Today and Tomorrow (Ch7)
Overview
• This chapter covers:
– Computer network is defined
– Common networking and communications applications
– Networking concepts and terminology
– Technical issues related to networks, including general
characteristics of data transmission, and types of
transmission media in use today
– Explanation of the various communications protocols and
networking standards
– Various types of hardware used with a computer network
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
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
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
Networking Applications
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
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
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
Networking Applications
• Sensors are used in some monitoring systems
– Sensor networks
– Home automation (smart
thermostats, etc.)
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
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
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
Networking Applications
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
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
Network Characteristics
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
Network Characteristics
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
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
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
Quick Quiz
1. Which of the following describes a group of private secure paths set
up using the Internet?
a. VPN
b. WAN
c. WSN
2. True or False: With a bus network, all devices are connected directly
to each other without the use of a central hub or cable.
3. A private network that is set up similar to the World Wide Web for
use by employees of a specific organization is called a(n)
.

Answers:
1) a; 2) False; 3) intranet
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 GFbps (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
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
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
Data Transmission
Characteristics
Data Transmission
Characteristics
Data Transmission Modes
• 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
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
Data Transmission
Characteristics
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
Networking Media
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
Networking Media
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
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
Networking Media
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
Networking Media
– Communication satellites are launched into orbit to send
and receive microwave signals from earth
• Traditional satellites use geosynchronous orbit 22,300
miles above the earth
• A delay of less than one half-second is common when
signals travel from earth to satellite and back
• Low earth orbit (LEO) satellites were developed to
combat delay
• Medium earth orbit (MEO) satellites are most
often
used for GPS systems
Networking Media
Networking Media
• Infrared (IR) Transmissions
– Sends data as infrared light rays
– Like an infrared television remote, IR requires line of
sight
– Because of this limitation, many formerly IR
devices (wireless mice, keyboards) now use RF
technology
– IR is sometimes used to beam data between some
mobile
devices, game consoles, and handheld gaming
devices
Quick Quiz
1. Which of the following transmission media transmits data as
light pulses?
a. coaxial cable
b. fiber-optic cable
c. twisted-pair cable
2. True or False: Cellular radio is a form of wireless
network transmission.
3. A device located in space that orbits the earth to provide
communications services is called a(n) .

Answers:
1) b; 2) True; 3) satellite
Communications Protocols and
Networking Standards
• Protocol
– A set of rules for a particular situation
– Communications Protocol
• A set of rules that determine how devices on a network
communicate
• Standard
– A set of criteria or requirements approved by a recognized
standards organization
– Address how networked computers connect/communicate
– Needed to ensure products can work with other products
TCP/IP and Other Communications
Protocols
• TCP/IP
– Most widely used communications protocol
– Consists of two protocols
• Transmission Control Protocols (TCP)
– Responsible for delivery of data
• Internet Protocols (IP)
– Provides addresses and routing information
– Uses packet switching to transmit data
– TCP/IP support is built into almost all operating systems
and IP addresses are used to identify computers and
devices on networks
TCP/IP and Other Communications
Protocols
TCP/IP and Other Communications
Protocols
• Other Protocols
– HTTP (Hypertext Transfer Protocol) and HTTPS
(Secure Hypertext Transfer Protocol)
• Used to display Web pages
– FTP (File Transfer Protocol)
• Used to transfer files over the Internet
– SMTP (Simple Mail Transfer Protocol and POP3 (Post
Office Protocol)
• Used to deliver e-mail over the Internet
Networking Hardware
• Network Adapter
– Used to connect a computer to a network
– Also called network interface card (NIC) when in the
form of an expansion card
• Modem
– Device that enables a computer to communicate over
analog networking media
– Term is often used interchangeably with network adapter
– Most computers and mobile devices today come with a
built-in network adapter and/or modem
Networking Hardware
Networking Hardware
• Switch
– Central device that connects devices in a wired network but only
sends data to the intended recipient
– Hub – similar but sends data to all recipients
• Router
– Connects multiple networks: two LANs, two WANS,
LAN and the Internet
– Passes data to intended recipient only
– Routes traffic over the Internet
• Wireless Access Point
– Device used to grant network access to wireless client
devices
Networking Hardware
• Wireless Router
– Typically connects both wired and wireless devices to a
network and to connect the network to the Internet
– Often integrates a switch, router, and wireless access
point
• Bridge
– Used to connect two LANs together
– In a home network, wirelessly connects a wired device to
the network
Networking Hardware
Networking Hardware
• Repeaters
• Amplify signals along a network
• Range Extenders
– Repeaters for a wireless network
• Antennas
– Devices used for receiving or sending radio signals
– Some network adapters can use an external antenna
– Can be directional or omnidirectional
– Strength measured in decibels (dB)
Networking Hardware
• Multiplexer
– Combines transmissions from several different devices to
send them as one message
• Concentrator
– Combines messages and sends them via a single
transmission medium in such a way that all of the
messages are simultaneously active
Networking Hardware
Quick Quiz
1. Which of the following is the protocol used to transfer data
over the Internet?
a. Wi-Fi
b. Bluetooth
c. TCP/IP
2. True or False: An ExpressCard network adapter is most
commonly used with desktop computers.
3. A device used to connect a computer to the Internet is
typically referred to as a(n) .

Answers:
1) c; 2) False; 3) modem
Summary
• Networking Applications
• Network Characteristics
• Data Transmission Characteristics
• Networking Media
• Communications Protocols and Networking Standards
• Networking Hardware