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