Week 7 (Chapter 7) - Telecommunications, Internet, and Wireless Technologies PDF

Week 7 (Chapter 7) - Telecommunications, Internet, and Wireless Technologies Overall Concepts to Understand for This Chapter: 1.​ Principal components of telecommunications networks and key networking technologies. 2.​ Different types of networks. 3.​ How the Internet and Internet technol...

Week 7 (Chapter 7) - Telecommunications, Internet, and Wireless Technologies Overall Concepts to Understand for This Chapter: 1.​ Principal components of telecommunications networks and key networking technologies. 2.​ Different types of networks. 3.​ How the Internet and Internet technology work to support communication and e-business. 4.​ Principal technologies and standards for wireless networking, communication, and Internet access. Telecommunications Overview: ​ Telecommunications is the transmission of information (words, sounds, images) over long distances using electromagnetic signals like radio waves or microwaves. ​ Types of networks involved in telecommunications: ○​ Telephone Networks: For voice communication via landlines or mobile phones. ○​ Television Networks: For delivering audiovisual content over airwaves, cable, or satellite. ○​ Computer Networks: Connecting devices through LANs, WANs, or the internet for data sharing. Networking and Communication Trends: ​ Convergence: Telephone and computer networks are merging into a single digital network using internet standards, allowing for integrated communication services. ​ Broadband: High-speed internet access used by over 74% of U.S. internet users. ​ Broadband Wireless: Increasingly used for voice and data communication, enabling mobile and flexible communication. What Is a Computer Network? A computer network is a system where two or more computers are connected to share resources, data, and communication. Major Components in a Simple Network:  1.​ Client and Server Computers: ○​ Clients request services, while servers provide them. 2.​ Network Interface Cards (NICs): ○​ Hardware that connects computers to the network. 3.​ Connection Medium: ○​ The physical or wireless medium (like cables or Wi-Fi) used to transmit data. 4.​ Network Operating System (NOS): ○​ Software that manages network resources and enables communication between devices. 5.​ Hubs, Switches, Routers: ○​ Devices that facilitate the transfer of data within the network. Software-Defined Networking (SDN): ​ In SDN, the functions of switches and routers are managed by a central program, allowing for more flexible and efficient network management. Corporate Network Infrastructure: A corporate network connects various communication systems. Here are key components: ​ Mobile Phones/Smartphones & Telephone Systems: Connected to a telephone service provider. ​ Corporate Website, Intranet, and Extranet: For internal and external communication, managed by servers. ​ Internet Service Provider (ISP): Provides internet access to the company. ​ Wired and Wireless LAN (Local Area Network): ○​ Wired LAN: Connects devices within the company using wired connections. ○​ Wireless LAN: Allows devices to connect without cables. ○​ Mobile Wi-Fi Network: Enables employees to connect to the internet via mobile Wi-Fi networks. Client/Server Computing: A distributed computing model where: ​ Clients (like personal computers or smartphones) connect to a server through a network. ​ Servers control the network and provide each client with an address (like an IP address). ​ This model has replaced older, centralized mainframe computing.  ​ Example: The Internet is the largest and most well-known example of client/server computing. Packet Switching: Packet switching is a method used for sending digital messages efficiently across a network. How It Works: 1.​ Slicing Messages: Digital messages are divided into smaller pieces called packets. 2.​ Sending Packets: Each packet is sent independently through the network along different available communication paths. 3.​ Reassembling Packets: Once the packets reach their destination, they are reassembled into the original message. Benefits: ​ Efficiency: Makes better use of network capacity. ​ Flexibility: Allows packets to be rerouted in case of congestion or failure. ​ Scalability: Can handle large volumes of data and many users. Communications Networks: ​ Digital Signals: Represent data as binary values (0s and 1s) for high reliability. ​ Analog Signals: Continuous signals that vary smoothly (e.g., sound waves). Types of Networks: 1.​ Local Area Networks (LANs): ○​ Connects devices within a small area (e.g., office). ○​ Uses Ethernet technology for high-speed data transfer. 2.​ Wide Area Networks (WANs): ○​ Connects networks over large geographical areas (e.g., Internet). 3.​ Metropolitan Area Networks (MANs): ○​ Covers a city or large campus. Client/Server vs. Peer-to-Peer Networks: ​ Client/Server: Central server controls data access. ​ Peer-to-Peer: Devices share resources directly without a central server. TCP/IP and Connectivity: Protocols: Rules for transmitting data between two points on a network. TCP/IP Model (Department of Defense Reference): 1.​ Application Layer: Handles communication between applications (e.g., HTTP, FTP). 2.​ Transport Layer: Ensures reliable data transmission (e.g., TCP, UDP). 3.​ Internet Layer: Routes data packets using IP addresses. 4.​ Network Interface Layer: Manages physical transmission of data. Importance of TCP/IP: ​ Ensures devices from different manufacturers can communicate across networks. Transmission Media and Speed: 1.​ Physical Transmission Media: ○​ Twisted Pair Wire: Common in LANs. ○​ Coaxial Cable: Used for cable TV and broadband. ○​ Fiber Optics Cable: High-speed, long-distance communication. 2.​ Wireless Transmission Media: ○​ Satellites and Cellular Systems for long-distance communication. Transmission Speed Terms: ​ Bits Per Second (Bps): Measures data transmission speed. ​ Hertz (Hz): Measures signal frequency. ​ Bandwidth: Difference between the highest and lowest frequencies a channel can transmit. The Internet and Internet Technology: ​ The Internet is the world’s most extensive network. ​ Internet Service Providers (ISPs): Provide internet connections. ​ IP Addressing: ○​ Each device on the internet has a unique IP address. ○​ Domain Name System (DNS): Converts IP addresses to domain names for easier access. Key Internet Technologies:  ​ HTTP: Protocol for transferring web pages. ​ FTP: Used for transferring files. ​ VoIP: Voice over IP technology for voice communication over the internet. Wireless Networking Technologies: 1.​ Bluetooth: Short-range communication within 10 meters. 2.​ Wi-Fi: Wireless internet access within 100 meters. 3.​ Hotspots: Public Wi-Fi networks. 4.​ WiMax: Long-range wireless networking. Wireless Sensor Networks (WSNs): ​ Networks of wireless devices (nodes) that collect and transmit data. ​ Used for environmental monitoring, traffic management, and smart cities. Components of WSN Devices: ​ Sensors, processors, storage, antennas, and batteries. Applications: ​ Smart Homes: Control appliances and security systems. ​ Smart Cities: Monitor air quality and traffic. ​ Healthcare: Wearable devices monitor health metrics. Radio Frequency Identification (RFID): ​ Wireless technology using tags and readers to identify and track objects. ​ Commonly used for inventory management and automated toll collection. Comparison with Barcodes: Feature RFID Barcode Scanning Several Direct contact Distance meters Data Storage More data Limited data Speed Faster Slower Reusability Reusable Not reusable Web Technologies: 1.​ Web 2.0: Interactive, user-generated content. 2.​ Web 3.0: AI-driven, interconnected web. Key Features of Web 3.0: ​ Internet of Things (IoT): Connects devices to the internet for data sharing. ​ Pervasive Web: Web integrated into everyday devices. ​ Decentralized Web: Blockchain technology for secure, user-owned web. Types of Networks