Chapter 7: Communications Technology Networks and Communications
Key Questions How do digital and analog data differ, and what does a modem do? What are some offerings of new telecommunications? What the types of wired and wireless channels and some types of wireless communications What are the benefits of networks, and what are their types, components, and variations? What are important issues in cyberethics
I. Using Computers to Communicate A. Analog Signals: Continuous Waves B. Digital Signals: Discrete Bursts C. The Modem: Today’s Compromise D. Choosing a Modem 1. External versus internal 2. Transmission speed E. Communications Software
Analog and digital signals
How modems work
I. Using Computers to Communicate F. Transmission media 1.ISDN lines 2.DSL (ADSL) 3.T1 Lines 4.Cable modems 5.Satellite dishes Bandwidth Amount of info transmitted within a given period of time Broadband: high speed connections
Connection competitors Approximate time to transfer a 40MB file
II. Communications Channels A. Twisted-Pair Wire B. Coaxial Cable C. Fiber-Optic Cable D. Microwave & Satellite Systems E. Other Wireless Communications a. GPS (Global Positioning System) b. Pagers
Three types of wired communications channels Twisted-pair wire (top right): poor protection against electrical interference. Coaxial cable (top left): better protection against electrical interference. Fiber-optic cable (bottom left): Thin glass strands transmit light These strands can carry computer and voice data over long distances.
Microwave systems
Communications satellite
GPS receiver: handheld compass
Data Compression Removing repetitive patterns to reduce the size Lossless compression: Compressed data can be decompressed back to the same original – MS Word and Excel files, etc Lossy compression: loss of accuracy for a high degree compression – graphics and video files Compression Standard: Joint Photographic Experts Group (JPEG): for still images (file extension: .jpeg or .jpg) Motion Picture Experts Group (MPEG): for moving images (file extension: .mpeg or .mpg)
III. Communications Networks A. Types of Networks 1. Wide area network (WAN) 2. Metropolitan area network (MAN) 3. Local area network (LAN) B. Network Operating Systems C. Hosts & Nodes, Servers & Clients
IV. Local Networks A. Types of LANs 1. Client/Server 2. Peer-to-Peer B. Components of a LAN 1. Connection or cabling system 2. Microcomputers with interface cards 3. Network operating system 4. Other shared devices 5. Bridges, routers, and gateways
Components of a typical LAN
IV. Local Networks D. Topology of LANs 1. Star network 2. Ring network 3. Bus network
Star Network
Ring network
Bus network
Serial data transmission
Parallel data transmission Data resembles cars moving in separate lanes at the same speed on a multilane freeway.