COMPUTERS AND INFORMATION

PROCESSING (CSC134)

Chapter 8

Communications and Networks

Topics
• Communication systems: channels, device, and data transaction

• Transmission media.: physical and wireless transmission

• Organizational Internet: Intranet, Extranet and Virtual Private Network.

• Network terms

• Types of networks: LAN, MAN, WAN and WLAN

• Network architecture: topology and strategy

Learning Objectives
1. Explain connectivity, the wireless revolution, and communication systems.
2. Describe physical and wireless communications channels.
3. Differentiate between connection devices and services, including dial-up,
DSL, cable, satellite, and cellular.
4. Describe data transmission factors, including bandwidth and protocols.
5. Define networks and key network terminology including network interface
cards and network operating systems.
6. Describe different types of networks, including local, home, wireless,
personal, metropolitan, and wide area networks.
7. Describe network architectures, including topologies and strategies.
8. Describe the network devices
9. Explain the organization issues related to Internet technologies and network
security.
Introduction
• We live in a truly connected
society.
• Increased connectivity potentially
means increased productivity,
especially in business.
• You will learn more about the
concept of connectivity and the
impact of the wireless revolution
in this chapter.
Communications
• Computer communications is the process of sharing data,
programs, and information between two or more computers

Purpose Communication
• Numerous applications depend on communication systems,
including
• E-mail

Software
• Texting Help users establish a connection to another computer, mobile
device, or network
• Video Conferencing
• Electronic commerce Manage the transmission of data, instructions, and information

Provide an interface for users to communicate with one

another
 Connectivity
• Connectivity uses computer
networks to link people and
resources
• Connects your personal computer to
other computers and resources on a
network and the Internet
• The Wireless Revolution
• Single most dramatic change in
connectivity in the past decade
• Allows connectivity with anyone from
almost anywhere at any time

The Revolution is just beginning

Communication Systems

Electronic systems that transmit data from one location to

another

Sender Receiver
Basic Elements of Communication
• Four basic elements of communication systems
• Sending and receiving devices
• Computer or a specialized communication device
• Connection devices
• Interface between sending and receiving device and the communication channel.
• They convert outgoing messages into packets that can travel across the communication
channel and reverse the process for incoming messages.
• Data transmission specifications
• Rules and procedures that coordinate the devices
• The specifics describing how the message is modified, reformatted, and sent
• Communication channel
• Carries the message
Sending and receiving devices
• Sender or Receiver device that initiates an instruction to
transmit/accept data, instruction , or information.
• It originate (send) as well as accept (receive) messages in the
form of data, information, and/or instructions.
• Example: mainframe computers, servers, desktop computers,
notebook computers, smartphones, portable media players,
handheld game consoles, and GPS receivers.
Communication Channels
• Communication channels carry the data from one computer to
another; essential element of every communication system
• Two categories of communication channels
• Physical Connections using wire or cable
• Wireless Connections
Physical Connections
Physical connection between sending and
receiving device include
• Twisted pair cable: two pairs of copper wire
twisted together
• Telephone lines
• Ethernet cables
• Coaxial cable: single solid copper core
• Cable TV
• Fiber-optic cable: tiny glass tubes
• Faster and more reliable than coax
• Rapidly twisted pair
Wireless Connections
Wireless connections do not use a solid substance to
connect; uses the air itself. Most use radio waves to
communicate
Primary Wireless Technology
Bluetooth (short-range)
• Radio communication standard
Wi-Fi (wireless fidelity)
• Uses high frequency radio
Microwave
• Uses high frequency radio wave signals
WiMax (extends Wi-Fi)
• New standard that uses microwave to extend WiFi range
Cellular
• Use multiple antennae to communication
Satellite
• Uses satellites as microwave relay stations
Infrared
• Use infrared light wants to communication over short distances
GPS
• Determine geographic location of the device
 Others Wireless Technology

LTE
• is a network standard that defines how high-speed cellular transmissions use broadcast radio to
transmit data for mobile communications

UWB (ultra-wideband)
• is a network standard that specifies how two UWB devices use short-range radio waves to
communicate at high speeds with each other

IrDA
• transmits data wirelessly via infrared (IR) light waves

RFID
• is a protocol that defines how a network uses radio signals to communicate with a tag placed in or
attached to an object, an animal, or a person

NFC (near field communication)

• is a protocol, based on RFID, that defines how a network uses close-range radio signals to
communicate between two devices or objects equipped with NFC technology
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Connection Devices
Connection Devices need to convert digital signal to analog
• Modem – modulator-demodulator
• Modulation is the process of converting from digital to analog
• Demodulation is the process of converting from analog to digital
• Transfer rate
• Speed in which modems transfer data
• Usually measured in megabits per second (Mbps)
Types of Modems
• Types of Modems
• Digital subscriber line (DSL)
• High speed telephone lines
• Cable
• Uses coaxial cable
• Wireless
• Also known as WWAN
Connection Device Signals
• Types of signals
• Analog
• Digital
• Transfer rates
• Mbps – million bits per second
• Gbps – billion bits per second
• Tbps – trillion bits per second
Connection Services - Corporations
• Leased lines
• T1 combined to form T3 and DS3
• Have been replaced by OC lines
• Faster optical carrier lines
• Higher capacity
• Not affordable for individuals
Connection Services - Individuals
• Digital subscriber line (DSL)
• Uses phone lines
• ADSL is most widely used type of DSL
• Cable
• Uses existing TV cable
• Faster than DSL
• Satellite connection services
• Use almost anywhere
• Slower than DSL and cable modem
• Cellular Services
• 3G and 4G cellular network connectivity
• Fiber Optic Service (FiOS)
• New technology
• Google and Verizon
Data Transmission
Factors that affect data transmission
• Bandwidth is how much information can move across the
communication channel in a given amount of time
• Measurement of the width or capacity of the communication channel
• Categories of bandwidth
• Voiceband (or low bandwidth) – standard telephone
• Medium band – leased lines for high-speed
• Mid-range computer and mainframes
• Broadband for DSL, cable, satellite connections to the Internet
• Baseband for individual connections for computers in close range
Making IT Work for You ~ Mobile Internet
• Have an “always-on” connection to access e-mail, websites,
cloud services, and apps.
• Devices that can keep you always connected
Protocols

Communication rules for exchanging data between computers

• HTTPS – Hypertext Transfer Protocol Secure
• Widely used to protect the transfer of sensitive data
TCP/IP
• TCP/IP (Transmission control protocol/Internet protocol)
• Most widely used protocol
• Each computer is identified with unique IP (Internet Protocol) address
• DNS – Domain name service resolves IP addresses to names
• Packetization – information broken down into small parts (packets) and
then reassembled
Networks
A communication system that connects
two or more computers so they can
exchange information and share
resources
Advantages:

Facilitating Sharing Sharing data and

communications hardware information

Transferring
Sharing software
funds
Specialized Terms in a Network
Nodes
• Any device connected to a network
Client
• A node that requests and uses resources from other nodes
Server
• A node that shares resources with other nodes
Directory Server
• Specialized server that managers resources
Host
• Computer system that can be accessed over a network
Router
• Node that forwards or routes data packets
Switch
• Central node that coordinates the flow of data
Network Interface Cards (NIC)
• Expansion card that connects a computer to a network
Network Operating System (NOS)
• Control activities of all computers on the network
Network Administrator
• Computer specialists responsible for network operations
Network Types
Network Architecture
How the network is arranged and resources are shared
• Network Topology
• Physical arrangement/layout of the network
• Network Strategy
• The configuration of computers, devices, and media on a network.
• It show how the information and resources are shared
Topology – Bus Network
• Topology where an each device is connected to a common cable
called a bus or backbone, and all communications travel along this
bus.
Topology - Ring Network

• Topology where each device connected directly to

a central network switch
Topology - Star Network

• Topology where each device connected directly to

a central network switch
 Topology - Tree Network

• Topology where each device connected to a central node

either directly or through subordinate nodes
• Also called hierarchical
Topology - Mesh Network

• Topology that does not use a

specific physical layout, but requires
that each node have more than one
connection to other nodes
• Wireless technologies are
frequently used
Network Strategies

• Client/Server Network
• Central computers coordinate and supply
services to other nodes on the network
• Server provides access
• Peer-to-Peer (P2P) Network
• All nodes have equal authority
• Can act as both client and server
Strategies – Client/Server VS P2P

Client/Server Peer-to-Peer
• one or more computers act as a • a simple, inexpensive network that
server; the other computers (client) on typically connects fewer than 10
the network request services from the computers.
server. • Each computer, called a peer, has
• A server controls access to the equal
hardware, software, and other responsibilities and capabilities,
resources on the network and provides sharing hardware (such as a printer),
a centralized storage area for data, or information with other
programs, data, and computers on the peer-to-peer
information. network.
• The clients are other computers • Each computer stores files on its own
and mobile devices on the network storage devices. All computers on the
that rely on the server for its network share any peripheral device(s)
resources. attached to any computer.
• For example, a server might store a • For example, one computer may have
database of customers. Clients on the a laser printer and a scanner, while
network (company employees) access another has an ink-jet printer and an
 Network Devices
• A Network device is any type of hardware capable of transmitting data,
instructions, and information between a sending device and a receiving device

Modem Router

Network
Hub/switch
card
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Devices - Modem
Modem can convert digital signals to analog
signals and analog signals to digital signals,
so that data can travel along an analog
telephone line.
 Devices - Router
• A router connects multiple
computers or other routers
together and transmits data to its
correct destination on a network

37
Devices – Network Interface Card
• A network card enables a computer or device that does not have built-in
networking capability to access a network
• Available in a variety of styles

38
 Devices – Hub or Switch
• A hub or switch is a device that provides a central point for cables in a
network

39
Organizational Networks
Internet technologies support effective communication within
and between organizations
• Intranet
• Private network within an organization
• Works like the Internet
• Extranet
• Private network that connects more than one organization
• Works like the Internet, but provides suppliers and other trusted
partners with limited access to the organization’s networks
Network Security
Commonly used technologies to ensure network security
• Firewall
• Hardware and software that controls access to network
• Proxy server provides pass-through access
• Protects against external threats
• Intrusion detection system (IDS)
• Works with firewall to protect organization's network
• Analyzes all incoming and outgoing network traffic
• Virtual private network (VPN)
• Creates a secure private network connection between your computer and
the organization

See the graphic on the next slide demonstrating network security

Intranet, Extranet, Firewall, Proxy
Server
A Look to the Future ~ Telepresence

• Seeks to create the illusion

that you are actually at a
remote location
• Early implementations
mainly focus on an
extension of
video-conferencing
End of Chapter 8