MULTIPLEXING

WHAT IS MULTIPLEXING?

◼ Process of combining multiple signals into one signal, over a shared medium.
◼ Set of techniques that allows the simultaneous transmission of multiple signals across single data link
◼ Multiplexing is achieved by using a device called Multiplexer (MUX) that combines ‘n’ input lines to
generate a single output line.
◼ Multiplexing follows many-to-one and Demultiplexing follows one-to-many
WHAT IS MULTIPLEXING?

▪ Multiplexer (MUX) combines the lines into a single stream (many-to-one).

▪ At the receiving end, the stream is fed into a demultiplexer (DEMUX), which separates the stream back
into its component transmission (one-to-many) and direct them to their corresponding lines
▪ The word link referes to the physical path
▪ The word channel refers to the portion of a link carries a transmission between a given pair of lines
TYPES OF MULTIPLEXERS

◼ There are mainly two types of multiplexers, namely analog and digital. The following figure gives a detailed idea
about this classification:
ANALOG MULTIPLEXING

◼ The analog signals are multiplexed according to their frequency (FDM) or wavelength (WDM).

FREQUENCY DIVISION MULTIPLEXING

◼ FDM is an analog technique that can be applied when the bandwidth of a link (in hertz) is greater than
the combined bandwidths of the signal to be transmitted.

◼ This technique uses various frequencies to combine streams of data, for sending them on a
communication medium, as a single signal.
FDM

◼ In the conceptual view of FDM, the transmission path is divided into three paths, each
representing a channel that carries one transmission.
 MULTIPLEXING PROCESS OF FDM
◼ Each source generates a signal of a similar frequency range
◼ Inside the multiplexer, these similar signals modulates different carrier frequencies (f1, f2, and f3).
◼ The resulting modulated signals are then combined into a signal composite signal that is sent out over a media
link that has enough bandwidth to accommodate it.
DEMULTIPLEXING PROCESS OF FDM

◼ The demultiplexer uses a series of filers to decompose the multiplexed signal into its component signals
◼ The individual signals are then passed to a demodulator that separates them from carriers and passes them to the
output lines.
 EXAMPLES OF FDM
◼ Illustrations1:
Assume that a voice channel occupies a bandwidth of 4 kHz. We need to
combine three voice channels into a link with a bandwidth of 12 kHz, from
20 to 32 kHz. Show the configuration using the frequency domain.
Assume there are no guard bands.
▪ Solution:
FDM SOLUTION 1
 EXAMPLES OF FDM

◼ Illustration 2:
Five channels, each with a 100-kHz bandwidth, are to be multiplexed
together. What is the minimum bandwidth of the link if there is a need for
a guard band of 10 kHz between the channels to prevent interference?
▪ Solution:
FDM SOLUTION 2
WAVELENGTH DIVISION MULTIPLEXING (WDM)

◼ Wavelength Division Multiplexing is same as FDM except that the optical signals are transmitted
through the fibre optic cable.
◼ WDM is used on fibre optics to increase the capacity of a single fibre.
◼ It is used to utilize the high data rate capability of fibre optic cable
◼ Multiplexing and Demultiplexing can be achieved by using a prism.
◼ Optical signals from different source are combined to form a wider band of light with the help of
multiplexer.
◼ At the receiving end, demultiplexer separates the signals to transmit them to their respective
destinations.
WAVELENGTH DIVISION MULTIPLEXING (WDM)
◼ Prism can perform a role of multiplexer by combining the various optical signals to form a composite
signal, and the composite signal is transmitted through a fibre optical cable.
◼ Prism also performs a reverse operation, i.e., demultiplexing the signal.
DIGITAL MULTIPLEXING

◼ The term digital represents the discrete bits of information. Hence, the available data is
in the form of frames or packets, which are discrete.
Time Division Multiplexing
◼ In FDM Technique, all signals operate at the same time with different frequency, but in
case of TDM technique, all signals operate at the same frequency with different time.
◼ In TDM technique, the total time available in the channel is distributed among different
users.
◼ Each user is allocated with different time interval known as a Time slot at which data is
to be transmitted by the sender.
TDM
TDM

◼ A user takes control of the channel for a fixed amount of time.

◼ In Time Division Multiplexing technique, data is not transmitted simultaneously rather the
data is transmitted one-by-one.
◼ In TDM, the signal is transmitted in the form of frames. Frames contain a cycle of time slots in
which each frame contains one or more slots dedicated to each user.
◼ It can be used to multiplex both digital and analog signals but mainly used to multiplex digital
signals.
There are two types of TDM:
◼ 1. Synchronous TDM
◼ 2. Asynchronous TDM
1. SYNCHRONOUS TDM

◼ A Synchronous TDM is a technique in which time slot is preassigned to

every device.
◼ In Synchronous TDM, each device is given some time slot irrespective of
the fact that the device contains the data or not.
◼ If the device does not have any data, then the slot will remain empty.
◼ In Synchronous TDM, signals are sent in the form of frames.
SYNCHRONOUS TDM
 SYNCHRONOUS TDM
▪ Various time slots are arranged into frames and each
frame consists of one or more time slots dedicated to
each device (transmitter).
▪ For example, if there are 3 devices, there will be 3
slots in each frame. Similarly, if there are 5 devices,
there will be 5 slots in each frame.
▪ The figure shows 4 devices (transmitter A, transmitter
B, transmitter C, and transmitter D) that have 4
dedicated time slots (time slot A, time slot B, time
slot C and time slot D).
▪ The transmitter A data is sent at time slot A,
transmitter B data is sent at time slot B, transmitter C
data is sent at time slot C and transmitter D data is
sent at time slot D.
▪ In the time frame 2, the transmitter B and C does not
have any data to send so the time slot B and C
remains empty.
2. ASYNCHRONOUS TDM

◼ An asynchronous TDM is also known as Statistical TDM.

◼ An asynchronous TDM is a technique in which time slots are not fixed as in the case
of Synchronous TDM.
◼ Time slots are allocated to only those devices which have the data to send.
◼ Asynchronous TDM transmits only the data from active workstations.
◼ An asynchronous TDM technique dynamically allocates the time slots to the devices.
◼ In Asynchronous TDM, total speed of the input lines(n) can be greater than the
capacity(m) of the channel. i.e. (m<n)
2. ASYNCHRONOUS TDM

◼ It is shown that the number of devices are 4

and time slots are 3. The timeframe 1 (all
slots) is completely filled with data from
devices A, B, and C. The timeframe 1 has
only 3 time-slots.
◼ So the data from device D is filled in the
next timeframe (I.e. timeframe 2) in timeslot
1.
◼ The data from devices A and D will be filled
in timeslots 2 and 3 in timeframe 2.
ASYNCHRONOUS VS. SYNCHRONOUS TDM
S. No. Synchronous TDM Asynchronous TDM

In this, multiplexer allocates same In this, multiplexer does not

time slots to each device without allocates same time slots to each
1.
considering fact that device device without considering fact that
contains data or not. device contains data or not.

Number of slots per frame are equal Number of slots per frame are less
to number of input lines i.e., If it than number of input lines i.e., If
2.
contains n input lines, then it must there are n input lines, then there are
have n slots in one frame. m slots in one frame (m<n).
Channel capacity is not fully Channel capacity is fully utilized.
3. utilized. Hence, the bandwidth goes Hence, the bandwidth doesn’t get
wasted wasted
4. Time slots are fixed and Time-slots are not pre-defined.
pre-defined.
PROBLEM

◼ There are 3 devices – A,B and C. In device A, 2 data A1, A2, in device B, three data B1, B2 and B3, and in device
C, data C1, C2, and C3 are to be multiplexed.
Device A B C
Data A1, A2 B1, B2, B3 C1, C2, C3

Now, show the multiplexing and demultiplexing using synchronous TDM and asynchronous TDM.
PROBLEM

◼ There are 4 devices – Transmitter 1,2,3, and 4. From device 1, 2 data C and A, device 2, data B, device 3, data D
and from 4th device, E and F are to be multiplexed.

Transmitter 1 2 3 4
Data C, A B D E, F

Now, show the multiplexing and demultiplexing using synchronous TDM and asynchronous TDM.