Introduction to

Communication Systems
and Networks

Lecture 1
L.Ruci
Telecommunications

Tele (Far) + Communications

Early telecommunications

smoke signals and drums

visual telegraphy (or semaphore in 1792)

Telegraph and telephone

Telegraph (1839)

Telephone (1876)

Radio and television

Telephony

Voice and Data
 Communications and Networks

Data Communications

Transmission of signals

Encoding, interfacing, signal integrity, multiplexing etc.

Networking

Topology & architecture used to interconnect devices

Networks of communication systems

Network Trends (1980-Present)

Voice, Image, Data, Video

Microcontroller
Microcontroller Networking

Wireless

Integrated Systems!
Communication Systems

Process describing transfer of information, data, instructions
between one or more systems through some media

Examples

people, computers, cell phones, etc.

Computer communication systems

Signals passing through the communication channel can be
Digital, or analog

Analog signals: continuous electrical waves

Digital signals: individual electrical pulses (bits)

Receivers and transmitters: desktop computers, mainframe
computers, etc. Communication channel

X
R X X
X
T

R R
Amp/Adaptor

Communication
media
Communication Systems
 Communications Components

Basic components of a
communication system

Communication technologies

Communication devices

Communication channels

Communication software
A Communications Model
Communications Tasks

Transmission system utilization Addressing

Interfacing Routing

Signal generation Recovery

Synchronization Message formatting

Exchange management Security

Error detection and correction Network management

Flow control
Data Communications Model
 Communication Technology
Applications

voice mail Twitter

instant
e-mail chat rooms
messaging

newsgroups telephony videoconferencing

collaboration groupware global positioning

system (GPS)
Communication Technologies -
Applications

Different technologies allowing us to communicate

Examples: Voice mail, fax, email, instant message, chat rooms, news groups,
telephony, GPS, and more

Voice mail: Similar to answering machine but digitized

Fax: Sending hardcopy of text or photographs between computers using fax
modem

Email: electronic mail – sending text, files, images between different computer
networks - must have email software

More than 1.3 billion people send 244 billion messages monthly!

Chat rooms: Allows communications in real time when connected to the Internet

Telephony: Talking to other people over the Internet (also called VoIP)

Sends digitized audio signals over the Internet

Requires Internet telephone software

Groupware: Software application allowing a group of people to communicate
with each other (exchange data)

Address book, appointment book, schedules, etc.

GPS: consists of receivers connected to satellite systems

Determining the geographical location of the receiver

Used for cars, advertising, hiking, tracking, etc.
 Communication Devices

Any type of hardware capable of transmitting data, instructions, and
information between devices

Functioning as receiver, transmitter, adaptor, converter

Basic characteristics: How fast, how far, how much data!

Examples: Dial-up modems, ISDN, DSL modems, network interface cards

Dial-up modem: uses standard phone lines

Converts digital information into analog

Consists of a modulator and a demodulator

Can be external, internal, wireless

ISDN and DSL Modem: Allows digital communication between networks and
computers

Requires a digital modem

Digital is better than analog – why?

Cable modem: a modem that transmits and receives data over the cable
television (CATV) network

Also called broadband modem (carrying multiple signals)

The incoming signal is split

Requires a cable modem

Network interface cards: Adaptor cards residing in the computer to transmit
and receiver data over the network (NIC)

Operate with different network technologies (e.g., Ethernet)
Communication Software

Examples of applications (Layer 7) take advantage of the
transport (Layer 4) services of TCP and UDP

Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP): A client/server
application that uses TCP for transport to retrieve HTML pages.

Domain Name Service (DNS): A name-to-address translation
application that uses both TCP and UDP transport.

Telnet: A virtual terminal application that uses TCP for
transport.

File Transport Protocol (FTP): A file transfer application that
uses TCP for transport.

Trivial File Transfer Protocol (TFTP): A file transfer
application that uses UDP for transport.

Network Time Protocol (NTP): An application that
synchronizes time with a time source and uses UDP for
transport.

Border Gateway Protocol (BGP): An exterior gateway routing
protocol that uses TCP for transport. BGP is used to exchange
routing information for the Internet and is the protocol used
between service providers.
 Communication Channels

A channel is a path between two communication
devices

Channel capacity: How much data can be passed
through the channel (bit/sec)

Also called channel bandwidth

The smaller the pipe the slower data transfer!

Consists of one or more transmission media

Materials carrying the signal

Two types:

Physical: wire cable T1
lines T1

Wireless: Air destination lines
network
server T3
lines

T1
lines
Physical Transmission Media

A tangible media

Examples: Twisted-pair cable, coaxial cable, Fiber-optics,
etc.

Twisted-pair cable:

One or more twisted wires bundled together (why?)

Made of copper

Coax-Cable:

Consists of single copper wire surrounded by three layers of
insulating and metal materials

Typically used for cable TV

Fiber-optics:

Strands of glass or plastic used to transmit light

Very high capacity, low noise, small size, less suitable to
natural disturbances
 Physical Transmission Media

twisted-pair cable twisted-pair wire

woven or
braided metal copper wire

plastic outer insulating

coating material

optical fiber
core

glass cladding

protective
coating
Wireless Transmission Media

Broadcast Radio

Distribute signals through the air
over long distance

Uses an antenna

Typically for stationary locations

Can be short range

Cellular Radio

A form of broadcast radio used for
mobile communication

High frequency radio waves to
transmit voice or data

Utilizes frequency-reuse
Wireless Transmission Media

Microwaves

Radio waves providing high speed
transmission

They are point-to-point (can’t be
obstructed)

Used for satellite communication

Infrared (IR)

Wireless transmission media that sends
signals using infrared light- waves - Such
as?
 Physical Transmission Media

Wireless channel capacity:

100 Mbps is how many bits per sec?

Which is bigger:
10,000 Mbps, 0.01Tbps or 10Gbps?
Networks

Collection of computers and devices connected together

Used to transfer information or files, share resources, etc.

What is the largest network?

Characterized based on their geographical coverage, speed,
capacities

Networks are categorized based on the following characteristics:

Network coverage: LAN, MAN, WAN

Network topologies: how the computers are connected
together

Network technologies

Network architecture
Network coverage

Local Area Networks:

Used for small networks (school, home, office)

Examples and configurations:

Wireless LAN or Switched LAN

ATM LAN, Frame Ethernet LAN

Peer-2-PEER: connecting several computers together (<10)

Client/Server: The serves shares its resources between
different clients

Metropolitan Area Network

Backbone network connecting all LANs

Can cover a city or the entire country

Wide Area Network

Typically between cities and countries

Technology:

Circuit Switch, Packet Switch, Frame Relay, ATM

Examples:

Internet P2P: Networks with the same network software can be
connected together (Napster)
 LAN v.s WAN
LAN - Local Area Network a group of
computers connected within a building
or a campus (Example of LAN may
consist of computers located on a
single floor or a building or it might link
all the computers in a small company.

WAN - A network consisting

of computers of LAN's
connected across a distance
WAN can cover small to large
distances, using different
topologies such as telephone
lines, fiber optic cabling,
satellite transmissions and
microwave transmissions.
Network Topologies

Configuration or physical arrangement in which devices are
connected together

BUS networks: Single central cable connected a number of
devices

Easy and cheap

Popular for LANs

RING networks: a number of computers are connected on a
closed loop

Covers large distances

Primarily used for LANs and WANs

STAR networks: connecting all devices to a central unit

All computers are connected to a central device called hub

All data must pass through the hub

What is the problem with this?

Susceptible to failure
 Network Topologies
personal personal personal
computer computer computer

personal personal
computer computer
personal computer

personal computer

personal computer
host
personal computer computer

printer
file server
 Network Architecture

Refers to how the computer or devices are designed in a network

Basic types:

Centralized – using mainframes

Peer-2-Peer:

Each computer (peer) has equal responsibilities, capacities, sharing
hardware, data, with the other computers on the peer-to-peer network

Good for small businesses and home networks

Simple and inexpensive

Client/Server:

All clients must request service from the server

The server is also called a host

Different servers perform different tasks: File server, network server, etc.

clie clie clie

nt nt nt

laser serv
printer er
 P2P vs Client-Server
Peers make a portion of their resources, such
as processing power, disk storage or network
bandwidth, directly available to other network
participants, without the need for central
coordination by servers or stable hosts

Peer-to-Peer
Examples
(Data) Network Technologies

Vary depending on the type of devices we use for
interconnecting computers and devices together

Ethernet:

LAN technology allowing computers to access the
network

Susceptible to collision

Can be based on BUS or STAR topologies

Operates at 10Mbps or 100Mbps, (10/100)

Fast Ethernet operates at 100 Mbps /

Gigabit Ethernet (1998 IEEE 802.3z)

10-Gigabit Ethernet (10GE or 10GbE or 10 GigE)

10GBASE-R/LR/SR (long range short range, etc.)

Physical layer

Gigabit Ethernet using optical fiber, twisted pair cable,
or balanced copper cable Project
Topic
(Data) Network Technologies

Token Ring

LAN technology

Only the computer with the token can transmit

No collision

Typically 72-260 devices can be connected together

TCP/IP and UDP

Uses packet transmission

802.11

Standard for wireless LAN

Wi-Fi (wireless fidelity) is used to describe that the
device is in 802.11 family or standards

Typically used for long range (300-1000 feet)

Variations include: .11 (1-2 Mbps); .11a (up to 54
Mbps); .11b (up to 11 Mbps); .11g (54 Mbps and
higher Project
Topic
 (Data) Network Technologies

802.11n

Next generation wireless LAN technology

Improving network throughput (600 Mbps compared to
450 Mbps) – thus potentially supporting a user
throughput of 110 Mbit/s

WiMAX

Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access

Provides wireless transmission of data from point-to-
multipoint links to portable and fully mobile internet
access (up to 3 Mbit/s)

The intent is to deliver the last mile wireless broadband
access as an alternative to cable and DSL

Based on the IEEE 802.16(d/e) standard (also called
Broadband Wireless Access)

Project
http://www.broadcom.com/collateral/wp/802_11n-WP100-R.pdf Topic
 Network Technologies

Personal area network (PAN)
A low range computer network



PANs can be used for communication among the personal
devices themselves

Wired with computer buses such as USB and FireWire.

Wireless personal area network (WPAN)

Uses network technologies such as IrDA, Bluetooth, UWB,
Z-Wave and ZigBee

Internet Mobile Protocols

Supporting multimedia Internet traffic

IGMP & MBONE for multicasting

RTP, RTCP, & RSVP (used to handle multimedia on the
Internet)

VoIP

Project
RTP: Real-time Transport Protocol Topic
Network Technologies

Zigbee

High level communication protocols using small, low-power digital radios based on
the IEEE 802.15.4

Wireless mesh networking proprietary standard

Bluetooth

Uses radio frequency

Typically used for close distances (short range- 33 feet or so)

Transmits at 1Mbps

Used for handheld computers to communicate with the desktop

IrDA

Infrared (IR) light waves

Transfers at a rate of 115 Kbps to 4 Mbps

Requires light-of-sight transmission

RFID

Radio frequency identification

Uses tags which are places in items

Example: merchandises, toll-tags, courtesy calls, sensors!

WAP

Wireless application protocol

Data rate of 9.6-153 kbps depending on the service type

Used for smart phones and PDAs to access the Internet (email, web, etc)
Project
Topic
 Network Examples

IEEE 802.15.4

Low-rate wireless personal area networks (LR-WPANs)

Bases for e ZigBee, WirelessHART, and MiWi specification

Also used for 6LoWPAN and standard Internet protocols to build a
Wireless Embedded Internet (WEI)

Intranets

Used for private networks

May implement a firewall

Hardware and software that restricts access to data and information on
a network

Home networks

Ethernet

Phone line

HomeRF (radio frequency- waves)

Intelligent home network

Vehicle-to-Vehicle (car2Car) - http://www.car-to-car.org/

A wireless LAN based communication system to guarantee European-
wide inter-vehicle operability
Project
Car2Car Technology: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8tFUsN3ZgR4 Topic
 Network Examples

Interplanetary (Internet) Network

Project
http://www.ece.gatech.edu/research/labs/bwn/deepspace/ Topic
 Network Example:
Telephone Networks

Called the Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN)

World-wide and voice oriented (handles voice and data)

Data/voice can be transferred within the PSTN using different technologies (data
transfer rate bps)

Dial-up lines:

Analog signals passing through telephone lines Switching Technologies:

Requires modems (56 kbps transfer rate) Technologies:

ISDN lines: •Circuit Switching

Integrated Services Digital Network

Digital transmission over the telephone lines
•Packet Switching

Can carry (multiplex) several signals on a single line •Message Switching

DSL •Burst Switching

Digital subscribe line

ADSL (asymmetric DSL)

receiver operated at 8.4 Mbps, transmit at 640 kbps

T-Carrier lines: carries several signals over a single line: T1,T3

Frame Relay

ATM:

Asynchronous Transfer Mode

Fast and high capacity transmitting technology

Packet technology
Project
Topic
Network Example:
Optical Networks

Fiber-to-the-x

Broadband network architecture
that uses optical fiber to replace
copper

Used for last mile
telecommunications

Examples: Fiber-to-the-home
(FTTH); Fiber-to-the-building
(FTTB); Fiber-to-the premises
(FTTP)

Fiber Distribution Network (reaching
different customers)

Active optical networks (AONs)

Passive optical networks (PONs)

Project
Topic
 Network Example

Smart Grid
Delivering electricity from suppliers to


consumers using digital technology to
save energy

Storage Area Networks

Computational Grid Networks

Project
http://rekuwait.wordpress.com/2009/06/18/smart-electric-grid/ Topic
Network Example:
Telephone Networks
Network Examples
Network Examples
Public Telephone
Network

T-Carrier ATM Dedicated Dail-up

Lines

DSL ISDN

What about Cable Internet Services?

Cellular Network Examples

0G

Single, powerful base station covering a wide area,
and each telephone would effectively monopolize a
channel over that whole area while in use (developed
in 40’s)

No frequency use or handoff (basis of modern cell
phone technology)

1G

Fully automatic cellular networks

introduced in the early to mid 1980s

2G

Introduced in 1991 in Finland on the GSM standard

Offered the first data service with person-to-person
SMS text messaging
Cellular Network Examples

3G:

Faster than PCS; Used for multimedia and
graphics

Compared to 2G and 2.5G services, 3G
allows simultaneous use of speech and
data services and higher data rates (up to
14.4 Mbit/s on the downlink and 5.8 Mbit/s.

4G:

Fourth generation of cellular wireless;

providing a comprehensive and secure IP
based service to users "Anytime,
Anywhere" at high data rates
Merging Technologies

m-Cash

Pay using your cell phone

Scan-free shopping using Radio frequency identification

VeriChip

Implanted computer chip in the body!

RFID

Wearable computer technology

Implanting a cell phone is in your tooth!

Power over Ethernet (PoE)

Transferring electrical power, along with data, to remote
devices over standard category 5 cable in an Ethernet
network

PoE Plus (802.3at) provides more available power

Power over fiber?
Merging Technologies

Ethernet over powerline

allowing to route data packets through the electrical
lines

Up to 200 times faster than DSL (200 Mbps)

Useful when concrete, metal, or other obstructions in
the walls and wireless cannot operate well

Energy-efficient Ethernet

IEEE P802.3az Energy Efficient Ethernet
Task Force

mechanism to reduce power consumption during
periods of low link utilization

No frames in transit shall be dropped or corrupted
during the transition to and from the lower level of
power consumption

Uses low-power idle proposal for use with 100 Mbit
and Gbit connections (causing possible latency for
10G-bit Ethernet)

Project
Topic