Multiplexing : Sharing a Medium

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Introduction
Under the simplest conditions, a medium can carry only one
signal at any moment in time.
For multiple signals to share one medium, the medium must
somehow be divided, giving each signal a portion of the total
bandwidth.
The current techniques that can accomplish this include
•frequency division multiplexing (FDM)
•time division multiplexing (TDM)
•Synchronous vs statistical
•wavelength division multiplexing (WDM)
•code division multiplexing (CDM)
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 Multiplexing

Multiplexor (MUX)
Demultiplexor (DEMUX)
Sometimes just called a MUX

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 Multiplexing
• It is the process of sending signals from two
or more different sources simultaneously
over a single communication channel.
• Multiplexing means combining multiple
streams of information for transmission
over a shared medium.
• Demultiplexing performs the reverse
function: split a combined stream arriving
from a shared medium into the original
information streams.
 Multiplexing
• Two or more simultaneous transmissions on
a single circuit.
– Transparent to end user.
• Multiplexing costs less.

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Frequency Division Multiplexing
In FDM, signals of different frequencies are combined into a
single composite signal and are transmitted on the single link.
The multiplexor is attached to a high-speed communications
line.
A corresponding multiplexor, or demultiplexor, is on the end
of the high-speed line and separates the multiplexed signals.

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Frequency Division Multiplexing
This technique is the oldest multiplexing technique.
Analog signaling is used to transmits the signals.
Since it involves analog signaling, it is more susceptible to
noise.
Applications:
Broadcast radio and television, cable television, and the
AMPS cellular phone systems use frequency division
multiplexing.

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 Advantage of FDM multiplexing
•A large number of signals (channels) can be transmitted
simultaneously.
•Demodulation of FDM is easy.
•FDM does not need synchronization between its
transmitter and receiver for proper operation.

Disadvantages of FDM
In FDM, the bandwidth wastage may be high.
•.
•FDM suffers from the problem of cross talk. Therefore to
avoid interference between two successive channels Guard
bands are used.

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Time Division Multiplexing
Sharing of the signal is accomplished by dividing available
transmission time on a medium among users.
Digital signaling is used exclusively.
Time division multiplexing comes in two basic forms:
1. Synchronous time division multiplexing, and
2. Statistical, or asynchronous time division multiplexing.

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In TDM, the channel is not divided on the basis of frequency
but on the basis of time.
Each user is allotted a particular time interval called time
slot or time slice during which the data is transmitted by that
user.

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Synchronous Time Division
Multiplexing
In synchronous TDM the slots are arranged in a round robin
manner, i.e., if there are n sources, then a single frame or
round consists of n time slots, and each time slot is dedicated
to exactly one source for carrying data from the
corresponding input, irrespective of the fact that the device
has any data to transmit or not.
.

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 Synchronous TDM

• Very popular
• Line will require as much bandwidth as all the
bandwidths of the sources
• Disadvantages
• The channel capacity cannot be fully utilized when
some source do not want to send the data.
• It is very complex to implement.

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Statistical Time Division Multiplexing
A statistical multiplexor transmits only the data from active
workstations (or why work when you don’t have to).
In synchronous TDM if a particular terminal has no data to
transmit at a particular time period, the corresponding slot in
a frame is wasted or an empty slot will be transmitted.
Asynchronous TDM or statistical TDM is used to overcome
this difficulty. It dynamically allocates the time slots on the
demand to separate input channels, thus saving the channel
capacity. .

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Statistical Time Division Multiplexing
A statistical multiplexor does not require a line over as high a
speed line as synchronous time division multiplexing since
STDM does not assume all sources will transmit all of the
time!
Good for low bandwidth lines (used for LANs)
Much more efficient use of bandwidth!

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Wavelength division multiplexing

Fiber-optic communications require a different kind of

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 Advantages of WDM
•In WDM full-duplex transmission is possible.
•It is easier to reconfigure.
•Optical components are more reliable and
provide higher bandwidth.
•Provide high security and faster access to
new channel.
•Low cost and easy system expansion.
•Simultaneous transmission of various
signals.

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 Disadvantages of WDM
•The cost of the system increases with addition of optical
components.
•Inefficiency in BW utilization, difficulty in wavelength
tuning, and difficulty in cascaded topology.

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Code Division Multiplexing (CDM)
Old but now new method
Also known as code division multiple access (CDMA)
An advanced technique that allows multiple devices to
transmit on the same frequencies at the same time using
different codes
Used for mobile communications

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Code Division Multiplexing
An advanced technique that allows multiple devices to
transmit on the same frequencies at the same time.
Each mobile device is assigned a unique 64-bit code (chip
spreading code)
To send a binary 1, mobile device transmits the unique code
To send a binary 0, mobile device transmits the inverse of
code

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CDM involves the modulation of data with this
spreading code in the transmitter side.

The receiver also wants to know the same code

The main advantage of CDM is protection from

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 Advantage of CDM
•The CDM does not require any
synchronization.
•In CDM more number of users can share the
same bandwidth.
•It is scalable.
•It is well-matched with other cellular
technologies.
•Interference is reduced because different code
words are allocated to each user.
•Efficient utilization of fixed frequency spectrum.

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 Disadvantages
•The system is more complicated.
•As the number of users increases, the
overall quality of services decreases.
•More complex system and primarily it is
used in wireless transmission.

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