Management Information Systems

Lecture-6: Telecommunications and Networks

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 Network Concepts

 A network is an interconnected or interrelated chain, group, or system

 The number of possible connections on a network is N(N–1) or N2 –N
• N = number of nodes (points of connection)
• Example: 10 computers on a network = 10(10–1)
= 10x9 = 90 possible connections

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Metcalfe’s Law

 The usefulness, or utility, of a network equals the square of

the number of users
• The more users on a network, the more useful
it becomes
 Until critical mass is reached, a change in
technology only
affects the technology
• Once critical mass is attained, social, political, and economic systems
change
• Example: The Internet is growing exponentially
• We can expect more value, for less cost, virtually every time we log
on
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Telecommunication Trends

Industry Towards more competitive vendors carriers, alliances and Network services, accelerated by
Trends
deregulation and the growth of the Internet and the World Wide Web

Towards extensive use of Internet , Digital fiber-optics, and wireless technologies to create high
Technolog
y
speed local and global internetworks for voice , data, images , audio, and video
Trends communications

Towards the pervasive and ubiquitous use of the Internet , enterprise Intranets, and inter-
Application
Trends
organizational extranets extranets to support electronic business and commerce, enterprise
collaboration, strategic advantage in local and global markets
Telecommunications-Based Services
Specific Service Possibilities
• Broadcast TV
• High Definition TV
• Enhanced pay per view
• Video on demand
• Interactive TV
• IP TV
• Interactive Video games

• Multimedia services
• Social networking
• Transaction processing services
• Internet access and digital contents
• E-mail
• Telecommuting
• Videoconferencing
• Video Telephony
• Wireless access
• Cellular/PCS systems
• Plain Old telephone services
•
•
Distance Learning
E-learning 5
Internet Networking Technologies

 Internet networking technology platform:

 Web browser suites
 HTML Web page editors
 Network management software
 Firewalls
 Form of application:
 Internet
 Intranet
 Extranet applications
 Reinforces previous move toward client/server networks based on open-
systems architecture

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Open Systems

 Open systems use common standards for hardware, software, applications,

and networks
• Internet networking technologies are a common standard for open systems
 Connectivity
• Open systems provide greater connectivity
and network interoperability
• Middleware may be needed to help
diverse systems work together

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OSI layers

Application

Presentatio
n

Session

Transpor

DPahtyasil
Network 8
Middleware
 Middleware
• A general term for any programming that mediates between two separate
programs
• Allows a particular database to access other databases without custom
programming
 Commonly known as the “plumbing” of an information system
• It routes data and information between back-end data sources and
end user
applications
• An essential component of any IT infrastructure
 Digital Network Technologies

 Telecommunications are being revolutionized by switching from analog

to digital
• Analog: voice-oriented transmission
• Digital: discrete pulse transmission
 Benefits of Digital Transmission
• Higher transmission speeds
• Moves larger amounts of information
• Greater economy and much lower error rates
• Transmits multiple types of communications (data, voice, video) on the same
circuits

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 Networking Technologies

 Fiber-optic
• Uses pulses of laser-generated light
• Reduced size and installation effort
• Vastly greater communication capacity
• Faster transmission speeds
• Freedom from electrical interference
 Satellite Transmission
• Can move massive quantities of data, audio,
and video over global networks
• Especially useful in isolated areas

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 Business Application
Trends
 Telecommunications networks now play a vital and pervasive role in
Web-enabled…
• E-business processes
• Electronic commerce
• Enterprise collaboration
• Other applications that support operations, management, and strategic
objectives

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Value of Telecommunications Networks

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The Internet Revolution

 The Internet has become a global information superhighway

• Millions of smaller, private networks operating independent of, or in harmony
with, each other
• 10 servers in 1991 to over 75 million in 2019
• Sustained growth in excess of 1 million servers per month

• No central computer system

• No governing body

• Based on common standards

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 Internet Service Providers
 ISP
• A company that specializes in providing easy access to the Internet
• For a monthly fee, provides software, user name, password, and Internet access
 ISPs themselves are connected to one another through network access
points
• One ISP can easily connect to another to obtain addresses of websites or
user nodes
Internet Applications
 Most popular Internet applications and uses
• E-mail
• Instant messaging
• Browsing the Web
• Newsgroups
• Chat rooms
• Publish opinions, subject matter, creative work
• Buy and sell
• Downloading (data, software, reports, pictures, music, videos)

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Business Use of the Internet

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Business Value of the Internet

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 The Role of Intranets
 Many companies have sophisticated and widespread intranets, offering…
• Detailed data retrieval
• Collaboration
• Personalized customer profiles
• Links to the Internet
 Intranets use Internet technologies
• Web browsers and servers
• TCP/IP network protocols
• HTML publishing and databases
Intranets
 Intranets are protected by…
• Passwords
• Encryption
• Firewalls
 Customers, suppliers, and other business partners can access an intranet
via extranet links

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Business Value of Intranets

 Intranets support
• Communications and collaboration
• Business operations and management
• Web publishing
• Intranet portal management

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Intranets as Information Portals

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 Extranets

 Network links that use Internet technologies to connect the intranet of a

business to the intranets of another
 Virtual Private Networks
• Direct private network links, or private secure Internet links between companies
 Unsecured Extranet
• Link between a company and others via the Internet, relying on encryption of
sensitive data and firewall security systems
Extranet Connectivity

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Business Value of Extranets
 Web browser technology makes customer and supplier access to
intranets easier and faster
 Another way to build and strengthen strategic relationships
 Enables and improves collaboration between a business, customers, and
partners
 Facilitates online, interactive product development and marketing
Telecommunications Network Alternatives

 Telecommunications is a highly technical, rapidly changing field

• Most business professionals don’t need detailed technical knowledge
• However, understanding basic components and their characteristics is necessary
• Can help you make informed decisions about telecommunications alternatives

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Telecommunications Network Model
 A telecommunications network is any arrangement where
• A sender transmits a message
• To a receiver
• Over a channel
• Consisting of some sort of medium

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Telecommunications Network Components

 Terminals
• Any input/output device that uses networks
to transmit or receive data
 Telecommunications processors
• Devices that support data transmission,
reception
 Telecommunications channels
• Media over which data are transmitted,
received
 Computers
• All sizes and types
Telecommunications Network Components

 Telecommunications control software

• Controls telecommunications activities
• Manages the functions of telecommunications networks
 Includes network management programs of all kinds
• Telecommunications monitors (mainframes)
• Network operating systems (network servers)
• Web browsers (microcomputers)
Network Component Alternatives

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Types of Communications Networks

 Primary types of communications networks

• Wide Area
• Local Area
• Virtual Private
• Client/Server
• Peer-to-peer

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 Local Area Network (LAN)

 Connects computers within

a limited physical area,
such as an office,
classroom, or building

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Virtual Private Networks (VPN)

 Used to establish secure intranets and extranets

• The Internet is the main backbone network
• Relies on network firewalls, encryption, and
other security features to build a “pipe” through the Internet
• Creates a private network without the high
cost of a separate proprietary connection

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Virtual Private Network

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 Client/Server Networks

 Clients
• End user personal computers or networked computers
 Servers
• Used to manage the networks
 Processing
• Shared between the clients and servers
• Sometimes called a two-tier architecture
 Larger computer systems are being replaced with multiple
client/server networks
Client/Server Network

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Network Computing

 Networks are the central computing resource of the organization

• Thin clients provide a browser-based user interface for processing applets
 Thin clients include
• Network computers
• Net PCs
• Other low-cost network devices or
information appliances

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Network Computing

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Peer-to-Peer Networks

 Central Server Architecture

• P2P file-sharing software connects all PCs to a central server
• When a PC requests a file, the server searches all active peers on the network
• The server sends the requesting PC a list of links to all active peers who
have the file
• Clicking a link connects the two PCs and automatically transfers the file to the
requesting PC

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Peer-to-Peer Networks

 Pure Peer-to-Peer Architecture

• No central directory or server
• File-sharing software connects one PC to another online user
• When you request a file, the software searches every online user and sends you a
list
of active file names
• Clicking a link automatically transfers the file from that user’s hard drive to yours

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Central Server Peer-to-Peer Networks
 Advantages
• Can better protect the integrity and security
of the content and users of the network
 Disadvantages
• Directory server can be slowed or overwhelmed by too many users or technical
problems

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Peer-to-Peer Network Diagrams

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 Digital and Analog
Signals
 Analog or digital refers to the method used to convert information into
an electrical signal
• Analog: an electrical current is generated that
is proportional to the quantity being observed
• Digital: the quantity being observed is expressed as a number
• Analog: if the temperature is 83 degrees, a measuring device would generate 8.3
volts
• Digital: a measurement of 83 degrees would be displayed as the number 83

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Telecommunications Media

 Twisted-Pair Wire

 Coaxial Cable

 Fiber-Optic Cable

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 The Problem of “The Last Mile”

 Network providers use fiber optic cable as a communications

backbone
• Houses connected to the backbone are wired
with twisted pair
• Users don’t benefit from the faster, better technology

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 Wireless Technologies
 Terrestrial Microwave
• Earthbound microwave systems transmit
high-speed radio signals
• Follows a line-of-sight path between relay systems spaced about 30
miles apart
 Communications Satellites
• Serve as relay stations
• Use microwave radio signals
• Earth stations beam signals to the satellites
• Not suitable for interactive, real-time processing

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Wireless Technologies

 Cellular and PCS Telephone and Pager Systems

• Geographic areas are divided into cells
• Each cell has a low-power transmitter or radio relay antenna
• Computers and other communications processors coordinate and
control the transmissions to and from mobile users
 Wireless LANS
• Uses wireless radio-wave technology to
connect PCs within an office or a building
• Can be high-frequency, similar to digital
cellular, or low frequency (spread
spectrum)

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Wireless Technologies

 Bluetooth
• Short-range wireless technology
• Connects PCs to devices, such as a printer
• Fairly low cost to implement
 Other Wireless Systems
• Cellular phones
• Mobile radio
• PDAs
 Telecommunications networks now play vital and pervasive roles in
• Web-enabled e-business processes
• Electronic commerce
• Enterprise collaboration
• Other applications that support business operations, management, and strategic
objectives
The Wireless Web

 Wireless Internet access is growing as Web-enabled information

appliances proliferate

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Telecommunications Processors

 Modems
• The most common type of communications processor
• Converts a digital signal to an analog frequency that can be transmitted over
phone lines, then back into a digital signal
• Modulation and demodulation

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 Inter-Network Processors

 Switch… makes connections between telecommunications circuits in a

network
 Router… intelligent communications processor that interconnects
networks based on different protocols
 Hub… a port-switching communications processor
 Gateway… connects networks with different communications
architectures
Communications Processors

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Communications Processors

 Multiplexer… allows a single communications channel to carry

simultaneous data transmissions from many terminals
• In time division multiplexing (TDM), the multiplexer divides the time each terminal
can use the high-speed into short time slots
 Multiplexers increase the number of transmissions possible
• Does not increase the number of physical data channels

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Telecommunications Software

 May reside in PCs, servers, mainframes, and communications processors

• Vital part of all telecommunications networks
• Used to manage network performance
• WANs often use telecommunications monitors or teleprocessing monitors
• Other networks use operating system software
• Middleware helps diverse networks communicate with each other
Network Management Functions
 Traffic Management
• Manage network resources and traffic to
avoid congestion and optimize service levels
 Security
• Provide authentication, encryption, firewall, auditing, and
enforcement
 Network Monitoring
• Troubleshoot and watch over the network, alerting administrators of
potential problems
 Capacity Planning
• Survey network resources, traffic patterns, and users’ needs
• Determine the best way to accommodate the needs of the network
as it grows and changes
Network Topologies

 Topology - The structure of a network

 Star Network - Ties end user computers to a central computer
 Ring Network - Ties local computer processors together in a ring on a
relatively equal basis
 Bus Network - Local processors share the same communications
channel
 Mesh Network - Uses direct communications lines to connect
some or
all of the computers in the ring to
each other
 Switch - A message-switching computer that handles
data communication between autonomous
local computers
Network Topologies

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Network Architectures and Protocols

 Protocol
• A standard set of rules and procedures for the control of communications in a
network
 Handshaking
• The process of exchanging predetermined signals and characters
• Establishes a telecommunications session between terminals and computers
 Network Architecture
• Master plan of standard protocols, hardware, software, and interfaces between end
users and computer systems
• Goal is to promote an open, simple, flexible,
and efficient telecommunications environment

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OSI and TCP/IP Models
 Open Systems Interconnection (OSI) Model
• A seven-layer model that serves as a standard model for network architectures
• Model for how messages should be transmitted between two points in a network
• Each layer adds functions
 Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol (TCP/IP)
• A five-layer telecommunications protocol used by the Internet
OSI and TCP/IP Models

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 Voice Over IP

 Internet Telephony
• Using an Internet connection to pass voice data using IP instead of a
telephone
network
• Often referred to as voice over IP or VoIP
• Works like a regular phone, but skips long-distance charges
• Runs over standard network infrastructure
• Requires a well-configured network to work smoothly

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 Bandwidth
 Bandwidth
• The frequency range of a telecommunications channel that determines the
maximum transmission rate
• Speed and capacity typically measured in bits
per second (bps)
• Sometimes call baud rate
 Transmission Rates
• Narrow-band = low speed
• Broadband = high speed

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 Switching
Alternatives
 Circuit Switching
• Switch opens a circuit to establish a link between a sender and a
receiver
• It remains open until the communication session is completed
 Packet Switching
• Breaks messages into groups called packets
• Transmits packets separately

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 Network Interoperability
 Ensures that anyone anywhere on one network can communicate with
anyone anywhere on another network
• From a telecommunications perspective, no need to speak a common
language
 Telecommunications would be possible without
• Complete accessibility
• Transparency
• Seamless interoperability across all networks

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