Computer Networks

Multiplexing & Demultiplexing

Techniques

Delivered By:
Namra Mukhtar
Lecturer, USKT
 What is Multiplexing?
• Multiplexing is a technique used to combine and send the multiple data streams over
a single medium. The process of combining the data streams is known as
multiplexing and hardware used for multiplexing is known as a multiplexer.
• 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, i.e., n
input lines and one output line.
• Demultiplexing is achieved by using a device called Demultiplexer (DEMUX) available
at the receiving end. DEMUX separates a signal into its component signals (one input
and n outputs). Therefore, we can say that demultiplexing follows the one-to-many
approach.
• When multiple senders try to send over a single medium, a device called Multiplexer
divides the physical channel and allocates one to each. On the other end of
communication, a De-multiplexer receives data from a single medium, identifies
each, and sends to different receivers
Why Multiplexing?

• The transmission medium is used to send the signal from sender to

receiver. The medium can only have one signal at a time.
• If there are multiple signals to share one medium, then the medium
must be divided in such a way that each signal is given some portion
of the available bandwidth. For example: If there are 10 signals and
bandwidth of medium is100 units, then the 10 unit is shared by each
signal.
• When multiple signals share the common medium, there is a
possibility of collision. Multiplexing concept is used to avoid such
collision.
• Transmission services are very expensive.
•The 'n' input lines are transmitted through a multiplexer and multiplexer combines
the signals to form a composite signal.
•The composite signal is passed through a Demultiplexer and demultiplexer separates
a signal to component signals and transfers them to their respective destinations.
Multiplexing Techniques
 Frequency-division Multiplexing (FDM)

• Frequency Division Multiplexing is a analog technique in which the

available bandwidth of a single transmission medium is subdivided into
several channels.
• The input signals are translated into frequency bands by using modulation
techniques, and they are combined by a multiplexer to form a composite
signal.
• The main aim of the FDM is to subdivide the available bandwidth into
different frequency channels and allocate them to different devices.
• FDM is mainly used in radio broadcasts and TV networks.
 Wavelength Division Multiplexing (WDM)

• Wavelength Division Multiplexing is analog technique same as FDM except

that the optical signals are transmitted through the fiber optic cable.
• WDM is used on fiber optics to increase the capacity of a single fiber.
• It is used to utilize the high data rate capability of fiber optic cable.
• 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.
• Multiplexing and Demultiplexing can be achieved by using a prism.
 Time Division Multiplexing technique
• It is a digital technique.
• In Frequency Division Multiplexing Technique, all signals operate at the same time with
different frequency, but in case of Time Division Multiplexing technique, all signals
operate at the same frequency with different time.
• In Time Division Multiplexing technique, the total time available in the channel is
distributed among different users. Therefore, each user is allocated with different time
interval known as a Time slot at which data is to be transmitted by the sender.
• 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.
 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. Time slots are
organized in the form of frames. If a device does not have data for a
particular time slot, then the empty slot will be transmitted.
• If there are n devices, then there are n slots
Disadvantages Of Synchronous
TDM:
• The capacity of the channel is not fully utilized as the empty slots are
also transmitted which is having no data. In the above figure, the first
frame is completely filled, but in the last two frames, some slots are
empty. Therefore, we can say that the capacity of the channel is not
utilized efficiently.
• The speed of the transmission medium should be greater than the
total speed of the input lines. An alternative approach to the
Synchronous TDM is Asynchronous Time Division Multiplexing.
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. Therefore, we can say that Asynchronous Time Division multiplexor
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 can be greater than the
capacity of the channel.
• Asynchronous Time Division multiplexor accepts the incoming data streams and
creates a frame that contains only data with no empty slots.
• In Asynchronous TDM, each slot contains an address part that identifies the source
of the data.
Cont…
• The difference between Asynchronous TDM and
Synchronous TDM is that many slots in Synchronous
TDM are unutilized, but in Asynchronous TDM, slots are
fully utilized. This leads to the smaller transmission time
and efficient utilization of the capacity of the channel.
• In Synchronous TDM, if there are n sending devices,
then there are n time slots. In Asynchronous TDM, if
there are n sending devices, then there are m time slots
where m is less than n (m<n).
• The number of slots in a frame depends on the
statistical analysis of the number of input lines.
Demultiplexing
• Demultiplexing (Demuxing) is a term relative to multiplexing. It is the reverse
of the multiplexing process. Demultiplex is a process reconverting a signal
containing multiple analog or digital signal streams back into the original
separate and unrelated signals.
• Although demultiplexing is the reverse of the multiplexing process, it is not
the opposite of multiplexing. The opposite of multiplexing is inverse
multiplexing (iMuxing), which breaks one data stream into several related
data streams. Thus, the difference between demultiplexing and inverse
multiplexing is that the output streams of demultiplexing are unrelated, while
the output streams of inverse multiplexing are related.
• Demultiplexer (Demux) is a device that performs the reverse process of
multiplexer.