Chapter 9

Communications
and Networks
Chapter 9 Objectives
Discuss the components required for
successful communications
Explain the purpose of
communications software
Identify various sending
and receiving devices
Describe various types of lines for
communications over the telephone network
Describe uses of computer communications
Describe commonly used
communications devices
List advantages of using a network
Discuss different ways to set up
a home network
Differentiate among client/server,
peer-to-peer, and P2P networks
Identify various physical and wireless
transmission media
Describe the various network
communications technologies

Next
 Communications

What are computer communications?

 Process in which two or more computers or devices transfer data,
instructions, and information

notebook Web-enabled
smart
computers servers PDAs
phones

GPS
receivers

desktop
computers
mainframe
computers

set-top boxes

Tablet PCs
p. 460 Fig. 9-1 Next
 Communications

What is needed for successful communications?

Sending Communications Communications

device — initiates device — connects channel — media
instruction to the sending device to on which data,
transmit data, the communications instructions, or
instructions, or channel information travel
information

Communications Receiving
device — connects device — accepts
the communications transmission of data,
channel to the instructions, or
receiving device information

p. 460 Next
 Uses of Computer Communications

What are some uses of communications technology?

Internet Web E-Mail

Instant
Messaging Chat Rooms Newsgroups FTP

Fax Machine
Web Video
or Computer
Folders Conferencing
Fax/Modem

p. 463 Next
 Uses of Computer Communications

What are Internet telephony and Internet printing?

Internet telephony
enables you to talk
to other people over
the Internet Internet printing
Sometimes called allows you to print
Voice over IP
to network printer
from anywhere in
the world

p. 464 Next
 Uses of Computer Communications

What are Web services?

 Software that enables
programmers to create
applications that
communicate with other
remote computers

p. 464 Fig. 9-4 Next

 Uses of Computer Communications

What are collaboration and

groupware?
 Collaboration is working
with other users connected
to a server
 Microsoft’s NetMeeting
allows collaboration
 Groupware is software
that allows people
to share
information

p. 465 Fig. 9-5 Next

 Uses of Computer Communications

What are public Internet

access points and
cybercafés?
 Public Internet access
point allows wireless
connection to Internet
in public location
 Cybercafé is coffee
house that provides
computers with
Internet access
Click to view Web Link,
click Chapter 9, Click Web Link
from left navigation,
then click Public
Internet Access Points
below Chapter 9
p. 466 Fig. 9-6 Next
 Uses of Computer Communications

What is a global positioning system (GPS)?

Step 1.
GPS satellites orbit Step 2.
Earth. Every A GPS receiver
thousandth of a (such as in a car,
second, each satellite a PDA, a watch,
sends a signal that a handheld
indicates its current device, or a
position to the GPS collar)
server. determines its
location on Earth
by analyzing at
least 3 separate
Click to view video satellite signals
from the 24
satellites in orbit.

Click to view Web Link,

click Chapter 9, Click Web Link
from left navigation,
then click GPS
below Chapter 9
p. 464 Fig. 9-7 Next
 Uses of Computer Communications

What are voice mail and wireless messaging services?

 Voice mail is voice message converted to digital form
 Wireless messaging services include:
 Text Messaging
 Instant Messaging
 Picture Messaging

p. 468 Fig. 9-8 Next

 Networks

What is a network?
 Collection of
computers and
devices connected
via communications
devices and
transmission
media

p. 469 Fig. 9-9 Next

 Networks
What is a local area
network (LAN)?
 Network in limited
geographical area such
as home or office
building
 Metropolitan area
network (MAN)
connects LANs in city
or town

Click to view Web Link,

click Chapter 9, Click Web Link
from left navigation,
then click LAN
below Chapter 9
p. 471 Fig. 9-10 Next
 Networks

What is a wide area

network (WAN)?
 Network that covers
large geographic
area using many
types of media
 Internet is world’s
largest WAN

p. 472 Fig. 9-11 Next

 Networks

What is a client/server
network?
 One or more computers
act as server and other
computers, or clients,
access server

p. 472 Fig. 9-12 Next

 Networks

What is a peer-to-peer
network?
 Simple network
that connects
fewer than 10
computers
 Each computer,
or peer, has equal
capabilities

p. 473 Fig. 9-13 Next

 Networks
What is Internet peer-to-peer
(P2P)?
 Enables users to
connect to each other’s
hard disks and
exchange files directly

Click to view Web Link,

click Chapter 9, Click Web Link
from left navigation,
then click P2P
below Chapter 9
p. 473 Fig. 9-14 Next
 Networks

What is a bus network?

 All computers and
devices connect to
central cable,
or bus
 Example of network
topology (layout of
devices in network)
 Popular topologies are
bus, ring, and star

p. 474 Fig. 9-15 Next

 Networks

What is a ring network?

 Cable forms closed
ring, or loop, with all
computers and devices
arranged along ring
 Data travels from
device to device
around entire ring, in
one direction

p. 474 Fig. 9-16 Next

 Networks

What is a star network?

 All devices connect to
a central device, called
hub
 All data transferred
from one computer to
another passes
through hub

p. 475 Fig. 9-17 Next

 Networks

What are Ethernet and token ring?

Ethernet technology allows computers to contend

for access to network
 If two computers send data at same time,
a collision occurs and computers must send again

Token ring technology controls access to network

by requiring devices to pass a special signal,
Click to view Web Link, called token
click Chapter 9, Click Web
Link from left navigation,
then click Ethernet
below Chapter 9
p. 475 Next
 Networks

What are TCP/IP and 802.11?

 TCP/IP (Transmission Control Protocol/Internet
Protocol) technology transmits data by breaking it up
into small pieces, or packets
 Commonly used for Internet transmissions
 802.11 is family of standards for wireless LANs

p. 476 Fig. 9-18 Next

 Networks

What is Bluetooth?
 Short-range radio waves
transmit
data
between
Bluetooth
devices

p. 476 Fig. 9-19 Next

 Networks

What are IrDA, RFID, and Wireless Applications

Protocol (WAP)?
Radio Frequency
Identification (RFID)
uses radio signals to communicate
IrDA with a tag placed in an object
specification allows
data to be transferred
wirelessly via infrared Wireless Applications
light waves Protocol (WAP)
Click to view video
allow wireless mobile devices
to access Internet
Click to view Web Link,
click Chapter 9, Click Web Link
from left navigation,
then click WAP
below Chapter 9
p. 476 Next
 Networks

What is an intranet?

Internal network that uses Internet technologies

Makes information accessible to employees

Typically includes connection to Internet

Extranet allows customers or suppliers to access

part of company’s intranet

p. 478 Next
 Communications Software

What is communications software?

Programs that help users

establish connection to
Internet, other network,
or another computer Programs that help users
manage transmission of
data, instructions,
and information
Programs that provide an
interface for users to
communicate with one
another

p. 478 Next
 Communications Software
What is an example of communications software?
 Configures home or office network and connects devices to existing network

Step 1. After you start Step 2. Enter the name of your Internet service provider.
the New Connection
Wizard and select
Connect to the Internet
and Set up my connection
manually in the dialog
boxes, click Connect
using a dial-up modem.
Step 3. Enter your Internet service provider’s
telephone number.

Step 4. Enter your account information.

Step 5. Click the Finish button to create the Internet connection.

p. 479 Fig. 9-20 Next

 Communications Over the Telephone Network

What is the public switched

telephone network (PSTN)?
 Worldwide telephone
system that handles
voice-oriented
telephone calls

p. 480 Fig. 9-22 Next

 Communications Over the Telephone Network

What is a dial-up line?

 Temporary connection
using telephone line for
communications
 Costs no more than
making regular call
 Computers at any
two locations can
establish a
connection using
modems and
telephone network

p. 480 Fig. 9-23 Next

 Communications Over the Telephone Network

What is a dedicated line?

 Always-on connection
between two
communications
devices
 Four types are ISDN
line, DSL, T-carrier
line, and ATM

p. 481 Fig. 9-24 Next

 Communications Over the Telephone Network

What is an ADSL (asymmetric digital subscriber line)?

 Popular type of
DSL (Digital
Subscriber Line)
 Faster when
receiving data
than when
sending data
 Ideal for Internet
access

Click to view Web Link,

click Chapter 9, Click Web Link
from left navigation,
then click DSL
below Chapter 9
p. 482 Fig. 9-25 Next
 Communications Devices

What are examples of communications devices?

Common types are dial-up modems, ISDN and

DSL modems, cable modems, network cards,
wireless access points, routers, and hubs

ISDN and DSL modems send

and receive data from ISDN
and DSL lines

p. 482 Next
 Communications Devices

What is a dial-up modem?

 Converts digital signals to analog signals and vice versa
 Notebook computers often use PC Card modem

Click to view Web Link,

click Chapter 9, Click Web Link
from left navigation,
then click Dial-Up Modems
below Chapter 9
p. 483 Figs. 9-26–9-27 Next
 Communications Devices

What are ISDN and DSL modems?

Communications devices that send and

receive digital ISDN and DSL signals

Usually external devices in which one

end connects to a telephone line and the other
end connects to a port on the system unit

p. 484 Next
 Communications Devices

What is a cable modem?

 Sends and
receives data
over cable
television
network
 Much faster than
dial-up modem
or ISDN
 Sometimes called
a broadband
modem

p. 484 Fig. 9-28 Next

 Communications Devices

What is a network card?

 Adapter card, PC
Card, or compact
flash card that
enables computer or
device to access
network
 Sometimes called
network interface
card (NIC)

p. 485 Fig. 9-29 Next

 Communications Devices
What is a wireless access point?
 Central
communications
device that allows
computers and
devices to transfer
data wirelessly among
themselves or to wired
network

p. 485 Fig. 9-30 Next

 Communications Devices

What is a router?
 Connects computers
and transmits data
to correct destination
on network
 Routers forward
data on Internet
using fastest
available path

Click to view Web Link,

click Chapter 9, Click Web Link
from left navigation,
then click Routers
below Chapter 9
p. 486 Fig. 9-31 Next
 Communications Devices

What is a hub?
 Device that provides central
point for cables in network

Click to view animation

p. 486 Fig. 9-32 Next

 Home Networks

What is a home network?

 Multiple computers
connected in home
 Several types of home
networks
 Ethernet — connect
computers via cable
 Powerline cable —
use electrical lines in house
 Phoneline — use telephone lines
 HomeRF (radio frequency) — wireless
Click to view Web Link,
click Chapter 9, Click Web Link
from left navigation,
then click Home Networks
below Chapter 9
p. 487 Fig. 9-33 Next
 Communications Channel

What is a channel?
 Transmission media on which data travels in
communications system

Transmission media
are materials capable of
carrying one or more
signals Bandwidth is amount of
data that can travel
over channel

p. 489 Next
 Communications Channel
How is a request sent over the Internet using a
communications channel?
Step 1. The sending device
requests information using either
a physical transmission media
or a wireless transmission media.

Step 2. When the request leaves

the ISP, it travels over T1 lines,
microwave stations, earth-based
stations, and communications satellites
until it reaches the Internet backbone.

Step 3. The request travels over T3

lines along the Internet backbone.

Step 4. The Request travels over T1 lines

until it reaches the destination network server.

p. 489 Fig. 9-34 Next

 Physical Transmission Media
What is physical transmission media?
 Wire, cable, Transfer Rates for Various Types of LANs Using Physical Transmission Media
and other
tangible
materials used
to send
communications
signals

p. 490 Fig. 9-35 Next

 Physical Transmission Media
What are twisted-pair cable and coaxial cable?
 Twisted-pair cable is used for telephone systems and network cabling
 Coaxial cable is often used for cable television wiring

p. 490 Fig. 9-36—9-37 Next

 Physical Transmission Media

What is fiber-optic cable?

 Capable of carrying
significantly more
data at faster speeds
than wire cables
 Less susceptible
to interference
(noise) and, therefore,
more secure
 Smaller size (thinner
and lighter)

p. 491 Fig. 9-38 Next

 Wireless Transmission Media

What is wireless transmission media?

 Used when inconvenient, impractical, or impossible to
install cables
 Includes Bluetooth and IrDA

p. 491 Fig. 9-39 Next

 Wireless Transmission Media

What are broadcast radio and cellular radio?

 Broadcast radio
distributes radio
signals over long
and short distances
 Cellular radio
is form of
broadcast radio
used for mobile
communications
Click to view Web Link,
click Chapter 9, Click Web Link
from left navigation,
then click Cellular
Communications
below Chapter 9
p. 492 Fig. 9-40 Next
 Wireless Transmission Media

What is a microwave station?

 Earth-based
reflective
dish used for
microwave
communications
 Must transmit in
straight line with
no obstructions

p. 493 Fig. 9-41 Next

 Wireless Transmission Media

What is a communications satellite?

 Space station
that receives
microwave signals
from earth-based
station, amplifies
signals, and
broadcasts signals
back to any
number of earth-
based stations

p. 494 Fig. 9-42 Next

Summary of Communications and Networks

Communications terminology
and applications
Various communications
devices, media, and procedures
How to join computers into a network

Chapter 9 Complete