Chapter 9

Communications & Networks

Communication Uses

• E-Mail
• Voice Mail
• Fax
• Smart Phones
• Instant Messaging
• Telecommuting
• Videoconferencing
• Groupware
• Global Positioning Systems
• Bulletin Board System
• The Internet

Communication Channels

• Physical Transmission Media
• Twisted Pair Cable
• Coaxial Cable
• Fiber-Optic Cable
• Wireless Transmission Media
• Broadcast Radio
• Cellular Radio
• Microwaves
• Communications Satellites
• Infrared

Transmission Characteristics

• Signal Type
• Analog
• Digital
• Broadband vs. Baseband
• Transmission Modes
• Asynchronous
• Synchronous
• Transmission Direction
• Simplex
• Half-Duplex
• Full-Duplex
• Transfer Rates

The Telephone Network

• Public Switched Telephone Network
• Dial-Up Lines
• Dedicated Lines
• ISDN Lines
• Digital Subscriber Lines
• T-Carrier Lines
• Asynchronous Transfer Mode

Communications Software

• Dialing Feature
• File Transfer
• Terminal Emulation
• Internet Access

Communications Devices

• Modems
• Cable Modems
• Multiplexers
• Network Interface Card (NIC)
• Connecting Networks
• Hub
• Repeater
• Bridge
• Gateway
• Router

Networks

• Local Area Network (LAN)
• Network Operating Systems
• Types of LANs
• Peer-to-Peer
• Client-Server
• Wide Area Network (WAN)
• Metropolitan Area Network (MAN)
• Network Topologies
• Bus
• Ring
• Star
• Communication Protocols

o Ethernet

o Token-Ring

o TCP/IP

· Intranets

o Firewalls

· Home Networks