Discovering Computers 2008

Chapter 9
Communicati
ons and
Networks
 Communications
What are computer communications?
 Process in which two or more computers or devices transfer data,
instructions, and information

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 - 461 Next

 Uses of Computer
Communications
What are some uses of communications technology?

Instant
Internet Web E-Mail Messaging

Internet
Chat Rooms Newsgroups
Telephony
Fax Machine
Web Video
FTP or Computer
Folders Conferencing
Fax/Modem

p. 462 Next
 Uses of Computer
Communications
What are wireless messaging services?

Text messaging Wireless instant

allows users to send messaging allows
and receive short wireless mobile
text messages on a devices to exchange
phone or PDA messages
Picture messaging
allows users to send
graphics, pictures,
Click to view Web video clips, sound Video 
Link, click Chapter 9,
Click files, and short text messaging
Web Link from left
navigation, then click
Video Messaging below
messages
Chapter
p. 4639- 464 Next
 Uses of Computer
Communications
What are wireless Internet
access points and
cybercafés?
 Wireless Internet access
point allows wireless
connection to Internet
in public location
 3G network
 Cybercafé is coffee
house that provides
computers with Internet
access

p. 464-465 Fig. 9- Next

4
 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 wearable
sends a signal that device, a smart
indicates its current phone, a
position to the GPS handheld device,
receiver. or a collar)
determines its
location on Earth
by analyzing at
least 3 separate
satellite signals
from the 24
Click to view Web satellites in orbit.
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navigation, then click
GPS below Chapter 9
p. 466 Fig. 9-6 Next
 Uses of Computer
Communications
What are collaboration and
groupware?
 Collaboration is working
with other users connected
to a server
 A document management
system provides for storage
and management of a
company’s documents
 Groupware is software
that allows people
work together and share
information

p. 467 Fig. 9-7 Next

 Uses of Computer
Communications
What are voice mail and web services?
 Voice mail is voice message
converted to digital form
 Web services describe
standardized software that
enables programmers to
create applications that
communicate with other
remote computers over the
Internet or on an internal
business network

p. 468 Fig. 9-8 Next

 Networks
What is a network?
 Collection of
computers and devices
connected via
communications
devices and
transmission media
 Classified as local area
network (LAN),
metropolitan area
network (MAN), wide
area network (WAN)

p. 469 Fig. 9-9 Next

 Networks
 LAN connects computers and devices in a
limited geographical area such as home, office
building and computer school laboratory.
 A wireless LAN (WLAN) is a LAN that uses no
physical wires.
 Metropolitan area network (MAN) connects LANs
in city or town. MAN covers a smaller geographic
area than WAN.

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Wireless Local Area
Networks below
p. 4719– 472 Fig.
Chapter
Next
9-10
 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. 9-12 Next

 Networks
The design of computers, devices,
and media in a network is called
network architecture, is
categorized as either client/server
or peer-to-peer.
 On a client/server network,
one or more computers act
as server
 A server controls access to
the hardware, software and
other resources on the
network.
 A client are the other
computers and mobile
devices on the network that
rely on the server for its
resources
p. 472 Fig. 9-13 Next
 Networks
What is a peer-to-peer
network?
 Simple and inexpensive
network that connects
fewer than 10 computers
 Each computer, or peer,
has equal capabilities

p. 473 Fig. 9-14 Next

 Networks
What is Internet peer-to-peer
(P2P)?
 Is another type of
peer-to-peer
 Sometimes called a file
sharing network
 Enables users to
connect to each other’s
hard disks and
exchange files directly
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BitTorrent below
Chapter 9
p. 473 - 474 Fig. Next
9-15
 Networks
Network topology: layout of the computers and devices in a
communications network. Three commonly used network
topologies are bus, ring and star.
 In a bus network, all computers and devices connect to
central cable or bus
 The bus transmits data, instructions and information in
both direction.

p. 474 Fig. 9-16 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. 9-17 Next

 Networks
What is a star network?
 All devices connect to
a central device (hub
or switch)
 All data transferred
from one computer to
another passes
through hub or switch

p. 475 Fig. 9-18 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. 475 Next
 Network Communications
Standards
 A network communication standard defines guidelines that
specify the way computers access the medium which they
are attached, and the types of medium used, the speeds used
on different types of networks, and the types of physical
cable or wireless technology used.
 Example of network communication standards are
Ethernet, token ring, TCP/IP, 802.11 (Wi-Fi), Bluetooth,
UWB, IrDA, RFID, WiMax, and WAP

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Ethernet below
Chapter 9
p. 476 Next
 Network Communications
Standards
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,
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Ethernet below
Chapter 9
p. 476 Next
 Network Communications
Standards
What are TCP/IP and 802.11 (Wi-Fi)?
 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 (Wi-Fi) is family of standards for wireless LANs

p. 477 - 478 Fig. Next

9-20
 Network Communications
Standards
What is Bluetooth?

Short­range radio waves transmit
data between Bluetooth devices

p. 478 Next
 Network Communications
Standards
What are UWB, IrDA, RFID, WiMAX, and Wireless
Applications Protocol (WAP)?
UWB IrDA
specification allows specification allows
data to be transferred data to be transferred Worldwide Interoperability
wirelessly via short-range wirelessly via infrared for Microwave Access (WiMAX
radio waves light waves or 802.16)
standard that specifies how wireless
devices communicate over the air
Radio Frequency in a wide area
Identification (RFID) Wireless Applications
uses radio signals to communicate
with a tag placed in an object Protocol (WAP)
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to access Internet
left
navigation, then click
WiMAX
p. 478below
- 480Chapter Next
9
 Communications Devices
 Communications device: any type of hardware capable of
transmitting data, instructions, and information between a
sending device and receiving device.
 Examples of communications devices:
Common types are dial-up modems, ISDN and
DSL modems, cable modems, wireless modems,
network cards, wireless access points,
routers, and hubs

ISDN and DSL modems send

and receive data from ISDN and
DSL lines

p. 484 Next
 Communications Devices
What is a dial-up modem?
 A dial-up modem converts digital signals to analog signals
and vice versa
 Usually in the form of an adapter card

p. 485 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. 485 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

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Cable Modems
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p. 485 - 486 Fig. Next
9-28
 Communications Devices
What is a wireless modem?
 Allows access to the
Web wirelessly from
a notebook
computer, a PDA, a
smart phone, or
other mobile device
 Typically use the
same waves used by
cellular telephones

p. 486 Fig. 9-29 Next

 Communications Devices
What is a network card?
 Adapter card, PC
Card, ExpressCard
module, USB
network adapter, or
flash card that
enables computer or
device to access
network
 Sometimes called
network interface
card (NIC)
p. 486 - 487 Fig. Next
9-30
 Communications Devices
What is a wireless access point?
 Central
communications
device that allows
computers and
devices to transfer
data wirelessly among
themselves or
wirelessly to a wired
network

p. 487 Fig. 9-31 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
 Some routers have a built-in
hardware firewall

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Hardware Firewalls
below Chapter 9
p. 488 Fig. 9-32 Next
 Communications Devices
What is a hub or switch?
 Device that provides central
point for cables in network

p. 488 - 489 Fig. Next

9-33