Chapter 2 SB Answers
Chapter 2 SB Answers
Cambridge International AS & A Level Computer Science Answers
They will require software to enable WiFi if accessing internet via wireless router.
Most devices will need a cell net provider (3G, 4G, 5G) and web browser.
b) Advantages
very small therefore very likely to be carrying it all the time
can also make calls or access internet on the move
can be used anywhere since they don’t need to be near a router.
Disadvantages
small screens can make reading web pages more difficult and more difficult to navigate
small/virtual keyboards can make typing slower and more error prone
web browsers (etc.) can drain the battery quickly
small memory size (most don’t allow memory expansion)
not all webpage features are compatible with smartphone OS
data transfer rates can be relatively slow.
Activity 2A
1 Client-server network
Works well with a small group of workers doing research.
It is possible to control network resources with good network security (essential when doing
research).
It is also important that data needs to be backed up on a central server so that all researchers
have access to the latest developments and data.
2 Peer-to-peer network
Group of consultants is probably small but it all depends on how secure the data needs to be.
If it is essential that it needs to be very secure, then they may need to consider client-server
networks instead
(Note: as long as the chosen network can be fully justified, there is often more than one possible
answer to the question).
Activity 2B
1 a) LAN:
Are networks that cover small geographical areas, for example, a building.
A typical LAN will consist of a number of computers and devices connected by
hubs/switches.
WAN:
Is a network which covers very large geographical area (e.g. whole country or continents).
Wans are formed from connecting number of LANs together by routers/gateways.
Due to vast distances, they use public communication links (such as telephone lines and/or
satellites).
MAN:
Is a network that covers smaller geographical area than a WAN.
They often connect devices in a number of buildings within a city (e.g. a university
campus).
b) Benefits:
sharing of resources such as printers
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Cambridge International AS & A Level Computer Science Answers
software licence for all the computers on a network is usually cheaper than licences for the
same number of stand-alone computers
ability to share files leads to more consistent/reliable data since all data accessed from a
central server
use of a network manager to ensure security and access rights and also to control external
links to, for example, the internet.
c) i) Thick client – a computer that doesn’t rely on processing being done by a server or other
computer; can operate online or offline.
ii) Thin client – a device needing access to the network for it to work e.g. a POS terminal at a
supermarket; depends on a more powerful computer to do the processing.
2 a) i) bus
(ii) star
iii) mesh
b) Bus
Advantages Disadvantages
easier to expand network failure of main cable results in
requires less cabling. failure of whole network
not very good under heavy load.
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Cambridge International AS & A Level Computer Science Answers
Star
Advantages Disadvantages
easier to upgrade if the central hub/switch fails, then
if one node or link fails, then the rest the whole network will be down
of the network can still function. high cost of cabling.
Mesh
Advantages Disadvantages
easier to detect network faults requires bulk cabling
has very good privacy and security
3 a) Public cloud – a storage environment where the customer/client and cloud storage provider are
different companies.
Private cloud – a storage provided by a dedicated environment behind a company firewall, the
customer/client and cloud storage provider are integrated and operate as a single entity.
b) Benefits:
Customer/client files stored on the cloud can be accessed any time, from any device,
anywhere in the world provided there is internet access.
There is no need for the customer/client to carry external storage devices around with them
or even use the same computer where the original files were stored.
Cloud storage provides user with remote and automatic back-up of data.
It offers almost unlimited storage capacity (at a cost).
c) Drawbacks:
There are well-known security aspects to consider.
If the internet is unstable/fails or the broadband connection is slow it may be
difficult/impossible to access files from the cloud storage facilities.
Costs can be high if a large amount of cloud storage is required.
There may be limited data transfer rates.
Potential for failure of the cloud storage company with unknown results.
Cambridge International AS & A Level Computer Science Answers
4
Wireless networking Wired networking
It is easier to expand the networks and it Using cables produces a more reliable and
isn’t necessary to connect the devices stable network; wireless connectivity is
using cables. often subjected to interference.
This gives devices increased mobility
Data transfer rates tend to be faster and there
provided they are within range of the
won’t be any ‘dead spots’.
WAPs.
Setting up cabled networks tends to be
There is an increased chance of
cheaper overall in spite of the need to buy
interference from external sources.
and install cable.
Data is less secure than with wired
systems; it is easier to intercept radio However, cabled networks lose the ability
waves and microwaves than cables; it is for devices to be mobile; they must be close
essential to protect data transmissions enough to allow for cable connections.
using encryption (e.g. WEP, WPA2).
Having lots of wires can lead to a number of
Data transmission rate is still slower than hazards such as tripping hazards,
for cabled networks although it continues overheating of connections (leading to
to improve. potential fire risk) and disconnection of
cables during routine office cleaning.
Many devices (for example, smartphones)
Signals can be stopped by walls and there
are only set up for WiFi/Bluetooth
may be drop off points.
connectivity.
There may be legislation regarding which There may be building restrictions
signal frequencies may be used. preventing the laying of cables, etc.
(Note: a reasoned argument needs to be made based on which of the features of wired and
wireless networks from the above table were chosen by the candidate)
5 a) Bit streaming
a contiguous sequence of digital bits sent over a network/internet
requires high speed data transfer communications link
requires buffering
bits arrive at destination in the same order as they were sent.
b)
Buffers are needed since the rate that data is transmitted to the computer may be different
to the data transfer rate to the media player.
Buffers prevent movies ‘freezing’ if, for example, the broadband speed is slow.
c) On demand
digital files stored on a server in bit streaming format
link to encoded video is placed on the website server
user clicks on link to start the download of the video as required
video can be paused/fast forwarded/rewound.
Cambridge International AS & A Level Computer Science Answers
Activity 2C
1 a)
standard telephone line used
line always open until receivers replaced on handset
line remains active even during a power cut
uses circuit switching (which allows line to remain open)
data (voice) transmitted in analogue (old system using copper cables) or digital (using
newer optical fibre networks)
data can transmit in both directions at the same time.
b)
internet connection only live whilst data is being sent/received (talking)
uses Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) which converts sound/video to digital packages
(encoding) before sending over the internet
VoIP uses packet switching (data is broken down into packets and then routed to the
destination by the fastest route and then reassembled in the correct order at the destination)
data undergoes file compression to reduce the amount of data being sent.
c) GEO
Geostationary Earth Orbit
provides long distance telephone and computer network communications
35 800 km above the Earth with orbital period of 24 hours.
MEO
Medium Earth Orbit
used by GPS networks
5000 to 12 000 km above the earth with orbital period between 2 to 8 hours.
LEO
Low Earth Orbit
used by mobile phone network operators
500 to 1500 km above the Earth with orbital period between 12 mins and 1 hour.
2 a) A: 00000000 00000000 00000000 00000000
B: 10000000 00000000 00000000 00000000
C: 11000000 00000000 00000000 00000000
b) A (upper): 127.255.255.255
01111111 11111111 11111111 11111111
B (upper): 191.255.255.255
10111111 11111111 11111111 11111111
C (upper): 223.255.255.255
11011111 11111111 11111111 11111111
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Cambridge International AS & A Level Computer Science Answers
Cambridge International AS & A Level Computer Science Answers
… therefore may not be accessible from the internet since this uses common access points
which are open to all users.
c) i) Web browser
a software application for accessing information on www
allows user to view pages on different websites
allow location of websites by typing in the URL in the address bar.
(ii) ISP
a company that provides services to access and use the internet
company will charge a fee for the service provided
has equipment and telecommunication lines to allow internet connection
provides user with an IP address when connecting to the internet.
Cambridge International AS & A Level Computer Science Answers
b)
2 a) i)
Copper cable uses pulses of electricity to transmit data …
… whereas fibre optic cables uses pulses of light to transmit data.
ii)
Copper cabling is much cheaper …
… and is a well-known technology if anything goes wrong.
Fibre optic cables are the cable of choice when sending data over long distances …
… this is because they offer the best data transfer rate and have a very high resistance to
external interference.
The main drawback is the high cost …
… but they do offer the smallest signal attenuation.
They have ~26 000 times the transmission capacity of twisted pair cables.
single mode fibre optic cables use a single mode light source and have a smaller central
core which results in less light reflection along the cable …
… the benefit of this is that the data can travel faster and further than with multi core
cables.
Multi core cables allow for a multi-mode light source; the construction causes higher
light reflections in the core.
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Cambridge International AS & A Level Computer Science Answers
Cambridge International AS & A Level Computer Science Answers
35
30
25
20
15
10
0
0 500000 1000000 1500000 2000000 2500000
c)
A larger buffer is needed (e.g. 20 MiB).
The rate at which data is sent to the media player must increase.
5 a) i) Data collision is when two messages along same data channel sent at same time could
collide.
ii) CSMA/CD relies on fact that frames being sent cause voltage level changes.
iii)
When a collision is detected, the station stops transmitting the frame and transmits a
jam signal.
It then waits for a random time period before resending data frame.
Cambridge International AS & A Level Computer Science Answers
b)