Mod Three

Computer Basics
 What Is A aComputer?
A computer is an electronic device,
operating under the control of instructions
(software) stored in its own memory unit,
that can accept data (input), manipulate
data (process), and produce information
(output) from the processing. Generally, the
term is used to describe a collection of
devices that function together as a system.
Devices that comprise a computer system

Monitor Speake
(output r System unit
) (output
(processor,
)
memory…)
Printer
(output
)

Storage devices
(CD-RW, Floppy,
Hard disk, zip,…)
Mouse
(input)
Scanne Keyboard
r (input)
(input)
 What Does A Computer
Do? can perform four general operations,
Computers
which comprise the information processing cycle.

 Input
 Process

 Output

 Storage
Data and Information
 All computer processing requires data, which is a
collection of raw facts, figures and symbols, such as
numbers, words, images, video and sound, given to
the computer during the input phase.
 Computers manipulate data to create information.
Information is data that is organized, meaningful,
and useful.
 During the output Phase, the information that has
been created is put into some form, such as a printed
report.
 The information can also be put in computer storage
for future use.
Why Is A Computer So Powerful?

 The ability to perform the information processing

cycle with amazing speed.
 Reliability (low failure rate).
 Accuracy.
 Ability to store huge amounts of data and
information.
 Ability to communicate with other computers.
How Does a Computer Know
what to do?
 It must be given a detailed list of instructions,
called a compute program or software, that
tells it exactly what to do.
 Before processing a specific job, the computer
program corresponding to that job must be
stored in memory.
 Once the program is stored in memory the
compute can start the operation by executing the
program instructions one after the other.
 What Are The Primary
Components Of A Computer ?
 Input devices.
 Central Processing Unit
(containing the control unit
and the arithmetic/logic unit).
 Memory.
 Output devices.
 Storage devices.
Types of Computer Systems
Microcomputer Systems

 Personal Computer (PC) – microcomputer for

use by an individual

 Professional Workstation – a powerful,

networked PC for business professionals

 Laptop – small, portable PC

Microcomputer Systems

 Network Server – more powerful

microcomputers that coordinate
telecommunications and resource sharing in
small local area networks and Internet and
intranet websites

 Computer Terminals – depend on servers for

software, storage and processing power
Microcomputer Systems

 Network Computers – low-cost, sealed

microcomputers with no or minimal disk
storage that are linked to the network

 Information Appliances – hand-held

microcomputer devices
Hardware Organized by
System Functions
 Input Devices convert data into electronic form for
direct entry or through a telecommunications network
into a computer system

 Processing Components primarily the Central

Processing Unit (CPU)
 Arithmetic-Logic Unit (ALU) - perform arithmetic and logic
functions required to execute software instructions
Hardware Organized by
System Functions
 Output Devices convert electronic information produced
by the computer system into human-intelligible form for
presentation to end users

 Storage Devices store data and software instructions

needed for processing

 Control Components primarily the CPU’s Control Unit

which interprets software instructions and transmits
directions that control the activities of the other
components of the computer system
Computer Processing Speeds

 Millisecond – thousandth of a second

 Microsecond – millionth of a second

 Nanosecond – billionth of a second

 Picosecond – trillionth of a second

Computer Clock Speeds

 MIPS – million instructions per second

 Megahertz (MHz) – millions of cycles per

second

 Gigahertz (GHz) – billions of cycles per

second
Input Devices

 Keyboard.
 Mouse.
The Keyboard
The most commonly used input device is the keyboard
on which data is entered by manually keying in or
typing certain keys. A keyboard typically has 101 or
105 keys.
 The Mouse
Is a pointing device which is used to control the
movement of a mouse pointer on the screen to make
selections from the screen. A mouse has one to five
buttons. The bottom of the mouse is flat and contains a
mechanism that detects movement of the mouse.
 The Central processing
Unit
The central processing unit (CPU) contains electronic
circuits that cause processing to occur. The CPU interprets
instructions to the computer, performs the logical and
arithmetic processing operations, and causes the input and
output operations to occur. It is considered the “brain” of
the computer.
Control Unit- ALU
 Memory
Memory also called Random Access Memory or RAM
(temporary memory) is the main memory of the computer.
It consists of electronic components that store data
including numbers, letters of the alphabet, graphics and
sound. Any information stored in RAM is lost when the
computer is turned off.

Read Only Memory or ROM is memory that is etched on

a chip that has start-up directions for your computer. It is
permanent memory.
 Amount of RAM In
Computers
The amount of memory in computers is typically
measured in kilobytes or megabytes. One kilobyte
(K or KB) equals approximately 1,000 memory
locations and one megabyte (M or MB) equals
approximately one million locations A memory
location, or byte, usually stores one character.
Therefore, a computer with 8 MB of memory can
store approximately 8 million characters. One
megabyte can hold approximately 500 pages of
text information.
Output Devices
Output devices make the information resulting from
the processing available for use. The two output
devices more commonly used are the printer and
the computer screen.

The printer produces a hard copy of your output,

and the computer screen produces a soft copy of
your output.
 Storage Devices

Auxiliary storage devices are used to

store data when they are not being used
in memory. The most common types of
auxiliary storage used on personal
computers are floppy disks, hard disks
and CD-ROM drives.
 Floppy Disks

A floppy disk is a portable,

inexpensive storage medium that
consists of a thin, circular, flexible
plastic disk with a magnetic coating
enclosed in a square-shaped plastic
shell.
Compact Discs
 A compact disk (CD), also called an optical
disc, is a flat round, portable storage medium
that is usually 4.75 inch in diameter.
 A CD-ROM (read only memory), is a compact
disc that used the same laser technology as
audio CDs for recording music. In addition it
can contain other types of data such as text,
graphics, and video.
 The capacity of a CD-ROM is 650 MB of data.
Peripherals Advice
Storage Capacities

 Kilobyte (KB) – one thousand bytes

 Megabytes (MB) – one million bytes
 Gigabytes (GB) – one billion bytes
 Terabytes (TB) – one trillion bytes
 Petabytes (PB) – one quadrillion bytes
RAM vs. ROM

 Random Access Memory (RAM) – each

memory position can be both sensed and
changed

 Read Only Memory (ROM) – can be read but

not erased or overwritten
ASCII Codes
What is Software?

Definition:
 Various kinds of programs used to operate

computers and related devices

Types of Software
Types of Software

 Application Software - performs information

processing tasks for end users

 System Software – manages and supports

operations of computer systems and
networks
Application Software

 General-Purpose – programs that perform

common information processing jobs for end
users

 Application-Specific – support specific

applications of end users in business and
other fields
General-Purpose Application
Software
 Software Suites
 Web Browsers
 Electronic Mail
 Word Processing
 Spreadsheets
 Database Managers
 Presentation Graphics
 Personal Information Managers
 Groupware
Software Suites
The Early Period: Up to
1940
 3,000 years ago: Mathematics, logic, and
numerical computation
 Important contributions made by the Greeks,
Egyptians, Babylonians, Indians, Chinese, and
Persians
 1614: Logarithms
 Invented by John Napier to simplify difficult
mathematical computations
 Around 1622: First slide rule created
The Early Period: Up to 1940
(continued)
 1672: The Pascaline
 Designed and built by Blaise Pascal
 One of the first mechanical calculators
 Could do addition and subtraction
 1674: Leibnitz’s Wheel
 Constructed by Gottfried Leibnitz
 Mechanical calculator
 Could do addition, subtraction, multiplication, and
division
The Pascaline: One of the Earliest Mechanical Calculators
The Early Period: Up to 1940
(continued)
 1801: The Jacquard loom
 Developed by Joseph Jacquard
 Automated loom
 Used punched cards to create desired pattern
 1823: The Difference Engine
 Developed by Charles Babbage
 Did addition, subtraction, multiplication, and
division to 6 significant digits
 Solved polynomial equations and other
complex mathematical problems
The Early Period: Up to 1940
(continued)
 1823: The Difference Engine
 Developed by Charles Babbage

 Capabilities:
 Addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division to 6
significant digits

 Solve polynomial equations and other complex

mathematical problems
Drawing of the Jacquard Loom
The Early Period: Up to 1940
(continued)
 1830s: The Analytic Engine
 Designed by Charles Babbage
 More powerful and general-purpose
computational machine
 Components were functionally similar to the four
major components of today’s computers
 Mill (modern terminology: arithmetic/logic unit)
 Store (modern terminology: memory)
 Operator (modern terminology: processor)
 Output (modern terminology: input/output)
The Early Period: Up to 1940
(continued)

 1890: U.S. census carried out with

programmable card processing machines

 Built by Herman Hollerith

 These machines could automatically read, tally,

and sort data entered on punched cards
The Birth of Computers:
1940–1950
 Development of electronic, general-purpose
computers
 Did not begin until after 1940
 Was fueled in large part by needs of World War II
 Early computers
 Mark I
 ENIAC
 ABC system
 Colossus
 Z1
Photograph of the ENIAC Computer
The Birth of Computers:
1940–1950
 Stored program computer model
 Proposed by John Von Neumann in 1946
 Stored binary algorithm in the computer’s memory
along with the data
 Is known as the Von Neumann architecture
 Modern computers remain, fundamentally, Von
Neumann machines
 First stored program computers
 EDVAC
 EDSAC
The Modern Era: 1950 to the
Present
 First generation of computing (1950-1959)

 Used vacuum tubes to store data and programs

 Each computer was multiple rooms in size

 Computers were not very reliable

The Modern Era: 1950 to the
Present (continued)
 Second generation of computing (1959-1965)
 Replaced vacuum tubes by transistors and
magnetic cores
 Dramatic reduction in size
 Computer could fit into a single room
 Increase in reliability of computers
 Reduced costs of computers
 High-level programming languages
 The programmer occupation was born
The Modern Era: 1950 to the
Present (continued)
 Third generation of computing (1965-1975)
 Used integrated circuits rather than individual
electronic components
 Further reduction in size and cost of computers
 Computers became desk-sized
 First minicomputer developed

 Software industry formed

The Modern Era: 1950 to the
Present (continued)
 Fourth generation of computing (1975-1985)
 Reduced to the size of a typewriter
 First microcomputer developed
 Desktop and personal computers common
 Appearance of
 Computer networks
 Electronic mail
 User-friendly systems (Graphical user interfaces)
 Embedded systems
The Altair 8800, the World’s First Microcomputer
The Modern Era: 1950 to the
Present (continued)
 Fifth generation of computing (1985-?)
 Recent developments
 Massively parallel processors
 Handheld devices and other types of personal digital
assistants (PDAs)
 High-resolution graphics
 Powerful multimedia user interfaces incorporating
sound, voice recognition, touch, photography, video,
and television
The Modern Era: 1950 to the
Present (continued)
 Recent developments (continued)
 Integrated global telecommunications
incorporating data, television, telephone, FAX, the
Internet, and the World Wide Web
 Wireless data communications
 Massive storage devices
 Ubiquitous computing
Some of the Major
Advancements in
Computing
Some of the Major
Advancements in
Computing
 Computer Software
Computer software is the key to
productive use of computers. Software
can be categorized into two types:

 Operating system software

 Application software.
 Operating System
Software
Operating system software tells the computer how to
perform the functions of loading, storing and
executing an application and how to transfer data.
Today, many computers use an operating system
that has a graphical user interface (GUI) that
provides visual clues such as icon symbols to help
the user. Microsoft Windows 98 is a widely used
graphical operating system. DOS (Disk Operating
System) is an older but still widely used operating
system that is text-based.
 Application Software
Application Software consists of programs that
tell a computer how to produce information.
Some of the more commonly used packages are:

 Word processing
 Electronic spreadsheet

 Database

 Presentation graphics
 Computers and software
 Application software is designed to solve a
specific problem
 System software provides a general programming
environment
 Operating system is a subset of the system software
 Provide functions used by the application software
 Provides the mechanisms for application software to
share the hardware in an orderly fashion
 Sharing increases the overall performance by allowing different
application software to use different parts of the computer at the
same time, decreasing the time to execute a collection of
programs and increase overall system performance
 System Software
 Runtime system for a programming language
 C libraries runtime

 Standard input/output (I/O) library – procedures to perform

buffered input/output on a stream of data
 The math library – functions to perform various
mathematical functions
 Graphics libraries – functions to render images on a
bitmapped display
 Window system – software that provides a virtual
terminal to an application program
Introduction to Computer Networks

INTRODUCTION TO COMPUTER
NETWORKS
Introduction to Computer Networks

Computer Networks

Computer network
connects two or more
autonomous computers.

The computers can be

geographically located
anywhere.
Introduction to Computer Networks

LAN, MAN & WAN

Network in small geographical Area (Room,
Building or a Campus) is called LAN (Local Area
Network)

Network in a City is call MAN (Metropolitan Area

Network)

Network spread geographically (Country or across

Globe) is called WAN (Wide Area Network)
Introduction to Computer Networks

Applications of Networks
Resource Sharing
Hardware (computing resources, disks, printers)
Software (application software)
Information Sharing
Easy accessibility from anywhere (files,
databases)
Search Capability (WWW)
Communication
Email
Message broadcast
Remote computing
Introduction to Computer Networks

Network Topology
The network topology
defines the way in which
computers, printers, and
other devices are
connected.
A network topology
describes the layout of
the wire and devices as
well as the paths used
by data transmissions.
Introduction to Computer Networks

Bus Topology

Commonly referred to as
a linear bus, all the
devices on a bus
topology are connected
by one single cable.
Introduction to Computer Networks

Star & Tree Topology

The star topology is the most
commonly used architecture in
Ethernet LANs.
When installed, the star topology
resembles spokes in a bicycle
wheel.
Larger networks use the extended
star topology also called tree
topology. When used with network
devices that filter frames or
packets, like bridges, switches, and
routers, this topology significantly
reduces the traffic on the wires by
sending packets only to the wires of
the destination host.
Introduction to Computer Networks

Ring Topology
A frame travels around the ring,
stopping at each node. If a node wants
to transmit data, it adds the data as
well as the destination address to the
frame.
The frame then continues around the
ring until it finds the destination node,
which takes the data out of the frame.
Single ring – All the devices on the
network share a single cable
Dual ring – The dual ring topology
allows data to be sent in both
directions.
Introduction to Computer Networks

Mesh Topology
The mesh topology connects all
devices (nodes) to each other
for redundancy and fault
tolerance.
It is used in WANs to
interconnect LANs and for
mission critical networks like
those used by banks and
financial institutions.
Implementing the mesh
topology is expensive and
difficult.
Introduction to Computer Networks

Network Components
Physical Media
Interconnecting Devices
Computers
Networking Software
Applications
Introduction to Computer Networks

Networking Media
Networking media can be
defined simply as the
means by which signals
(data) are sent from one
computer to another
(either by cable or
wireless means).
Introduction to Computer Networks

Networking Devices
HUB, Switches, Routers,
Wireless Access Points,
Modems etc.
Introduction to Computer Networks

Computers: Clients and

Servers
In a client/server network
arrangement, network
services are located in a
dedicated computer
whose only function is to
respond to the requests
of clients.

The server contains the

file, print, application,
security, and other
services in a central
computer that is
continuously available to
respond to client
requests.
Introduction to Computer Networks

Applications
E-mail
Searchable Data (Web Sites)
E-Commerce
News Groups
Internet Telephony (VoIP)
Video Conferencing
Chat Groups
Instant Messengers
Internet Radio
LAN Technologies

Ethernet BUS Topology

Repeater
LAN Technologies

Ethernet STAR Topology

Hub
Classification of computers
Classification of computers according to
purpose
General purpose computers
A general purpose computers is designed to
perform all the needs of the society. These
computers have the ability to store
numerous programs.
These computers can be used for various
applications, ranging for various
applications, ranging from scientific as well
as business purpose.
Classification of computers
according to purpose
Specific purpose computers
These computers are designed to handle
problem or to perform a single specific task.
A set of programs are built into the
machine and hence cannot perform other
types of task. The computers used for
airline reservations', satellite tracking, and
air traffic control are specific purpose
computers.
Classification of computers based on the
principles of operation

Analog computers
Analog computers operates by measuring
physical units such as voltage, pressure,
temperature, speed etc. These computers do
not deal directly with numbers.
Analog computers are used for scientific and
engineering purposes.
Digital computers
Digital computer:
 computer that operates with numerical information

or non-numerical information, represented in a

digital form is known as digital computer.
 These computers operate on binary values 0 and 1.

 Analog quantities must be converted into digital

quantity before processing it.

 The output will also be in digital.
Hybrid computers
 The hybrid computers combines analog and digital
capabilities.
 The user can process both analog and digital data.
 These computers can take either analog or digital data
and gives the result as per requirement through
special devices.
 A converter is used to convert analog data into digital
data and vice-versa.e.g., ROBOT is the best example
of hybrid computer.
 These computers are used for scientific applications,
various field of engineering and in industrial control
process.
Classification of computers
based on size and speed
Based on size and speed, we can divide
computers into four major categories.
1. Micro computers

2. Mini computers

3. Main frame computers

4. Super computers
Layered System View

Intranet Corporate members

Extranet Clients, partners, customers

Internet Global society: competitors

 Internets and Extranets
 Intranets
 Private network within an organization
 Provides information to employees
 Extranets
 Private network that connects organizations
 Used to allow suppliers and others access
 Firewalls
 Security system
 Protects against external threats

Page 257
Internet Introduction
 Internet: The internet is a global network of
interconnected networks, connecting private,
public and university networks in one cohesive
unit.
 Intranet: An intranet is a private enterprise
network that uses internet and web
technologies for information gathering and
distribution within an organization.
 Extranet: An extranet is a community of
interest created by extending an intranet to
selected entities external to an organization.
The Internet
 The internet
 A network of networks
 The internet transmits data from one computer
(called a host) to another
 Internet networks
 Linked networks that work much the same way --
they pass data around in packets, each of which
carries the addresses of its sender and receiver
Have a
nice day… Encryption
software
running on
sending
computer

E%$&:”}{|…

Decryption Have a
nice day…
software
running on
Receiving
computer
What is the Internet

The Internet connects millions of servers.

Intranets and Extranets

 Intranet
 An internal corporate network built using Internet and
World Wide Web standards and products that allows
employees of an organization to gain access to
corporate information
 Extranet
 A network based on Web technologies that links
selected resources of the intranet of a company with its
customers, suppliers, or other business partners
Intranets and Extranets
 Intranet
 A within-organization computer network that
uses Internet technologies to communicate
 Extranet
 Uses Internet technologies to facilitate
communication and trade between an
organization and its business partners, such as
suppliers
 Intranets and Extranets

Internet, intranet, and extranet potential for productivity enhancement

The Internet

 The internet
 A network of networks
 The internet transmits data from one
computer (called a host) to another
 Internet networks
 Linked networks that work much the same
way -- they pass data around in packets,
each of which carries the addresses of its
sender and receiver
How the Internet Works
 Transport control protocol (TCP)
 A protocol that operates at the transport layer and

is used in combination with IP by most Internet

applications
 Backbone
 An Internet high-speed, long distance

communications links (like a bus; wire that

connects nodes)
 Uniform resource locator (URL)
 An assigned address on the Internet for each

computer
 E.g., http://www.yorku.ca/
 Domain Affiliations
Domain Affiliations
arts cultural and entertainment activities
com business organizations
edu educational sites
firm businesses and firms
gov government sites
info information service providers
mil military sites
nom individuals
net networking organizations
org organizations
rec recreational activities
store businesses offering goods for purchase
web entities related to World Wide Web activities
net networking organizations
Access to the Internet
 LAN servers
 Local servers can provide access to the Internet through
normal connections (e.g., Ethernet)
 Serial line internet protocol (SLIP) and
Point-to-point protocol (PPP)
 Communications protocol software that transmits packets over
telephone lines, allowing dial-up access to the Internet
 Connection via an on-line service
 Examples are America Online and Microsoft Network. These
services usually require sign-up procedures
Three Ways to Access the
Internet

Schematic
Internet Service Providers

 Internet service provider (ISP)

 Any company that provides individuals or
companies with access to the Internet
 Thousands of providers including large
communications companies
 Need an account with the ISP and software that
links with TCP/IP
The World Wide Web

 World Wide Web

 A collection of tens of thousands of independently-
owned computers that work together as one in an
Internet service
WWW Terminology
 Home page
 The cover page for a Web site that has graphics, titles,
coloured text, etc.
 Hypermedia
 Tools that connect the data on Web pages, allowing
users to access topics in whatever order they wish
 Hypertext markup language (HTML)
 The standard page description language for Web pages
Intranets and Extranets
 Intranet
 An internal corporate network built using Internet
and World Wide Web standards and products
that allows employees of an organization to gain
access to corporate information
 Extranet
 A network based on Web technologies that links
selected resources of the intranet of a company
with its customers, suppliers, or other business
partners
 Intranet
A network based on TCP/IP protocols (an internet) belonging
to an organization, usually a corporation, accessible only by
the organization's members, employees, or others with
authorization.
An intranet's Web sites look and act just like any other Web
sites, but the firewall surrounding an intranet fends off
unauthorized access.
Like the Internet itself, intranets are used to share information.
Secure intranets are now the fastest-growing segment of the
Internet because they are much less expensive to build and
manage than private networks based on proprietary
protocols.
 Extranet
A new buzzword that refers to an intranet that is partially
accessible to authorized outsiders.
Whereas an intranet resides behind a firewall and is
accessible only to people who are members of the same
company or organization, an extranet provides various
levels of accessibility to outsiders. You can access an
extranet only
if you have a valid username and password, and your identity
determines which parts of the extranet you can view.

Extranets are becoming a very popular means for business

partners to exchange information.
Firewall

 Firewall…
 A device that sits between your internal
network and the outside Internet and
limits access into and out of your network
based on your organization’s access
policy
What is Wireless
 Now the term is used to describe modern
wireless connections such as those in cellular
networks and wireless broadband Internet. In
modern usage, wireless is a method of
communication that uses low-powered radio
waves to transmit data between devices.
 Wireless refers to communication without

cables or cords, chiefly using radio frequency

and infrared waves.
 "Wifi" means "wireless fidelity". The term
"wifi" refers to certain kinds of wireless local
area networks, or WLAN (as opposed to
LAN, or computers that are networked
together with wires).
Internet
 The internet is a worldwide
interconnection of many different
computers and networks.
 The internet allows users to
efficiently share information,
programs and equipments and to
communicate with each other.
 The internet was originally developed
by the department of defense and the
national science foundation.
 Each internet computer is called a
host, and is independent.
 Its operators can choose which
internet services to use and which
local services to make available to the
global internet community.
Advantages of extranet

 Exchange large volumes of data using Electronic Data

Interchange (EDI)
 Share product catalogs exclusively with wholesalers or those
"in the trade"
 Collaborate with other companies on joint development efforts
 Jointly develop and use training programs with other
companies
 Provide or access services provided by one company to a
group of other companies, such as an online banking
application managed by one company on behalf of affiliated
banks
 Share news of common interest exclusively
Disadvantages of extranet

 Extranets can be expensive to implement and maintain within

an organization (e.g.: hardware, software, employee training
costs)
 Security of extranets can be a big concern when dealing with
valuable information. System access needs to be carefully
controlled to avoid sensitive information falling into the wrong
hands.
 Extranets can reduce personal contact (face-to-face meetings)
with customers and business partners. This could cause a lack
of connections made between people and a company, which
hurts the business when it comes to loyalty of its business
partners and customers.
Wireless technologies
 Bluetooth, WiFi and WiMAX are wireless
technologies which allow devices to inter-
connect and communicate with each
other. Radio waves are electro magnetic
waves and have different frequencies.
These technologies are radio frequencies.
Similar to the analogue radio, or FM radio.
 Bluetooth works on 2.45GHz
frequency.
 WiFi works in two frequency bands

2.4GHz and 5GHz.

 WiMAX- Wi MAX is Worldwide Interoperability for

Microwave Access works in two frequency

bands, 2 - 11GHz and 10 - 66GHz.

Blue tooth
 Named after the Danish king, Harold
Blue tooth, was the first to emerge,
several devices like mobile phones,
pdas, headsets, keyboards, mice,
medical equipment and even cars
now come with this feature.
Due to its low cost, manufacturers
are willing to implement this
technology in most devices. It is
designed for short range
communications with a range of
about 10m. As a result, it consumes
less power and are suited for very
small battery powered devices and
portable devices.
Problems associated when devices
communicate via infrared or cables
are removed. Infrared requires a line
of sight, blue tooth only needs to be
in reasonable vicinity.
As cables are not required, it would
be less cumbersome carrying a
personal blue tooth device and
space would be less cluttered.
As blue tooth devices
automatically communicate with
each other, it requires very little
from the user.
Bluetooth allows for a wireless
Personal Area Network (PAN) with
it's short range.
Wi - fi
WiFi or Wireless Fidelity, has a range of
about 100m and allows for faster data
transfer rate between 10 - 54Mbps. There
are three different wireless standards
under WiFi, 802.11a, 802.11b and
802.11g. 802.11 being the wireless
standard set by The Institue of Electrical
and Electronic Engineers (IEEE). WiFi is
used to create wireless Local Area
Networks (WLAN).
The most widely used standard is 802.11b
and 802.11g is expexcted to grow rapidly.
These two standards are relatively
inexpensive and can be found providing
wireless connectivity in airports, railway
stations, cafes, bars, restaurants and other
public areas.
The main difference between the two is the
speed. 802.11b has data transfer rate of
upto 11Mbps and 802.11g has a rate of
upto 54Mbps. 802.11g is a relatively new
and has yet to be adopted widely. 802.11a
is more expensive and as a result it not
available for public access.
Wi -max
Wi MAX is Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access.

The IEEE standard for WiMAX is 802.16 and falls under the
category of wireless Metropolitan Area Network (WMAN).
WiMAX operates on two frequency bands, 2 - 11GHz and 10 -
66GHz and has a range of about 50km with speeds of up to
80Mbps.

This enables smaller wireless LANs to be interconnected by WiMAX

creating a large wireless MAN. Networking between cities can be
achieved without the need for expensive cabling.

It is also able to provide high speed wireless broadband access to

users. As it can operate in two frequency bands WiMAX can
work by line-of-sight and non-line-of-sight.
WiMAX, More Than Internet?
 WiMAX has the potential to
replace a number of existing
telecommunications
infrastructures. In a fixed
wireless configuration it can
replace the telephone
company's copper wire
networks, the cable TV's
coaxial cable infrastructure
while offering Internet Service
Provider (ISP) services. In its
mobile variant, WiMAX has
the potential to replace
cellular networks.
Bluetooth Technology
 Bluetooth is an industrial
specification for wireless
personal area networks
(PANs), also known as IEEE
802.15.1. Bluetooth provides
a way to connect and
exchange information
between devices such as
personal digital assistants
(PDAs), mobile phones,
laptops, PCs, printers, digital
cameras and video game
consoles via a secure,
globally unlicensed short-
range radio frequency.
Bluetooth Contd.
 Bluetooth is a radio standard and communications protocol
primarily designed for low power consumption, with a short range
(power class dependent: 1 meter, 10 meters, 100 meters) based
around low-cost transceiver microchips in each device.

 Bluetooth lets these devices communicate with each other when

they are in range. The devices use a radio communications
system, so they do not have to be in line of sight of each other,
and can even be in other rooms, so long as the received
transmission is powerful enough.
How it all started
 The Bluetooth specification was first developed in 1994 by Jaap
Haartsen, who was working for Ericsson Radio Systems located
in Emmen in The Netherlands. The specifications were
formalized by the Bluetooth Special Interest Group (SIG). The
SIG was formally announced on May 20, 1998.
 Today it has over 1800 companies worldwide. It was established
by Ericsson, Sony Ericsson, IBM, Intel, Toshiba and Nokia, and
later joined by many other companies as Associate or Adopter
members. Bluetooth is also known as IEEE 802.15.1.
 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bluetooth
Introduction
 WiMAX stands for Worldwide Interoperability
for Microwave Access
 IEEE 802.16 standards-based wireless
Metropolitan Area Network technology
 Extends upto 50 km (31 miles) & connects
IEEE 802.11( Wi-Fi Hotspots) to the internet
and provides a wireless extension to Cable
and DSL (Digital Subscriber Line) broadband
connections over long distances.
 IEEE 802.16, specifies WiMAX in the 10 to
66 GHz range.
 WiMAX technology also provides data rates
upto 70 mbps.
Wi Fi
 Wi-Fi is an acronym for Wireless Fidelity
 IEEE 802.11 standard for wireless local area
networks (WLAN)
 Wi-Fi was intended to be used for mobile
devices and LANs, but is now often used for
Internet access.
 Other wi fi standards are 802.11a, 802.11b
and 802.11g
Wi Fi: How it works
 Setup requires Wi Fi hotspots composed of many
access points(AP).
 AP broadcasts its SSID(service set identifier) via
packets called beacons every 100 ms at 1 mbps.
 Based on settings of SSID, the client decides
whether to connect to an AP.
 Based on the signal strength, the firmware on the
client wi fi card decides to which AP it will connect.
 Wifi standard allows the connection criteria
and roaming totally open to the client.
 Feature called Zero Configuration available in
Windows XP shows any N/W available to the
user & lets the user connect to it on the fly i.e.
it controls the roaming criteria.
 Wi Fi has the same properties as an Ethernet
N/W.
Software Access Point sharing
one Internet connection

Photo Courtesy – Data communication and Networking by “Behrouz

A.Forouzan.”
Wi Fi vs. Cellular
 Obstacles to Wi Fi are missing roaming,
authentication features(SIM cards, RADIUS)
& the limited range of Wi-Fi.
 Wi-Fi is ideal for VoIP applications in a
corporate LAN.
 Wi-Fi only phones have limited range upto
300 ft & setting up a covering N/W would be
very expensive.
 Companies: Zyxell, UT Starcomm, Samsung,
Hitachi, etc. are offering VoIP Wi-Fi Phones
for reasonable prices.
Wi Fi vs. Bluetooth
 Bluetooth is for wireless PAN whereas Wi Fi
is for wireless LAN.
 Bluetooth is a low power, short range(30 ft)
N/W specification for transmission speeds of
800 kbps whereas Wi-Fi is a fairly high
power, medium range(300 ft) N/W
specification for transmission speeds of upto
54 mbps.
 Bluetooth devices are embedded with a small,
inexpensive radio transmitter/receiver module
whereas Wifi products have an inbuilt wi fi
chip/adapter/wi fi card which access the
AP/hotspot within its proximity (300 ft radius) for a
fee.
Commercial Wi Fi
 Commercial Wi Fi services are available in
places such as Internet cafes, coffee houses
and airports around the world.
 WiSE Technologies provides commercial
hotspots for airports, universities &
independent cafes in the U.S.
 In sept.2003,Ozoneparis in France, started
deploying ozoneparis N/W across the city
with the aim to construct a wireless
metropolitan network with full wi fi coverage
of Paris.
 Sify, an Indian Internet service provider, has
set up 120 wireless access points in
Bangalore, India in hotels, malls and govt.
offices.
 FON, a Spanish start-up created in
Nov.2005, aims to become the largest N/W of
hotspots in the world by the end of 2006 with
30,000 access points financially supported by
companies like Google & Skype.
Advantages of Wi Fi
 Wi Fi uses unlicensed radio spectrum &
doesn’t require regulatory approval for
individual deployers.
 Reduces the cost of N/W deployment and
Expansion.
 Wi Fi products support roaming.
 Many access points & N/W interfaces support
various degrees of encryption to protect
traffic from interception.
 Wi-Fi is a global set of standards.
Disadvantages of Wi Fi
 Wi Fi uses the unlicensed 2.4 GHz spectrum,
which is also used by other technologies like
Bluetooth, microwave ovens, cordless
phones. Thus causes degradation in
performance.
 Power consumption is fairly high compared to
some other standards.
 Wi Fi N/Ws have limited range. A typical wi fi
home router using 802.11b/802.11g might
have a range of 45 m(150 ft) indoors & 90
m(300ft) outdoors.
Technical Advantages of WiMAX
over Wi Fi
 WiMAX uses the LLC layer(standardised by
IEEE 802.2) used by other LANs & WANs, it
can be both bridged & routed to them.
 IEEE 802.16 defines a MAC layer that
supports multiple physical layer(PHY)
specifications.
 In wi fi the MAC uses contention access
causing interruption which reduces their
throughput whereas WiMAX has a
scheduling MAC which works in time slots by
the base station.
How WiMAX works
 WiMAX system consists of two parts: WiMAX
tower, WiMAX receiver.
 WiMAX tower station can connect directly to
the Internet using a high-bandwidth, wired
connection. It can also connect to another
WiMAX tower using a line-of-sight,
microwave link. This is called Backhaul.
 A single tower can cover up to 3,000 square
miles. Thus WiMAX provides coverage to
remote rural areas.
 WiMAX actually can provide two forms of wireless service:
1. non-line-of-sight service
2. line-of-sight service
 Through the stronger line-of-sight antennas, the WiMAX
transmitting station would send data to WiMAX-enabled
computers or routers set up within the transmitter's 30-mile
radius (2,800 square miles or 9,300 square km of coverage).
This is what allows WiMAX to achieve its maximum range.
Uses of WiMAX
 Provides up to 50 km (31 miles) of linear
service area range and allows connectivity
between users without a direct line of sight.
 Claims to provide shared data rates up to 70
mbps which according to WiMAX proponents,
is enough bandwidth to simultaneously
support more than 60 businesses with T1-
type connectivity and well over a thousand
homes at 1Mbit/s DSL-level connectivity.
 WiMAX will allow interpenetration for
broadband service provision of VoIP, video,
and Internet access—simultaneously.
 Sony and Microsoft are closely considering
the addition of WiMAX as a feature in their
next generation game console. This will allow
gamers to create ad hoc networks with other
players.
Conclusion
 WiMAX outdistances WiFi by miles. WiFi's
range is about 100 feet (30 m). WiMAX will
blanket a radius of 30 miles (50 km) with
wireless access. The increased range is due
to the frequencies used and the power of the
transmitter.
 This outstanding efficiency along with speed
of transmission (upto 70 mbps) makes
WiMAX a sort out technology in the field of
wireless networking.