Information Systems Chapter 6 (textbook notes)

Telecommunications: the electronic of signals for communications by means such as telephone,

radio, and television
Advantage:
-allows us to communicate rapidly with business partners, clients, and coworkers
-reduces the amount of time needed to transmit information that can drive and conclude business
actions
How it works:
1 sending computer system and equipment
2 sending unit transmits a signal to a telecommunications device
3 the telecommunications device performs many tasks
4 sends the signal through a medium
5 Another telecommunications device connected to the receiving device, receives the signal
6 sends the message
Telecommunication medium: any materials substance that carries an electronic signal to support
communications between a sending and receiving device
Telecommunications characterisitcs:
- speeds at which info is transmitted is measures in bits per second (bps)
Networking protocol: set of rules, algorithms, messages, and other mechanisms that enables
software and hardware in networked devices to communicate effectively
Goal: to ensure fast, efficient, error-free communications
Communications can be synchronously or asynchronously
Synchronously: receiver gers the message as soon as it is sent
Example: voice and phone
Asynchronously: receiver gets the message after some delay
Example: letter, email, text message
Transmission medium can be divided into one or more telecommunication channels
1 simple
2 half- duplex
3 full duplex
Simple duplex: transmit data in only one direction and is seldom used for business
telecommunications
Example: doorbell, radio
Half-duplex: transmit data in either direction but not simultaneously
Full- duplex: permits data transmission in both directions at the same time, like 2 simplex
channels

Channel bandwidth- speed at which data is exchanged (in bps)

*broader the bandwidth, more info can be exchanged
Broadband communications- a telecommunications system that can transmit data very quickly
Can route data from sender to receiver through circuit switching and packet switching
Circuit switching- a dedicated circuit is established to create a path that connects the device
*circuit cannot be used to support communications from other users/ sending devices until it is
released
Example: traditional telephone
Packet switching- no fixed path is created between the communicating device and the data is
broken into packets for sending over the networks
*each packet is transmitted individually and is capable of taking various paths from sender to
receiver
Example: the internet employs packet switching called TCP/IP
Advantage of circuit switching:
-Provides for the nonstop transfer of data without the overhead of assembling and disassembling
data into packets and determining which routes packets should follow
Packet switching networks are more efficient at using the channel bandwidth because packets
from multiple conversations can share the same communications links
Transmission media can be divided into two broad categories: guided transmission media and
wireless
Guided transmission media: in which telecommunications signals are guided along a solid
medium
Types: twisted pair wire, coaxial cable, fiber optic cable
Wireless: the telecommunications signal is broadcast over airwaves as a form of electromagnetic
radiation
Wireless transmission involves the broadcast of communications in one of 3 frequency ranges:
radio microwave, or infrared
Near field communication: a very short range wireless connectivity technology designed for
consumer electronics, cell phones, and credit cards
*once two NFC-enabled devices are in close proximity they exchange the necessary
communications parameters and passwords to enable Bluetooth, Wi-Fi or other wireless
communications between the devices
Example: speedpass at gas stations
Bluetooth: a wireless communications specification that describes how cell phones, computers,
printers, and other electronic devices can be interconnected over distance of 10-30 feet at a rate
of about 2 Mbps and allows users of multifunctional devices to synchronize with info in a
desktop computer, send or faxes, print, and coordinate all mobile and fixed computer devices

Ultra wideband: involves the transmission of extremely short electromagnetic pulses lasting just
50 to 1,000 picoseconds
Advantages:
-A high throughput rate
-Ability to transmit virtually undetected and impervious to interception or jamming
-Lack of interference with current communications services
Infrared Transmission: sends signal at a frequency of 300 GHz and above
Frequently used in wireless networks, intrusion detectors, home entertainment remote control,
and fire sensors
ZigBee: a form of wireless communications frequently used in security systems and for sensing
and controlling energy-consuming devices in both residential homes and commercial buildings
-low cost technology
-requires little power
Longer life and smaller batteries
Wi-Fi: a wireless telecommunications technology brand owned by the Wi-Fi Alliance
With a Wi-Fi wireless network, the users computer, smartphone, or cell phone has a wireless
adapter that translates data into a radio signal and transmit it using an antenna, receives the signal
and decodes it
Hot spot: the area covered by one or more interconnected wireless access points
Wireless mesh: uses multiple Wi-fi access points to link a series of interconnected local area
networks to form a wide area network capable of serving a large campus or an entire city
-they are very robust
-if one node fails, all the nodes fail
Computer network: consists of communications media, devices, and software needed to connect
two or more computer systems or devices
Network nodes