Computer Networks

Lecture 2
By: Dr. Dina Fawzy

Book Reference: Jim Kurose, Keith Ross, “ Computer

Networking: A Top Down Approach”, 6th edition, Addison-
Wesley, 2012
Agenda
• Wireless Networks
• Physical media
• Network Core Data Transmission Methods
• Circuit switching
• Packet Switching
• Network Core Functions
• Internet Structure: Network of Networks

Book Reference: Jim Kurose, Keith Ross, “ Computer

Networking: A Top Down Approach”, 6th edition, Addison-
Wesley, 2012
Wireless Networks
• Wireless networks could be categorized into:
1. Wireless LANs
2. Wide-area wireless
• Wireless LANs: network coverage supports within building (100 ft.) using the
WiFi technology protocol that offer average 450 Mbps transmission rate
• Wide-area Wireless or cellular networks or Global System for Mobile
communication(GSM): provided by telecommunications company network
coverage supports within 1-5 km that offer between 1 and 10 Mbps using the 3G
or 4G or 5G technologies.

Book Reference: Jim Kurose, Keith Ross, “ Computer

Networking: A Top Down Approach”, 6th edition, Addison-
Wesley, 2012
Wireless Access Networks

Book Reference: Jim Kurose, Keith Ross, “ Computer

Networking: A Top Down Approach”, 6th edition, Addison-
Wesley, 2012
Physical media
• Consider a bit traveling from one end system, through a series of links
and routers, to another end system.
• Physical media is what lies between transmitter & receiver.
• Physical media could be guided or un-guided.
• Guided physical media: signals propagate in solid media such as:
twisted pair copper, fiber optic, coaxial cable.
• Un-guided physical: signals propagate freely, such as: electro-
magnetic radio waves

Book Reference: Jim Kurose, Keith Ross, “ Computer

Networking: A Top Down Approach”, 6th edition, Addison-
Wesley, 2012
Physical media
• Coaxial cable: two concentric copper conductors transmits data in
electron format (electricity)

• Fiber optic cable: glass fiber carrying light pulses, each pulse a bit,
characterized by high-speed operation with transmission rate 10-100
Gbps transmission rate and low error rate.

• Twisted pair copper: two insulated copper wires to transmit data in

electron format, with two types:
1. Category 5: with transmission rate =100 Mbps 1 Gbps
2. Category 6: with transmission rate = 10Gbps
Book Reference: Jim Kurose, Keith Ross, “ Computer
Networking: A Top Down Approach”, 6th edition, Addison-
Wesley, 2012
Physical media
• Electro-magnetic radio waves: signal carried in electromagnetic spectrum
without wires. Used in wireless LAN (e.g., WiFi) and wide-area (e.g., cellular)
• Disadvantages:
• obstruction by objects
• interference

Book Reference: Jim Kurose, Keith Ross, “ Computer

Networking: A Top Down Approach”, 6th edition, Addison-
Wesley, 2012
Network Core Data Transmission Methods
• Two methods to transfer data between two or more devices in
communication networks:
1. Circuit switching
2. Packet switching

Book Reference: Jim Kurose, Keith Ross, “ Computer

Networking: A Top Down Approach”, 6th edition, Addison-
Wesley, 2012
Circuit Switching
• Circuit switching is a communication method where a
dedicated communication path, or circuit, is established
between two devices before data transmission begins.
• The circuit remains dedicated to the communication for
the duration of the session, and no other devices can
use it while the session is in progress. Circuit switching
is commonly used in voice communication.

✓end-end resources allocated

✓dedicated resources: no sharing resources
✓circuit segment idle if not used by call (no sharing)
✓commonly used in traditional telephone networks and
radio channels
Book Reference: Jim Kurose, Keith Ross, “ Computer
Networking: A Top Down Approach”, 6th edition, Addison-
Wesley, 2012
Circuit Switching
• Frequency Division Multiplexing (FDM) vs Time Division Multiplexing
(TDM).

Book Reference: Jim Kurose, Keith Ross, “ Computer

Networking: A Top Down Approach”, 6th edition, Addison-
Wesley, 2012
Packet Switching
• Packet switching is a communication method where
data is divided into smaller units called packets and
transmitted over the network. Each packet contains
the source and destination addresses, as well as other
information needed for routing.
✓Hosts break application-layer data into packets
✓forward packets from one router to the next, across
links on path from source to destination
✓efficient use of bandwidth: bandwidth is shared
among multiple users
✓resources are allocated only when data needs to be
transmitted.

Book Reference: Jim Kurose, Keith Ross, “ Computer

Networking: A Top Down Approach”, 6th edition, Addison-
Wesley, 2012
Packet Switching
• Data breaks into smaller chunks, known as packets with length L bits.
• Packets are transmitted into a link in the access network at
transmission rate R bits/sec.
• Transmission time takes L/R seconds to transmit data packet with
length L-bits into link has transmission rate R bps (per hop).

Book Reference: Jim Kurose, Keith Ross, “ Computer

Networking: A Top Down Approach”, 6th edition, Addison-
Wesley, 2012
Packet Switching
Example:
• L = 7.5 Mbits
• R = 1.5 Mbps
• One-hop transmission delay = 5 sec
• Two-hops= 2*5= 10 sec

Book Reference: Jim Kurose, Keith Ross, “ Computer

Networking: A Top Down Approach”, 6th edition, Addison-
Wesley, 2012
Packet Switching
• Store and forward: entire packet must arrive at router before it can
be transmitted on next link
• Queuing and loss: if arrival rate to link exceeds transmission rate of
link for a period of time:
• packets will queue, wait to be transmitted on link
• packets can be dropped (lost) if memory (buffer) fills up

Book Reference: Jim Kurose, Keith Ross, “ Computer

Networking: A Top Down Approach”, 6th edition, Addison-
Wesley, 2012
Network Core Functions
• Network functions are: Routing and Forwarding.
• Routing: Determines source-destination route taken by data packets
using routing algorithms.
• Forwarding: move packets from router’s input to appropriate
router output
Routing
1
Forwarding Table
Forwarding
3 2

local forwarding table

header value output link
0100 3
0101 2
0111 2
1001 1 Book Reference: Jim Kurose, Keith Ross, “ Computer destination address in arriving
Networking: A Top Down Approach”, 6th edition, Addison- packet’s header
Wesley, 2012
Circuit Switching vs Packet Switching
Packet Switching Circuit Switching

Packet switching does not require any dedicated path to send Circuit switching requires a dedicated path before sending
data from source to destination. data from source to destination.

It does not reserve bandwidth in advance It reserves the entire bandwidth in advance.

Resources Sharing Resources Dedicated

A packet can follow any route Each packet follows the same route

No connection or call setup is required Connection or Call setup is required

No bandwidth wastage Bandwidth wastage

Book Reference: Jim Kurose, Keith Ross, “ Computer
Networking: A Top Down Approach”, 6th edition, Addison-
Wesley, 2012
Internet Structure: Network of Networks
• End systems connect to Internet via access ISPs (Internet Service
Providers).
• Global ISPs in turn must be interconnected.
• So that any two hosts can send packets to each other globally.

Book Reference: Jim Kurose, Keith Ross, “ Computer

Networking: A Top Down Approach”, 6th edition, Addison-
Wesley, 2012
Internet structure: network of networks
Question: given millions of access ISPs, how to connect them
together?
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Introduction 1-18
Internet structure: network of networks
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Introduction 1-19
Internet structure: network of networks
Option: connect each access ISP to one global transit ISP?

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Introduction 1-20
Any Questions?
Thank you

Book Reference: Jim Kurose, Keith Ross, “ Computer

Networking: A Top Down Approach”, 6th edition, Addison-
Wesley, 2012