Electronic Commerce Eighth Edition
Chapter 2 Technology Infrastructure: The Internet and the World Wide Web
Learning Objectives
In this chapter, you will learn about: The origin, growth, and current structure of the Internet How packet-switched networks are combined to form the Internet How Internet protocols and Internet addressing work The history and use of markup languages on the Web, including SGML, HTML, and XML
Learning Objectives (contd.)
How HTML tags and links work on the World Wide Web The differences among internets, intranets, and extranets Options for connecting to the Internet, including cost and bandwidth factors Internet2 and the Semantic Web
The Internet and the World Wide Web
Computer network
Technology allowing people to connect computers Internet
Interconnected global computer networks (large)
Basic technology structure
Computer networks and the Internet Underlies e-commerce
World Wide Web (Web)
Subset of Internet computers
Contents easily accessible
Includes easy-to-use interfaces
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Origins of the Internet
Early 1960s
Defense Department nuclear attack concerns Used powerful computers (large mainframes) Used leased telephone company lines
Single connection
Single connection risk solution
Communicate using multiple channels (packets)
1969 Advanced Research Projects Agency (ARPA)
Packet network connected four computers
ARPANET: earliest network (became the Internet) Academic research use (1970s and 1980s)
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New Uses for the Internet
Defense Department network use was original goal
Control weapons systems, transfer research files
1970s: other uses
E-mail (1972) Networking technology
Remote file transfer and computer access
Mailing lists
E-mail address forwards message to subscribed users
1979 Usenet (Users News Network)
Read and post articles Newsgroups (topic areas)
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New Uses for the Internet (contd.)
Game-playing software created Limited Internet use
Research and academic communities
1979 1989
Network applications improved and tested Defense Departments networking software
Gained wider academic and research institution use Common communications network benefit recognized
Security problems recognized
1980s: personal computer use explosion
Academic and research networks merged
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Commercial Use of the Internet
National Science Foundation (NSF)
Provided funding Prohibited commercial network traffic
Business turned to commercial e-mail providers Larger firms built networks (leased telephone lines) 1989: NSF permitted two commercial e-mail services
MCI Mail and CompuServe
Commercial enterprises could send e-mail Research, education communities sent e-mail directly to MCI Mail and CompuServe
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Growth of the Internet
1991
Further easing of commercial Internet activity restrictions
1995: privatization of the Internet
Operations turned over to privately owned companies
Internet based on four network access points (NAPs)
Network access providers
Sell Internet access rights directly to larger customers Use Internet service providers (ISPs)
Sell to smaller firms and individuals
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Growth of the Internet (contd.)
Internet hosts: directly connected computers Internet growth
Technological and social accomplishment Used by millions of people Thousands of different software packages Billions of dollars change hands yearly Led to World Wide Web
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Emergence of the World Wide Web
Web
Software running on Internet-connected computers Generates Internet traffic
Web software: largest single traffic category Outpaces: e-mail, file transfers, other data transmission traffic
New way of thinking about information storage and retrieval
Web history important innovations
Hypertext Graphical user interfaces
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Emergence of the World Wide Web (contd.)
The development of hypertext
1945: Vannevar Bush: The Atlantic Monthly article
Visionary ideas: future technology uses (Memex)
1960s: Ted Nelson described hypertext
Page-linking system Douglas Engelbart: experimental hypertext system
1987: Nelson published Literary Machines
Outlined project Xanadu global system Online hypertext publishing and commerce
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Emergence of the World Wide Web (contd.)
The development of hypertext (contd.)
1989: Tim Berners-Lee
Proposed hypertext development project Provided data-sharing functionality Developed hypertext server program code
Hypertext server
Stores Hypertext Markup Language (HTML) files Computers connect and read files
Web servers (today)
Hypertext servers used on the Web
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Emergence of the World Wide Web (contd.)
The development of hypertext (contd.)
HTML
Set of codes (tags) attached to text Describes relationships among text elements
Hypertext link (hyperlink)
Points to another location Same or another HTML document
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Emergence of the World Wide Web (contd.)
Graphical interfaces for hypertext
Web browser
Software interface Users read (browse) HTML documents Move from one HTML document to another Text formatted with hypertext link tags in file
HTML document
No specification of text element appearance
Graphical user interface (GUI)
Presents program control functions, output to users Pictures, icons, other graphical elements
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Emergence of the World Wide Web (contd.)
The World Wide Web
Berners-Lees system of hyperlinked HTML documents Quick acceptance in scientific research community 1993: first GUI program (Mosaic)
Read HTML Used HTML hyperlinks for page-to-page navigation First Web browser widely available for personal computers
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Emergence of the World Wide Web (contd.)
The World Wide Web (contd.)
Easy way to access Internet information
Provided by functional system of pages connected by hypertext links Profit-making potential
Netscape Communications founded in 1994
Netscape Navigator Web browser (based on Mosaic) Microsoft: Internet Explorer (most widely used) Mozilla Firefox: Netscape Navigator descendant
Number of Web sites
More rapid growth than the Internet itself
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Estimates
More than 140 million Web sites More than 30 billion individual Web pages
Commercial business Web use increasing
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Packet-Switched Networks
Local area network (LAN)
Network of computers located close together
Wide area networks (WANs)
Networks of computers connected over greater distances
Circuit
Combination of telephone lines and closed switches that connect them to each other
Circuit switching
Centrally controlled, single-connection model
Single electrical path between caller and receiver
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Packet-Switched Networks (contd.)
Circuit switching (contd.)
Works well for telephone calls Does not work as well for:
Sending data across large WAN, interconnected network (Internet)
Circuit-switched network problem
Connected circuit failure
Causes interrupted connection, data loss
Solution
Packet switching: move data between two points
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Packet-Switched Networks (contd.)
Packet-switched network
Packets
Small pieces labeled electronically (origin, sequence, destination address) Travel along interconnected networks Can take different paths May arrive out of order
Destination computer
Collects packets Reassembles original file or e-mail message
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Routing Packets
Routing computers
Decide how best to forward each packet Router computers, routers, gateway computers
Gateway from LAN (WAN to the Internet)
Border routers
Between organization and the Internet
Routing algorithms
Programs on router computers
Determine best path for packet
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Routing Packets (contd.)
Routing algorithms applied to routing table information Routing tables (configuration tables)
Contain lists of connections Contain rules that:
Specify connection to use first Handle heavy packet traffic and network congestion
Variety rules and standards for creating packets
Must translate packets into standard format
Routers perform translation function
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Internet backbone
Internet routers handle packet traffic along main connecting points (backbone routers)
Three billion packets per second
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Internet Protocols
ARPANET: Network Control Protocol (NCP) Protocol: collection of network data rules
Includes transmission rules Computers must use same protocol
Proprietary architecture (closed architecture)
Manufacturer creates own protocol
Open architecture (Internet core)
Uses common protocol Four key message-handling rules Contributed to the Internets success
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TCP/IP
Internet protocols
Transmission Control Protocol (TCP)
Controls message, file disassembly into packets before Internet transmission Controls packet reassembly into original formats at destinations
Internet Protocol (IP)
Specifies addressing details for each packet Labels packet with origination and destination addresses
TCP/IP refers to both protocols
Used today (replaced ARPANET NCP)
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IP Addressing
Internet Protocol version 4 (IPv4)
Used for past 20 years
IP address
32-bit number identifying computers
Base 2 (binary) number system
Computers use for internal calculations Digit: 0 or a 1 (on or off condition)
Byte (8-bit number)
Octet (networking applications)
Binary values: 00000000 to 11111111 Decimal equivalents: 0 to 255
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IP Addressing (contd.)
Dotted decimal notation
IP numbers (addresses)
Four numbers separated by periods Four parts range from 0 to 255
IP addresses range: 0.0.0.0 to 255.255.255.255
Three organizations assign IP addresses Whois server
Returns IP address list owned by an organization
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IP Addressing (contd.)
High demand for IP addresses Subnetting
Use reserved private IP LAN (WAN) addresses
Provide additional address space
Private IP addresses
IP numbers not permitted on Internet packets
Network Address Translation (NAT) device
Converts private IP addresses into normal IP addresses
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IP Addressing (contd.)
Internet Protocol version 6 (IPv6)
Replace IPv4 (future)
Not directly compatible
Advantages
128-bit number for addresses (228): 34 followed by 37 zeros Packet format change eliminates unnecessary fields Adds fields for security, other optional information
Shorthand notation system for expressing addresses (complex eight groups of 16 bits)
Group expressed as four hexadecimal digits separated by colons
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Domain Names
Dotted decimal notation difficult to remember Domain names
Sets of words assigned to specific IP addresses Example: www.sandiego.edu
Contains three parts separated by periods Top-level domain (TLD): rightmost part Generic top-level domains (gTLDs) Sponsored top-level domains (sTLD)
Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN)
Responsibility: managing non-sTLD
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Web Page Request and Delivery Protocols
Web client computers
Web client software (Web browser software)
Sends Web page file requests to other computers (Web servers)
Web server computer
Web server software
Receives requests from many different Web clients
Client/server architecture
Combination: client computers, server computers
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Web Page Request and Delivery Protocols (contd.)
Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP)
Internet Web page file delivery rules
Web page request using Web browser
Type of protocol name followed by //: before domain name Uniform Resource Locator (URL)
Combination: protocol name, domain name Locate resource (Web page) on another computer (Web server)
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Electronic Mail Protocols
Electronic mail (e-mail)
Formatted according to common set of rules Client/server structure
E-mail server
Computer devoted to e-mail handling Stores, forwards e-mail messages
E-mail client software
Read and send e-mail Communicates with e-mail server software
Standardization and rules very important
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Electronic Mail Protocols (contd.)
Two common protocols
Simple Mail Transfer Protocol (SMTP)
Specifies mail message format Describes mail administration e-mail server Describes mail transmission on the Internet
Post Office Protocol (POP)
Sends mail to users computer, deletes from server Sends mail to users computer, does not delete Asks if new mail arrived
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Electronic Mail Protocols (contd.)
Multipurpose Internet Mail Extensions (MIME)
Set of rules for handling binary files
Interactive Mail Access Protocol (IMAP)
Newer e-mail protocol
Same basic POP functions Includes additional features
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Unsolicited Commercial E-Mail (UCE, Spam)
Spam
Unsolicited commercial e-mail (UCE) Bulk mail Electronic junk mail
Wastes peoples time and computer disk space Consumes large amounts of Internet capacity Distracts employees
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Markup Languages and the Web
Text markup language
Specifies tag set inserted into text
Markup tags (tags)
Formatting instructions Web client understands
HTML
Web markup language
Most commonly used
Standard Generalized Markup Language (SGML) subset
Older, more complex text markup language Meta language: used to define other languages
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Markup Languages and the Web (contd.)
Extensible Markup Language (XML)
Derived from SGML Mark up shared information Meta language
Creates markup elements extending XML usefulness
World Wide Web Consortium (W3C)
Maintains Web standards
Extensible Hypertext Markup Language (XHTML)
HTML version 4.0 reformulation as XML application
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Standard Generalized Markup Language
Generalized Markup Language (GML)
Creates standard electronic document formatting styles
International Organization for Standardization (ISO)
Adopted version of GML (SGML)
System of marking up documents Software application independent Nonproprietary, platform independent Offers user-defined tags Not suited to rapid Web page development
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Hypertext Markup Language
Hypertext elements
Text elements related to each other
HTML
Prevalent markup language to create Web documents W3C HTML Working Group page
Detailed HTML versions, related topic information
HTML extensions
Features that work in specific Web browsers
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Hypertext Markup Language (contd.)
HTML tags
Interpreted by Web browser Format text display Enclosed in angle brackets (<>)
Opening tag and closing tag
Format text between them
Closing tag
Preceded by slash within angle brackets (</>)
User may customize tag interpretations Tags: lowercase or uppercase letters
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Hypertext Markup Language (contd.)
One-sided tags
Require opening tag only
Two-sided tags
Optional closing tag Closing tag position very important
Opening tag may contain one or more property modifiers
Further refine tag operation
Other frequently used HTML tags
Graphics and tables
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Hypertext Markup Language (contd.)
HTML links
Hyperlinks form interlinked pages that form a web
Linear hyperlink structure
Read Web page in serial fashion Good for when customer fills out form
Hierarchical hyperlink structure
Introductory page (home page, start page) links to other pages Leads customers from general to specific topics
Hybrid designs combine linear and hierarchical structures
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Hypertext Markup Language (contd.)
Scripting languages and style sheets HTML version released (after 1997)
Object tag
Embeds scripting language code on HTML pages Client-side scripting
Cascading Style Sheets (CSS)
More control over displayed page format
Style sheet
Instructions stored in separate file Referenced using HTML style tag May be included in Web pages HTML file
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Extensible Markup Language (XML)
Web design tool
Web pages contain large amounts of data, lists
Includes data-management capabilities
HTML cannot provide
See Figures 2-10 and 2-11
Illustrate HTML shortcomings in presenting lists
XML different from HTML
XML is not a markup language with defined tags XML tags do not specify text appearance on page
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Figures 2-12 and 2-13
Advantages of XML list presentation
More effectively communicate the meaning of data
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Extensible Markup Language (XML) (contd.)
Strength of XML
Allows users to define their own tags (weakness as well)
Solution to user tag definitions
Common XML tags standards
Data-type definitions (DTDs) or XML schemas
2001: W3C released set of rules for XML documents
XML files not intended to display in browser
Extensible Stylesheet Language (XSL)
Contains formatting instructions
XML parsers: format XML file for device screen
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HTML and XML Editors
HTML document creation
General-purpose text editor or word processor Special-purpose HTML editors
Freeware, shareware, commercial
Web site design tools
Create and manage complete Web sites Upload entire site from PC to Web server Example: Adobe Dreamweaver
XML files
Created with text editor or programs
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Intranets and Extranets
internets (small i)
Interconnected networks Do not extend beyond organizational boundaries
Intranet
Interconnected network (or internet)
Uses TCP/IP protocol set Does not extend beyond creating organization
Extranet
Intranet extended
Includes specific entities outside organization boundaries
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Intranets
Distribute internal corporate information
Low-cost, efficient
Client/server model-based
Requests work same way as on the Internet
Web browsers, Internet-based protocols used Reduces software maintenance, update costs
Employees computer workstations
Script used to update workstations automatically
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Extranets
Connects company with suppliers, business partners, other authorized users
Database access, files, other information
Set up through the Internet or separate network Some extranets start as intranets
Select Internet users data access Example: FedEx package-tracking software
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Public and Private Networks
Public network
Public availability
Private network
Private, leased-line connection Physically connects intranets to one another
Leased line
Permanent telephone connection between two points Advantage: security Drawback: costs
Scaling problem: adding companies
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Virtual Private Network (VPN)
Extranet using public networks and protocols
Sends sensitive data Uses IP tunneling (encapsulation) system
Private passageway through public Internet Secure transmission: one computer to another
Encapsulation Process of creating virtual passageway VPN software
Encrypts packet content, places inside another packet IP wrapper: outer packet
VPN software installed on both computers
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Leased lines not required Infrastructure required outside companys intranet Extranets sometimes confused with VPNs
VPN is an extranet Extranet not necessarily a VPN
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Internet Connection Options
Internet
Set of interconnected networks
Organizations connect computers using a network Internet access providers (IAPs) or ISPs
Provide Internet access to:
Individuals, businesses, other organizations
Offer several connection options
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Connectivity Overview
Common connection options
Voice-grade telephone lines, various types of broadband connections, leased lines, wireless
Distinguishing factor
Bandwidth
Amount of data traveling through communication line per unit of time
Net bandwidth
Actual speed information travels
Symmetric connections
Provide same bandwidth in both directions
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Connectivity Overview (contd.)
Asymmetric connections
Provide different bandwidths for each direction
Upstream bandwidth (upload bandwidth)
Amount of information from user to the Internet in a given amount of time
Downstream bandwidth (download, downlink bandwidth)
Amount of information from the Internet to user in a given amount of time
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Voice-Grade Telephone Connections
Local telephone service provider
Most common way for an individual to connect to ISP
Plain old telephone service (POTS)
Uses existing telephone lines, analog modem
Bandwidth between 28 and 56 Kbps
Digital Subscriber Line (DSL) protocol
Higher grade Use DSL modem
Integrated Services Digital Network (ISDN)
First technology developed using DSL protocol suite
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Broadband Connections
Connection speeds greater than 200 Kbps
Asymmetric digital subscriber line (ADSL)
DSL protocol providing broadband range service
High-speed DSL (HDSL)
More than 768 Kbps symmetric bandwidth
Cable modems
Transmission speeds: 300 Kbps to 1 Mbps Connection bandwidths vary Subscribers compete for shared resource
DSL: Private line with no competing traffic
Rural connection option issues
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Leased-Line Connections
More expensive technologies
Classified by equivalent number of telephone lines included
DS0 (digital signal zero)
Carries one digital signal (56 Kbps)
T1 line (DS1)
Carries 24 DS0 lines (1.544 Mbps)
Fractional T1
128 Kbps and upward in 128-Kbps increments
T3 (DS3): 44.736 Mbps
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Leased-Line Connections (contd.)
NAPs and Internet backbone use:
Frame relay Asynchronous transfer mode (ATM) Optical fiber (instead of copper wire)
Bandwidth determined by fiber-optic cable class OC3 (optical carrier 3): 156 Mbps OC12: 622 Mbps OC48: 2.5 Gbps OC192: 10 Gbps
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Wireless Connections
Satellite sent microwave transmissions
Download speeds (500 Kbps) Upload handled by POTS modem connection
Today, companies use microwave transmitter (150 Kbps)
Costs, accuracy improving POTS modem upload connection not required
Wireless devices
34 percent of Internet users use wireless devices
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Wireless Connections (contd.)
Bluetooth and Ultra Wideband (UWB) Bluetooth design for use over short distances
Low-bandwidth technology (722 Kbps) Personal area networks (PANs) or piconets
Small Bluetooth networks
Advantage: consumes very little power
Ultra Wideband (UWB)
480 Mbps Connections over short distances (30 to 100 feet) Future personal area networking applications
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Wireless Connections (contd.)
Wireless Ethernet (Wi-Fi)
Wi-Fi (wireless Ethernet, 802.11b) Wireless access point (WAP)
Transmits packets between Wi-Fi-equipped computers and other devices within range
802.11b (11 Mbps): range of about 300 feet 802.11a (54 Mbps): not 802.11b compatible 802.11g (54 Mbps): 802.11b compatible
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Wireless Connections (contd.)
Wireless Ethernet (Wi-Fi) (contd.)
802.11n: Draft-N (300 to 450 Mbps range)
Small office home office (SOHO) market Finalized specification: 2009 or 2010
Roaming
Shifting from one WAP to another No user intervention
Hot spots
WAPs open to public
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Wireless Connections (contd.)
Fixed-point wireless
System of repeaters
Forward radio signal from ISP to customers
Repeaters
Transmitter-receiver devices (transceivers)
Uses mesh routing
Directly transmits Wi-Fi packets through short-range transceivers (hundreds or thousands) Located close to each other
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Wireless Connections (contd.)
Cellular telephone networks
Broadcast signals to (receive signals from) antennas Three miles apart in grid Original design
Voice communications
Third-generation (3G) cell phones Combine latest technologies available today Short message service (SMS) protocol Send and receive short text messages Cell phones may include tiny Web browsers
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Internet2 and the Semantic Web
Internet2
Replacement for original ARPANET laboratory Experimental networking technologies test bed High end of the bandwidth spectrum (10 GB) Universities, medical schools, CERN Focus
Mainly technology development
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Internet2 and the Semantic Web (contd.)
Semantic Web project (next-generation Web)
Focus
Blending technologies and information
Uses software agents (intelligent programs)
Read XML tags Determine meaning of words in their contexts
Resource description framework (RDF)
Set of XML syntax standards
Development of Semantic Web will take many years
Start with ontologies for specific subjects
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Summary
In this chapter, you were introduced to:
History of the Internet and Web Hardware and software technology
Make electronic commerce possible
How the Internet and World Wide Web work Technologies supporting the Internet, the Web, electronic commerce
Protocols, programs, languages, architectures TCP/IP HTML, SGML, XML
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Summary (contd.)
Networking technologies
Internets, intranets, and extranets
Types of Internet connections Internet2 Semantic Web project
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