Transcript Chapter 6
Principles of Information Systems Eighth Edition Chapter 6 Telecommunications and Networks Principles and Learning Objectives • Effective communications are essential to organizational success – Define the terms communications and telecommunications and describe the components of a telecommunications system Principles of Information Systems, Eighth Edition 2 Principles and Learning Objectives (continued) • Communications technology lets more people send and receive all forms of information over greater distances at a faster rate than ever before – Identify two broad categories of communications media and their associated characteristics – Identify several communications hardware devices and discuss their function – Name three types of telecommunications carriers and discuss the services they provide – Describe many of the benefits associated with a telecommunications network Principles of Information Systems, Eighth Edition 3 Principles and Learning Objectives (continued) • Communications technology lets more people send and receive all forms of information over greater distances at a faster rate than ever before (continued) – Define the term communications protocols and identify several common ones – Name three distributed processing alternatives and discuss their basic features – List and describe several telecommunications applications that organizations benefit from today Principles of Information Systems, Eighth Edition 4 Why Learn About Telecommunications and Networks? • Need to access data wherever it resides – – – – – – Fast, reliable communications Exchange messages Upload/download data and software Route business transactions Connect to remote databases Send output to printers Principles of Information Systems, Eighth Edition 5 An Overview Of Telecommunications • Telecommunications: electronic transmission of signals for communications – Telephone, radio, and television • Communications can be synchronous or asynchronous – Synchronous communications: receiver gets message instantaneously – Asynchronous communications: receiver gets message after some delay Principles of Information Systems, Eighth Edition 6 An Overview Of Telecommunications (continued) Figure 6.1: Elements of a Telecommunications System Principles of Information Systems, Eighth Edition 7 Basic Communications Channel Characteristics • Communication channels can be classified as: – Simplex channel: transmits data in only one direction – Half-duplex channel: transmits data in either direction, but not simultaneously – Full-duplex channel: permits data transmission in both directions at the same time Principles of Information Systems, Eighth Edition 8 Channel Bandwidth • Channel bandwidth: rate at which data is exchanged over a communications channel – Usually measured in bits per second (bps) • Broadband communications: telecommunications system in which a very high rate of data exchange is possible • Narrowband communications: telecommunications system that supports a much lower rate of data exchange than broadband Principles of Information Systems, Eighth Edition 9 Communications Media • Guided transmission media: communications signals guided along a solid medium • Wireless media: communications signal broadcast over airwaves as a form of electromagnetic radiation Principles of Information Systems, Eighth Edition 10 Guided Transmission Media Types Table 6.1: Guided Transmission Media Types Principles of Information Systems, Eighth Edition 11 Guided Transmission Media Types (continued) Table 6.2: Wireless Technologies Principles of Information Systems, Eighth Edition 12 Telecommunications Hardware • Typical telephone line only accommodates an analog signal (continuous, curving signal) • Computers generate a digital signal representing bits • Modem: device that translates data from digital to analog and analog to digital Principles of Information Systems, Eighth Edition 13 Telecommunications Hardware (continued) Figure 6.6: How a Modem Works Principles of Information Systems, Eighth Edition 14 Telecommunications Hardware (continued) • Multiplexer: device that encodes data from two or more data sources onto a single communications channel – Reduces number of communications channels needed – Lowers telecommunications costs • Front-end processors: special-purpose computers that manage communications serving hundreds or even thousands of users Principles of Information Systems, Eighth Edition 15 Services • Telecommunications carriers organize communications channels, networks, hardware, software, people, and business procedures to provide valuable communications services Principles of Information Systems, Eighth Edition 16 Digital Subscriber Line (DSL) • Telecommunications technology that delivers highbandwidth information to homes and small businesses over ordinary copper telephone wires • Asymmetric DSL (ADSL): download speed is three to four times faster than upload speed • Symmetric DSL (SDSL): speed of receiving and sending data is the same – Does not allow you to use the phone at the same time Principles of Information Systems, Eighth Edition 17 Digital Subscriber Line (DSL) (continued) Figure 6.8: Digital Subscriber Line (DSL) Principles of Information Systems, Eighth Edition 18 Wireless Telecommunications • All major long-distance carriers offer wireless telecommunications services – Phone calls or Internet access • Wireless data communications will be broadly adopted when providers can offer business users enough bandwidth and connectivity so that they use wireless as their sole connection Principles of Information Systems, Eighth Edition 19 Networks and Distributed Processing • Computer network: communications media, devices, and software needed to connect two or more computer systems and/or devices • Network nodes: computers and devices on the networks Principles of Information Systems, Eighth Edition 20 Network Types • • • • • • Personal area network (PAN) Local area network (LAN) Metropolitan area network (MAN) Wide area network (WAN) International networks Mesh networking Principles of Information Systems, Eighth Edition 21 Network Types (continued) Figure 6.11: Partial Mesh Network Principles of Information Systems, Eighth Edition 22 Distributed Processing • Centralized processing: all processing occurs at a single location or facility • Decentralized processing: processing devices are placed at various remote locations • Distributed processing: computers are placed at remote locations but are connected to each other via a network Principles of Information Systems, Eighth Edition 23 Client/Server Systems • Client/server: multiple computer platforms are dedicated to special functions such as database management, printing, communications, and program execution – Each server is accessible by all computers on the network – A client is any computer that sends messages requesting services from servers on the network Principles of Information Systems, Eighth Edition 24 Client/Server Systems (continued) Figure 6.13: Client/Server Connection Principles of Information Systems, Eighth Edition 25 Communications Software and Protocols • Communications protocol: set of rules that governs the exchange of information over a communications channel • ATM • Frame relay • IEEE 802.3 (Ethernet) • T-carrier system Principles of Information Systems, Eighth Edition 26 Communications Software and Protocols (continued) Table 6.4: Common Telecommunications Protocols Principles of Information Systems, Eighth Edition 27 Wireless Communications Protocols • • • • • • Wi-Fi WiMAX Smart antenna technology Ultra Wideband (UWB) 3G wireless communication 4G wireless communications Principles of Information Systems, Eighth Edition 28 Wireless Communications Protocols (continued) Table 6.14: Wi-Fi Network Principles of Information Systems, Eighth Edition 29 Wireless Communications Protocols (continued) • Switch: uses physical device address in each incoming message to forward message to another device on the same network • Bridge: connects one LAN to another LAN that uses the same telecommunications protocol • Router: forwards data packets across two or more distinct networks toward their destinations through routing • Gateway: serves as an entrance to another network Principles of Information Systems, Eighth Edition 30 Communications Software • Network operating system (NOS): systems software that controls computer systems and devices on a network and allows them to communicate with each other • Network-management software – Monitors the use of individual computers and shared hardware – Scans for viruses – Ensures compliance with software licenses Principles of Information Systems, Eighth Edition 31 Telecommunications and Network Applications • Telecommunications and networks are a vital part of today’s information systems • In some industries, telecommunications is virtually a requirement for doing business Principles of Information Systems, Eighth Edition 32 Linking Personal Computers to Mainframes and Networks • Personal computers can be connected to mainframe computers so that data can be downloaded or uploaded – Example: user can download a file from a database to a personal computer • Unattended systems: communications software programs that instruct the computer to connect to another computer on the network, download or send information, and then disconnect from the telecommunications line Principles of Information Systems, Eighth Edition 33 Voice Mail • Users can send, receive, and store verbal messages for and from other people around the world • Call management systems can be linked to corporate e-mail and instant messaging systems Principles of Information Systems, Eighth Edition 34 Home and Small Business Networks • Simple networks can be used to share printers or an Internet connection, access files on different machines, etc. • Wireless network – 802.11n access point – Combined router, firewall, Ethernet hub, and wireless hub • Configure computers to share printers and files Principles of Information Systems, Eighth Edition 35 Electronic Document Distribution • Send and receive documents in a digital form without printing them (although printing is possible) – Much faster – Saves paper – Saves document storage space Principles of Information Systems, Eighth Edition 36 Call Centers • Call center: physical location where an organization handles customer and other telephone calls – Usually with some computer automation • Automatic call distributor (ACD): telephone facility that manages incoming calls – Handles calls based on the called number and an associated database of instructions • National Do Not Call Registry • Offshore call centers Principles of Information Systems, Eighth Edition 37 Telecommuting and Virtual Workers and Workgroups • Telecommuting: employees work away from the office using computing devices and networks – More effective workers – Saves money on office and parking space and office equipment – Reduces traffic congestion and air pollution • Some types of jobs are better suited for telecommuting than others • Telecommuters must work independently, manage time well, and balance work and home life Principles of Information Systems, Eighth Edition 38 Videoconferencing • Enables people to hold a conference by combining voice, video, and audio transmission – Reduces travel expenses and time – Increases managerial effectiveness through faster response to problems, access to more people, and less duplication of effort in multiple sites • Systems usually combine video and phone call capabilities with data or document conferencing Principles of Information Systems, Eighth Edition 39 Electronic Data Interchange • Intercompany, application-to-application communication of data in a standard format – Permits recipient to perform a standard business transaction, such as processing purchase orders – Follows standards and procedures that can process output from one system directly as input to other systems without human intervention Principles of Information Systems, Eighth Edition 40 Electronic Data Interchange (continued) Table 6.17: Two Approaches to Electronic Data Interchange Principles of Information Systems, Eighth Edition 41 Public Network Services • Give personal computer users access to vast databases, the Internet, and other services – Usually an initial fee plus usage fees – Fees are based on services used; can range from under $15 to over $500 per month • Providers of public network services include Microsoft, America Online, and Prodigy Principles of Information Systems, Eighth Edition 42 Electronic Funds Transfer • Electronic funds transfer (EFT) – Transfers money from one bank account directly to another without the use of paper money • Wire transfer – Fast, reliable means to move funds from one account to another using one of three major wiretransfer networks • Automated clearing house (ACH) – Secure private network connecting all U.S. financial institutions to each other through the Federal Reserve Board or other ACH operators Principles of Information Systems, Eighth Edition 43 Distance Learning • Use of telecommunications to extend the classroom – Instructors create course home pages on the Internet – Students access the course syllabus and instructor notes on the Web page – Student e-mail mailing lists allow students and the instructor to e-mail one another – Chat groups allow students to form “virtual teams” Principles of Information Systems, Eighth Edition 44 Team Collaboration Systems • Microsoft Office Groove: example of software designed to enable collaboration and communication within small teams – Allows you to set up shared workspaces among employees and others outside your organization Principles of Information Systems, Eighth Edition 45 Specialized Systems and Services • Increased interest in specialized and regional information services • Electronic bulletin board: message center that displays messages in electronic form – Regional, national, and international bulletin boards • Global positioning systems (GPSs) provide specialized telecommunications services • Virtual workers: conduct business at any time and place Principles of Information Systems, Eighth Edition 46 Summary • Telecommunications: electronic transmission of signals for communications, by such means as telephone, radio, and television • Guided transmission media types: twisted-pair wire, coaxial cable, fiber-optic cable, and broadband over power lines • Wireless transmission types: microwave, radio, and infrared • Computer network: communications media, devices, and software needed to connect two or more computer systems and/or devices Principles of Information Systems, Eighth Edition 47 Summary (continued) • Network types: personal area network (PAN), local area network (LAN), metropolitan area network (MAN), wide area network (WAN), international networks, and mesh networking • Client/server systems: multiple computer platforms dedicated to special functions such as database management, printing, communications, and program execution • Communications protocol: set of rules that governs the exchange of information over a communications channel Principles of Information Systems, Eighth Edition 48 Summary (continued) • Examples of telecommunications and network applications – Linking personal computers to mainframes and networks, voice mail, home and small business networks, electronic document distribution, call centers, telecommuting, videoconferencing, electronic data interchange, public network services, electronic funds transfer, distance learning, and team collaboration systems Principles of Information Systems, Eighth Edition 49