Introduction to Communications Technologies A Guide for Non-Engineers, Third Edition

Thanks to the advancement of faster processors within communication devices, there has been a rapid change in how information is modulated, multiplexed, managed, and moved. While formulas and functions are critical in creating the granular components and operations of individual technologies, understanding the applications and their purposes in the business environment only requires a basic scientific background. The third edition of Introduction to Communications Technologies: A Guide for Non-Engineers helps students in telecommunications business programs become familiar with and stay abreast of the ever-changing technology surrounding their industry. Used in the core curriculum at Ball State University’s graduate professional program in Information and Communication Sciences, this textbook is designed for graduate and undergraduate students who do not necessarily have a high level of technical expertise, but need to have some understanding of the technical functions of information and communication technologies to prepare them for working in a corporate environment. See What’s New in the Third Edition: Significant updates to the following chapters: Modulation Schemes; Signaling Formats, Multiplexing, and Digital Transmission; Packet Switching and Local Area Networks; Mobile Wireless Technologies; Network Security and Management Added coverage of OFDMA, Metro Ethernet, 5G pre-standard configuration, ‘apps’ on mobile devices, and VoIP core switching New chapters on Big Data and the Cloud Avoiding complicated equations and the need for calculus gymnastics, this textbook provides non-engineering students with a firm background and a broad understanding of the knowledge necessary to work within the fast-paced and ever-changing communications industry.

Systems and Models of Communications Technologies: Shannon–Weaver, von Neumann, and the Open System Interconnection ModelComputing ModelOpen System Interconnection ModelSummaryReview QuestionsBasic Concepts of ElectricityCommon Units of Technical MeasurementSignalsCurrentResistanceVoltageCapacitanceInductancePowerElectrical CircuitsFiltersAC-to-DC ConversionSummaryReview QuestionsMultiple ChoiceMatching QuestionsShort Essay QuestionsModulation SchemesSpectrumAmplitude ModulationFrequency ModulationPhase ModulationPulse-Amplitude ModulationPulse-Code ModulationAmplitude Shift KeyingAdaptive Differential Pulse-Code ModulationPhase-Shift KeyingOrthogonal Frequency-Division MultiplexingQuadrature Amplitude ModulationMultiple-Frequency Shift KeyingSummaryReview QuestionsMultiple ChoiceMatching QuestionsShort Essay QuestionsSignaling Formats, Multiplexing, and Digital TransmissionsDigital FormatsMultiplexingFrequency-Division MultiplexingTime-Division MultiplexingDigital CircuitsFrequency-Hopping Spread SpectrumDirect-Sequence Spread SpectrumSummaryReview QuestionsTrue/FalseMultiple ChoiceShort Essay QuestionsLegacy to Current-Day Telephone NetworksCircuit Switching vs. Packet SwitchingLegacy of the Circuit-Switching NetworkPacket SwitchingAsynchronous Transfer ModeLegacy Public Switched Telephone NetworkThe TelephoneNetwork AccessTrunks and LinesCustomer Premise EquipmentVoice ProcessingVoice over Internet ProtocolVoIP BenefitsVoIP ChallengesProtocols Used in VoIP EnvironmentsSession Initiation ProtocolComponents of SIPReal-Time Transfer ProtocolMultiprotocol Label SwitchingSummaryReview QuestionsTrue/FalseMultiple ChoiceShort Essay QuestionsBasics of Multiprotocol Label Switching NetworkingIntroductionWhat Is MPLS?Motivation behind MPLSSome Attractive Features of MPLSPrincipal Components of an MPLS NetworkOperation with Edge and Core Label-Switched RoutersLabels and Label-Switched RoutersForwarding Packets with MPLS LabelsExample of MPLS Label SwappingLabel SwitchingLabelsLabels and Label Edge RoutersLabels and ShimsSignaling and Label Distribution ProtocolsNetwork Topology DiscoveryReservation ProtocolLabel Distribution ProtocolForwarding Equivalence Classes and LDP PathsConclusionReview QuestionsTrue/FalseMultiple ChoiceMatching QuestionsShort Essay QuestionsLocal Area Network TechnologyBusiness and Human FactorsCosts of a LANInitial CostsOngoing CostsTechnical FactorsWorking Parts of a LANCommon LAN TypesRegulatory and Legal FactorsUse and Function of StandardsProcess of StandardizationStandard-Setting BodiesLegal AspectsOther NetworksSummaryReview QuestionsTrue/FalseMultiple ChoiceShort Essay QuestionsThe Language of the Internet: Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol (TCP/IP)Business and Human FactorsTechnical FactorsMessage CastingMessage AddressingNetwork RoutingLanguage of the Network: Routed ProtocolsIPv6Regulatory and Legal FactorsSummaryReview QuestionsMultiple ChoiceShort Essay QuestionsWireless Local Area NetworksBusiness and Human FactorsTechnical FactorsBasics of Radio FrequencyWireless ProtocolsWhat Is a WLAN?Aspects to ConsiderAccess TechnologyFrequency RangeAntennasRange and BandwidthInterferenceSecurityWireless Metropolitan Area NetworksRegulatory and Legal FactorsSummaryReview QuestionsTrue/FalseMultiple ChoiceShort Essay QuestionsMobile Wireless TechnologiesAdvanced Mobile Phone ServiceMultiple-Access TechnologiesMobile SwitchingFourth-Generation Wireless (4G)Fifth-Generation Wireless (5G)Time-Division Synchronous Code-Division Multiple AccessEnhanced Data Rate for GSM Environment (EDGE)General Packet Radio Service (GPRS)High-Speed Downlink Packet AccessAntennasSmart AntennasMicrowave SignalsEngineering Issues for Microwave SignalingSummaryReview QuestionsMultiple ChoiceMatching QuestionsShort Essay QuestionsVirtualizationCompute VirtualizationHypervisorKernel ModuleVirtual Machine MonitorVirtualized StorageVirtual Machine–Based Storage OptionsVirtual Provisioning and Automated Storage TieringThin Pools and Thin Logical UnitsVirtualizing the WorkstationBenefits of Desktop VirtualizationDesktop Virtualization TechniquesVirtualizing the ApplicationSummaryReview QuestionsTrue/FalseMultiple ChoiceShort Essay QuestionsAnalyzing Big DataIntroduction to Big DataThe Structure of Big DataThe Four Types of Data StructuresAnalyzing Big DataAnalyzing the Four Data TypesAnalyzing Structured DataAnalyzing Unstructured and Semistructured DataThe Corpus or Body of WorkReviewing ResultsSummaryReview QuestionsTrue/FalseMultiple ChoiceThe Cloud and Cloud ComputingIntroductionThe History of Cloud ComputingWhat Is the Cloud?VirtualizationDelivery Models for Cloud ComputingDeployment Models for Cloud ComputingPublic Cloud DeploymentPrivate Cloud DeploymentHybrid Cloud DeploymentCommunity Cloud DeploymentRisks of the CloudFuture PredictionsSummaryReview QuestionsTrue/FalseMultiple ChoiceShort Essay QuestionsVideo BasicsThe Business and Human FactorsHigh-Quality VCMedium-Quality VCLow-Quality VCThe Technical FactorsImage ScanningColorTransmission of VideoHigh-Definition TelevisionSummaryReview QuestionsTrue/FalseMultiple ChoiceShort Essay QuestionsDigital MediaIntroductionDigital MediaConvergenceDigital PhotographyAdvantages of the Digital Form over Analog FormTechnical Differences between Digital and Analog FormsPrintingAdvanced Darkroom TechniqueNew OpportunitiesDigital VideoDigital Video: Genesis and Advantages over Analog VideoTechnical Differences between the Digital and Analog FormsNew OpportunitiesDigital AudioAdvantages over Analog VersionTechnical Differences between Digital and Analog FormsNew Opportunities3-D Digital GamingAdvantages over the Analog VersionTechnical Differences between the Digital and Analog FormsNew OpportunitiesSummaryReview QuestionsTrue/FalseMultiple ChoiceShort Essay QuestionsNetwork Security and ManagementIntroductionNetwork Security ThreatsWho Are the Bad Guys?HackersTypes of Network and Computer AttacksSocial Engineering AttacksDOS AttacksMalware AttacksSniffingThe Payback of SecurityCustomer TrustMobilityIncreased ProductivityReduced CostBasics of SecurityAuthenticationWhat You KnowWhat You HaveWho You AreAccountingEncryptionSymmetric KeyAsymmetric KeyAccess Control and Site SecuritySecurity PolicyNetwork Security Tools and TechniquesNetwork SecurityDepth in DesignFirewallsIntrusion Detection Systems and Intrusion Prevention SystemsHoney PotHost SecurityOS SecuritySoftware SecurityAntivirus ProgramsSpam/Pop-Up and Cookie BlockersNetwork Administration and ManagementKey Aspects of Network Administration and ManagementNetwork Management ToolsClient/Server ArchitectureSimple Network Management ProtocolCase Study: Network Security and BYODSummaryReview QuestionsTrue/FalseMultiple ChoiceShort Essay Questions

Stephan S. Jones, PhD, is the director of the Center for Information and Communication Sciences, where he is also a professor delivering core technology courses in the graduate-only program. His industry experience is as a field engineer and owner of a telecommunications company providing voice and data solutions for business/commercial systems in the Midwest. In academe, he has published or edited numerous books and texts associated with simplifying complex communication technologies for non-engineering students to comprehend. He is actively engaged in supporting broadband technology deployments to underserved and unserved regions of the country and providing technical support for non-profit organizations with student participation. Frank Groom, PhD, is a professor in the Graduate Center for Information and Communication Science at Ball State University. His research is concentrated in the areas of high-bandwidth networking, distributed systems, and the storage of multimedia objects. Dr. Groom is the author of seven books, most recently having finished The Basics of Voice over IP Networking and The Basics of 802.11 Wireless LANs. Among his best known books are The Future of ATM and The ATM Handbook. Dr. Groom earned his PhD from the University of Wisconsin– Milwaukee in information systems. He is the former senior director of information systems for Ameritech. Ron Kovac, PhD, is a full professor in the Center for Information and Communication Sciences at Ball State University in Indiana. The center prepares graduate students in the field of telecommunications. Previous to this position, Dr. Kovac was the telecommunication manager for the state of New York and a CIO for a large computing center located on the east coast. Dr. Kovac’s previous studies included electrical engineering, photography, and education. Dr. Kovac has published two books and over 50 articles and has completed numerous international consulting projects in both the education and telecommunications field. Additionally, he speaks worldwide on issues related to telecommunications and holds numerous certifications, including the CCNA, the CCAI, and the almost complete CCNP. Dr. Kovac is also a Fulbright Scholar and loves life, education and technology.