Multiplexing (Term Paper Sample)

MultiplexingYourFirstName YourLastNameUniversity title Multiplexing             With the ever-increasing demand on bandwidth, multiplexing has become an important technique in signal transmission. Multiplexing is the combination of multiple streams of data for transmission on a shared medium. On the transmitting end is a device known as a multiplexer and on the receiving end is demultiplexer, which separates the combined signal into individual components (Communications Museum of Macao, 2014). There are four main types of multiplexing: “Frequency Division Multiplexing (FDM), Time Division Multiplexing (TDM), Code Division Multiplexing (CDM), and Wavelength Division Multiplexing (WDM),” (Rodriguez, 2009). Multiplexing reduces line costs and management costs.             FDM is a method by which different frequencies are used to combine multiple streams of data for transmission over a common medium. Each data stream is assigned a discrete carrier frequency. The modulated carrier frequencies are then combined for transmission. This multiplexing technique is commonly used in radio and television broadcast industry. Wavelength Division Multiplexing (WDM) is a variant of FDM that is used in optical fiber. The different light spectrums are of different colors. By WDM, the spectrums are used to modulate different streams of data, which are then combined for transmission through a common fiber optic cable. In WDM, prisms are used for multiplexing and demultiplexing (Thakur, n.d)             In Time Division Multiplexing (TDM), each data stream is assigned a time slot in a set. A fixed sequence of time slots is then transmitted over a single channel. TDM is done in a round robin manner to ensure all the streams of a data set are efficiently transmitted. Code Division Multiplexing (CDM) is used in cellular telephone systems and some satellite communication. In this technique, each sender is assigned a stream of uniquely generated binary code. The unique codes are then transmitted over the same medium.             In the absence of multiplexing, users at separate locations in need of communication would have to employ several lines of communication for transmission of different data. This would be costly in terms of infrastructure and even transmission management. Such architecture would also be complex and hard to manage. Use of a given multiplexing method minimizes the cost of transmission lines and simplifies line management.   Remember your Nanosecond             Time is a valuable resource. The evolution of computers comes with sophisticated processors with extremely fast processing speeds. Grace Hopper illustrated the value of a nanosecond with an interesting analogy; termed as “Remember your Nanosecond,” (Hoff, 2012)  Hopper is credited as among the pioneer computer scientist to write the first computer compiler (Szczys, 2012). Even though a nanosecond is a tiny fraction of time, it cannot be neglected in present-day computing and information technology.             In her quest to elaborate on the understanding of a nanosecond, Hopper developed an exciting illustration. She sourced for a piece of wire whose length was equivalent to the distance that light can travel in a nanosecond. The wire was of a portable length of 11.8 inches (Hoff, 2012). She further illustrated the significance of a microsecond presenting a piece of wire whose length was equivalent to the distance covered by light in a microsecond, 984 feet. In this illustration, the wire was still portable but bulkier than that of a nanosecond. Hopper further reiterated the importance of a microsecond by relating it to necklace worn by a programmer. She suggested that every programmer wears a necklace of a microseconds worth of wire, hence, a programmer should understand what he/she is wasting when a microsecond is wasted (Hoff, 2012).             In today’s computers, with a clock speed of 3.06 GHz, there is a 33 nanoseconds tick separation. This speed would be equivalent to 3.73 inches of light travel. Sophisticated microcontrollers and microprocessors with capability to process data in nanoseconds have been developed. In a billionth of a second, computers are capable of executing a series of instructions. To comprehend the high processing speeds, the concept of “Remember Your Nanosecond” is crucial. Further advancements are being made, in the information technology industry, to accelerate the processing capacities of computers further.             A nanosecond is a very significant unit of time in computing. At a mouse click or link click, computers can return results in a tiny amount of time. Efforts are even being geared towards enhancing human-computer experience by ensuring limited processing speeds. Importance of Standards and the OSI Model in Today’s Internet             Standards are of great importance in software and hardware design and implementation. Given that there are different vendors of software and hardware components, establishment of a set of standards is important is ensuring interoperability. Standardization also fosters specialization and leads to accelerated evolution in information technology. A system developer can use the technologies of others and then focus on the improvement of a specific component rather than developing a whole system from scratch.             The OSI model presents a standard that can allow communication and sharing of data on the internet. The architecture specifies the protocols to be used at every abstraction level. The seven layers are “the application layer, presentation layer, session layer, transport layer, network layer, data link layer, and physical layer (Simoneau, 2006). Data is encapsulated as it goes down the layers in the sending device.             The OSI model supports network interconnection in today’s internet. It describes open systems of interfaces and protocols that fosters interoperability of computer systems from different vendors. Secondly, the OSI standard promotes productive co-operation among globally competing vendors. The model establishes a framework for system development that the competing parties must observe in order to develop hardware or software that is compatible on the internet. The model is a general model. It can be applied across electronic devices, electromagnetic media, and...