Packet Switching in Data Communication

NB: We do not resell your papers. Upon ordering, we do an original paper exclusively for you.

NB: All your data is kept safe from the public.

The use of fiber in data communication was initially invented in the late 1970s. It is also referred to as fiber optics. The development and acceptance of this method of data communication has been as a result of the speeds at which it transfers data. Its introduction helped reduce the costs incurred in establishing communication through other means (Israelsohn, 2003). Fiber optics refers to fine and lengthy threads made out of untainted glass.

The average thickness of the fiber glass is the size of human hair. Data communication in fiber is, therefore, a mode of passing message signals to and from a particular destination via light pulsations by means of ocular filament. This is facilitated by the light mentioned above which makes electromagnetic waves that thus transfer the message.

This type of innovation has contributed greatly to the industry of information and telecommunications. One of the leaps that can be noticed is the abolishment of the use of copper wire for transmission of information. This makes this type of communication more efficient than electric conveyance of information. Its adoption is largely felt in the developed nations. Since its invention, fiber optic communication has and continues to undergo transformation.

This sort of communication adopts a rather simple yet proficient mode of operation. Initially, the visual sign is developed using a transmitter. The sign is then passed on through the fiber. This is a carefully thought out process that has to be handled meticulously in order to prevent any form of disturbance that would in turn deform or abate the signal. Upon reception, the strong signal is changed to an electric sign.

Data communication via fiber is used in many areas. These include transmission of television, internet and telephone signals. It is faster and can go long distances due to the fact that it has lesser shrinkage capabilities and causes little obstruction. This makes it better than copper wire transmission.

Moreover, it can produce data of up to several gigabits and has a high aptitude and a large bandwidth. For instance, fiber made from silica has a capacity of several thousand bytes of data. Since it has the capability to hold large volume data and pass it to longer distances, a lot of data can be augmented within the one fiber amplifier. Addition, if billed per individual bits, it is less expensive.

The technology adopted by this means of communication is one that translates signals from electric form to visual and is digital in nature. It uses transmitters, receivers, different types of fiber cables, amplifiers and wavelength division multipliers. Transmitters adopt the use of two semiconductors; light emitting diodes (LED) and laser diodes (Israelsohn, 2003).

Light Emitting Diodes give consistent light while laser ones generate a rather inconsistent light. Such transmitters sure need to be dense, well organized and dependable. Constant improvements have been witnessed in this field thereby producing faster and more powerful transmitters such as Vertical Cavity Surface Emitting Laser (VCSEL). Receivers use the component of photo detector to sense the signals sent.

There are several types of fiber cables with different prerequisites for mounting. Materials used are pure silica glass or plastic silica with an external cladding made of plastic. Cladding is the process of coating the center in order to protect it. However, there are three major kinds of fiber used.

They include multi-mode optical fibers, single mode optical fibers and plastic fibers. As the name suggests, multi-mode has a bigger center than single mode. However, attenuation is highly likely in it compared to single mode. It is good for shorter distances. To achieve efficient transmission ability, multi-mode fibers play a key role since the length of a fiber is significant (Israelsohn, 2003).

Packet switching

Packet switching was initially discovered in the early 1960s but proper work was done on it in the year 1968. Packet switching is a term used to explain a method of communication that is digital in nature and which involves the grouping of all the data to be transmitted (Chien et al., 2006).

Data switching is a powerful communication tool that has been employed in the internet and in the management of connections in local area networks. This process of communication through packet data involves putting all the data that has been transferred together irrespective of their substance, kind or configuration.

Its focus is on the distribution of groups of packets over particular networks that are used together. It is different from circuit switching since the latter uses a smaller number of connectors. The difference is that packet switching for instance is chargeable depending with the piece of data while circuit switching is billed regardless of whether data has been transmitted or not. Packet communication can be done by the use of intermediaries like switches or routers.

There are two kinds of packet switching. They include: connectionless packet switching and connection oriented packet switching. Connectionless is a mode that is also referred to as datagram. In this instance, the contents of a single packet are completely addressed and all the routing details included.

The labeling assumes the reference of the address for the place of origin, address for a particular final end, number of the sequence and the specific numbers of the ports. They are thus sent as individuals to a particular person or people. For it to be successful, a lot of information has to be fed before the final transfer is done. In the connection oriented, an established and known connection for every node in the connection phase is identified before the created packet is sent.

This often leads to the packets taking different ways and resulting into conveyance which are rather out of order. Examples of the protocols that are considered in the use of data switching include Ethernet, Internet Protocol (IP) and User datagram Protocol (UDP). Connection oriented packet switching on the other hand, involves careful planning and allocation before any transmission is carried out.

They, unlike their former counterparts, are directed and delivered in a specific order. Before any transfer is conducted, a specific packet is often tagged with connection identification. For the transmission to be initialized, information that shows the specific destination must be entered.

Among its advantages in usage is the ease with which the routing of a packet is since the procedure only needs having the node look up the network identification in the table. The header of the packet is usually small since it normally only needs the network identification and only relevant information.

Usually each and every packet is normally allocated a distinctive destination and source address. This helps in the retrieval and sending of the packet data over the connection channels. This also minimizes wrong deliveries to other destinations that may be having similar characteristics (Huber, 1991).

While sending the data, the message or the information to be delivered has to be divided to smaller sized packets for faster sending. Upon reaching the destination, the information is again reassembled to form the original information and the message successfully delivered.

The other area where the packet switching is put into use is in the optimization process in computer networks. Packet switching minimizes the delay in data passage from one network to another. It also, to a greater capacity, increases the effectiveness of communication.

This method of communication is very effective and has been employed in several areas such as in mobile phone browsing and personal computer browsing. The technology also allows access of the same information by different people at different areas as long as they know the identification of the packet to be retrieved.

The use of data switching in communication has received a wide acceptability in many fields as the evolution in technology that has led to the introduction of several devices which are able to receive and send these data (Poulton, 2004). With the innovation of the buffering technology, it is now even easier to stream and access very large amounts of information.

To utilize this kind of communication, a user is required to have a service provider from which the connection can be made. Accessing the information sent via packet data requires the use of devices that are able to access internet connection. It is, therefore, important to note that the utilization of packet switching has its limits in the accessibility of the information sent through it.

References

Chien, S. F., Low, A. L. Y., Choong, K. N., & Yee, Y. C. (2006). Variable IP packets buffer management schemes for optical packet switching. BT Technology Journal, 24(2), 33-33.

Huber, J. F. (1991). Packet switching: The evolution continues. Telecommunications, 25(7), 5-S33.

Israelsohn, J. (2003). Seven trends in fiber-optic communication. EDN, 48(17), 51-60.

Poulton, S. (2004). Packet Switching and X.25 Networks. New York: Routledge.

Click Here To Order Now!

Packet Switching in Data Communication

Do you need this or any other assignment done for you from scratch?

We have qualified writers to help you.

We assure you a quality paper that is 100% free from plagiarism and AI.

You can choose either format of your choice ( Apa, Mla, Havard, Chicago, or any other)