Telecommunication Systems (Diploma-Postgraduate)

Course Contents, Concepts and Issues

Voice Over IP Concepts

· The Transition to Digital

· Analog Signals-Slower, More Prone to Errors

· Digital Signals

· Adding Meaning to Signals-Codes and Bits

· A Byte = A Character

· Baud Rate Versus Bits per Second-Electrical Signal Rates Versus Amount of Information

· Sent

· Codes-Adding Meaning to Bits

· Measuring Speed and Capacity

· Broadband Service-Multiple Data Streams

· Improving Utilization-Compression and Multiplexing

· Compression-Shrinking Data to Send More Information

· Multiplexing-Let's Share

· Interoperability-Protocols and Architectures

· Protocols-A Common Set of Rules

· Architectures-How Devices Fit Together in a Network

· Types of Networks-LANs, MANs, and WANs

· LANs-Local Area Networks

· LAN and WAN Devices-Higher Speeds, Lower Prices

· Home LANs-Sharing High-Speed Internet Access

· MANs-Metropolitan Area Networks . . . Links Within Cities

· WANs-Wide Area Networks . . . Links Between Cities

· Higher Speed Services for LAN Traffic

· Carrier and Internet Service Provider Networks

VoIP Systems Circuit Switched PBXs and Cabling

· Telephone Systems-Voice over IP, PBXs, and Centrex Systems

· What Is a Private Branch Exchange (PBX)?

· IP PBXs for the Enterprise

· Impetus for Change

· Architecture of IP-Based Systems . . . How the Pieces Fit Together

· Voice Quality and Security

· Barriers to Acceptance of Voice over IP

· Endpoints-IP Telephones Connected to Layer 2 Switches

· PBX Trunks-Switch-to-Switch Connectivity

· Demarcation-The Location at Which Telcos Wire Trunks

· Circuit Switched PBXs-Proprietary Platforms

· Centrex-Telephone Company Supplied Service

· IP Centrex-Phone Companies Hosting Voice Over IP

· Direct Inward Dialing-Bypassing the Operator for Incoming Calls

· Key Systems-Multi-featured for Smaller Organizations

· Hybrid PBX/Key Systems

· Wireless Options for PBXs

· Advanced Applications for Telephone Systems

· Call Accounting-Billing Internal Departments

· Call Detail Recording for Carriers-Generating Data for Billing

· Voice Mail-Storing and Retrieving Messages

· Voice Mail Components

· Unified Messaging Integration of Voice Mail, Fax Mail, and E-mail

· Unified Messaging Systems on the LAN

· Multi-application Platforms in Carrier Networks

· Speech Recognition

VoIP, the Public Switched Telephone Network, and Signalling

Circuit Switching-Network Inefficiencies and Convergence
Impediments to Adoption-Training, Embedded Assets, User Adoption, and Fear of the

Unknown

VoIP Networks-Putting the Pieces Together

Softswitches-Standards-Based Platforms for Call Control

Media Gateways (Border Elements)-Switching and Interoperability Between Networks

VPNs and Specialised Network Services

·

Virtual Private Networks-Remote Access and Interoffice Connections

· Rationale for Virtual Private Networks Between Offices

· Productivity Away from the Office-VPNs for Remote Access

· Virtual Private Network Technology

· Security-Firewalls, Protection Against Viruses, and Other Attacks

· Frame Relay-A Shared Wide Area Network Service

· Access to Frame Relay-56 Kilobits to T-3

· Frame Relay to Access Other Networks

· Frame Relay Service-Permanent Virtual Circuits and Committed Information Rate

· Voice on Frame Relay-Instead of Private Line

Advanced Technologies, Cable TV Networks, and the Internet

· Cable TV Architecture-Upgrades, Capacity, Speed, and Reliability

· Cable TV Offerings

· Set-Top Boxes-Interfaces to Satellite TV and Cable TV

· Direct Broadcast Satellite TV-Reaching Customers Wirelessly

· Broadcast, Over-the-Air Television

· Towers-Terrestrial Wireless Transmissions

· Affiliates-Transmitting Programming to Consumers

Wireless Service

Mobile Services

· The Development of Cellular Networks

· Cellular, Wireless, Cordless, and Mobile

· Precellular Mobile Networks

· First Generation Analog Cellular-Advanced Mobile Phone Services (AMPS)

· Second Generation Digital Mobile Air Interfaces

· Spectrum and Rights to Airwaves

· Frequency

Wi-Fi, Wireless Broadband, Sensor Networks, and Personal Area Networks

· The Terms 802.11, WLAN, and Wi-Fi

· The Criticality of Standards

· The Main Standards: 802.11a, 802.11b, and 802.11g

· 802.11n-Improving Range (Area Covered), Capacity, and Data Rates