Data Communications

WELCOME TO INFS-4900/5900

2008-01-16T13:47:00.000-06:00

Welcome! This is the INFS 4900 Data Communications Blog - Here you will find a forum to interact with other students and discuess class materials and projects. Data Communications is an ever changing area, this class will cover the foundations of data communications - from data to signals and the transmittion of signals over a medium (wire, fibers or waves.) Blog ettiquette expected.

Pushto-Talk over Cellular (PoC)

2007-10-09T09:17:00.000-06:00

OA5 (10-points): Nextel Communications introduced cellular phone communications with walkie-talkie style service several years ago. Since then, The Open Mobile Alliance (OMA) is standardizing this technology as the push-to-talk over cellular (PoC) specification.

Research more about this technology and use a few paragraphs to describe how this technology works, what protocols are involved, what other vendors are offering, what would be its business applications, etc.

Responses should be comprehensive enough for full credit.

Digital Broadcasting

2007-09-27T11:03:00.000-06:00

OA4: Digital Broadcasting (10-pts)
Digital Broadcasting has arrived. As you saw in class, digital signals offer some advantages over analog signals. You have learned that broadcasting media transmit signals over the air using specific range of frequencies. What is the impact of digital broadcasting on such frequencies? How does digital broadcasting translate to business? To get an initial understanding of such implications, use the web to research the answers to the following specific questions:

1. What frequencies are currently being auctioned by the FCC and on which date?

2. What are the plans for the band of frequencies being auctioned?

3. what is the last day for analog TV broadcast?

4. Will digital TV free up more spectrum? Explain.

5. Will old analog TVs be able to receive digital TV signals? How?

6. Is HDTV the same as digital TV? What other formats exist?

7. Does HDTV use more bandwidth than the current analog system?

8. What is HD Radio? Give some examples?

9. What are HD Radio benefits? Explain each one.

10. What are multicasting and iTunes tagging in HD Radio? Explain.

Free Wi-Fi. Can this be possible?

2007-09-17T10:35:00.000-06:00

As you may have read, there are several issues relating 'Free"
Wi-Fi - from the technological to the political - passing also for the managerial. However, we could all agree that in certain situations, free or low-cost Wi-Fi is expected. Think for example hotels, universities, etc.

1) Hotels offer wi-fi services (free or low-cost)- Why? Is this a service model that have become some type of de-facto standard? What do you think?

2) In higher education, do you expect to get wireless internet access on campus? or dorm? Why?

3) I rarely go out, but if I do -- Can you list at least four places where I can find free wi-fi in Murfreesboro?

Will Wireless 802.11 Replace Wired Ethernet?

2007-09-17T10:21:00.000-06:00

We just finished the chapter of wired and wireless media. Although chapter one discussed convergence to a digital world; it dit not mention convergence to a wireless transmission media.

The following article seems to push the use of wireless as a replacement for wired ethernets.

Read article

This article highlight several issues dealing with the future of wireless LANs.

Questions:

1) Research the 802.11n wireless standard and provide a brief description?

2) In your opinion, how will 802.11n be used? Will it replace wired-ethernet?

Welcome Fall 2007 Class

2007-09-02T11:27:00.001-06:00

Welcome!

This is the INFS 4900 Data Communications Blog - Here you will find a forum to interact with other students and discuess class materials and projects. Data Communications is an ever changing area, this class will cover the foundations of data communications - from data to signals and the transmittion of signals over a medium (wirex, fibers or waves.)

Please feel free to post in here as often as possible.

Blog ettiquette expected.

Last Week!

2007-04-26T08:44:00.000-06:00

Mike Caplenor came and gave us a great presentation about security. I know several students work, or are going to work, in the health care industry and they enjoyed learning about Mike's experience in the industry. Thanks again to Mike.

The final exam is ready and we will meet in BAS S137D next Tuesday. The exams will be in the open lab area -- just grab the first pc available. I am currently reading the project II papers; they are interesting and entertaining...grades will be posted next week.

Security Presentations

2007-04-18T15:25:00.000-06:00

On April 17th,, Ashley Walker provided us with a good overview of the different security threats that affect current generation systems; multiple security products; from physical security to firewalls, and biometrics. Thanks for job well done.

Next week, Michael Caplenor, will provide us with a real world view of security auditing. Mike is the Director of IT Audit for LifePoint Hospitals, Inc. based in Brentwood, TN. He has over 8 years experience with Internal Audit as an IT Auditor. Prior to joining LifePoint, he was a manager with Deloitte & Touche's Enterprise Risk Services Group specializing in information technology auditing and Sarbanes-Oxley compliance. In addition, Mike spent over 7 years with HCA's IT Internal Audit group specializing in IT project/contract/vendor management, general computer controls, conversion reviews, and application development.

Internet I Quiz

2007-04-10T16:24:00.000-06:00

1) Does MTSU have access to Metro Ethernet?

2) Router A - Router table
Net Cost Route
E345 7 B
E123 4 C
E715 10 C

Router B - router update sent to A
E345 8
E123 3
E715 5

Router B is two hops away from A. What is the final router table in A?

3) What is MTSU network IP?

4) What is MTSU IP Address class? A, B or C?

5) What is the IP address of MTSU Domain Name Server?

6) What is the IP address for the domain name eluniverso.com? hint: in WinXP use nslookup command.

7) Explain the different parts of the following URL: resource type, etc... http://www.cre.com.ec/default.aspx

To Ponder...

2007-04-10T07:11:00.000-06:00

On Chips, Inventions and Phones

This "telephone" has too many shortcomings to be seriously considered as a means of communications. - Western Union Internal memo, 1876

Everything that can be invented has been invented. - Charles H. Duell, Commissioner, U.S. Office of Patents, 1899

But ... what is it good for? - An engineer at IBM, commenting on the microchip in 1968

Poject II

2007-04-09T14:17:00.000-06:00

Project II

Students should submit Project II prospectus by Tuesday, April 10th.

Welcome

2007-04-06T08:08:00.000-06:00

Welcome!

This is the INFS 4900 Data Communications Blog - Here you will find a forum to interact with other students and discuess class materials and projects. Data Communications is an ever changing area, this class will cover the foundations of data communications - from data to signals and the transmittion of signals over a medium (wire, fibers or waves.)

Blog ettiquette expected.