Computer Networks

Multiplexing (FDM, TDM, WDM)

Week 6
BCS 6th Spring 2022
Date: August 10 & 11, 2022
Mahmood Khan (Assistant Professor)
Department of Computer Science SBBU
[email protected]

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Multiplexing
 Multiplexing is the sharing of a medium or
bandwidth.
 It is the process in which multiple signals coming
from multiple sources are combined and transmitted
over a single communication/physical line.

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Multiplexing..

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Multiplexing and De-multiplexing
 Multiplexing and De-multiplexing services are provided in
almost every protocol architecture ever designed. UDP and
TCP perform the de-multiplexing and multiplexing jobs by
including two special fields in the segment headers: the
source port number field and the destination port number
field.
 Multiplexing –
Gathering data from multiple application processes of the
sender, enveloping that data with a header, and sending them
as a whole to the intended receiver is called multiplexing.
 De-multiplexing –
Delivering received segments at the receiver side to the
correct app layer processes is called de-multiplexing.
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Multiplexing and De-multiplexing..

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Multiplexing
 Multiplexing is used in cases where the signals of lower
bandwidth and the transmitting media is having higher
bandwidth.
 In this case, the possibility of sending a number of signals
is more.
 In this, the signals are combined into one and are sent over
a link that has greater bandwidth of media than the
communicating nodes.

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Types of Multiplexing

There are three types of Multiplexing :

 Frequency Division Multiplexing (FDM)
 Time-Division Multiplexing (TDM)
 Wavelength Division Multiplexing (WDM)

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1. Frequency Division Multiplexing
 Frequency division multiplexing is defined as a type
of multiplexing where the bandwidth of a single
physical medium is divided into a number of smaller,
independent frequency channels.

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Frequency Division Multiplexing..
 In this, a number of signals are transmitted at the same time,
and each source transfers its signals in the allotted frequency
range.
 There is a suitable frequency gap between the 2 adjacent
signals to avoid over-lapping.
 Since the signals are transmitted in the allotted frequencies
so this decreases the probability of collision.
 The frequency spectrum is divided into several logical
channels, in which every user feels that they possess a
particular bandwidth.
 A number of signals are sent simultaneously at the same
time allocating separate frequency bands or channels to each
signal.
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Frequency Division Multiplexing…
 FDM
 Useful bandwidth of medium exceeds required bandwidth
of channel
 Each signal is modulated to a different carrier frequency
 Carrier frequencies separated so signals do not overlap
(guard bands)
 e.g. broadcast radio
 Channel allocated even if no data
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Frequency Division Multiplexing….

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Frequency Division Multiplexing…..
 In FDM, we can observe a lot of inter-channel cross-
talk, due to the fact that in this type of multiplexing the
bandwidth is divided into frequency channels.
 In order to prevent the inter-channel cross talk, unused
strips of bandwidth must be placed between each
channel.
 These unused strips between each channel are known
as guard bands.
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Frequency Division Multiplexing……

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Application of FDM
 In the first generation of mobile phones, FDM was
used.
 The use of FDM in television broadcasting
 FDM is used to broadcast FM and AM radio
frequencies.

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Frequency Division Multiplexing
Diagram

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2. Time Division Multiplexing
 Time-division multiplexing is defined as a type of
multiplexing wherein FDM, instead of sharing a
portion of the bandwidth in the form of channels, in
TDM, time is shared.
 Each connection occupies a portion of time in the link.
 In Time Division Multiplexing, all signals operate with
the same frequency (bandwidth) at different times.

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Time Division Multiplexing (TDM)..

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Time Division Multiplexing…
 This happens when the data transmission rate of media is
greater than that of the source, and each signal is allotted
a definite amount of time.
 These slots are so small that all transmissions appear to
be parallel.
 In frequency division multiplexing all the signals operate
at the same time with different frequencies, but in time-
division multiplexing, all the signals operate with the
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Time Division Multiplexing….

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Time Division Multiplexing…..
 There are two types of Time Division
Multiplexing :
 Synchronous Time Division Multiplexing
 Statistical (or Asynchronous) Time Division
Multiplexing

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Synchronous TDM
 Synchronous TDM is a type of Time Division
Multiplexing where the input frame already has a slot in
the output frame.
 Time slots are grouped into frames.
 One frame consists of one cycle of time slots.
 Synchronous TDM is not efficient because if the input

frame has no data to send, a slot remains empty in the

output frame.
 In synchronous TDM, we need to mention the

synchronous bit at the beginning of each frame.

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Synchronous TDM..

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Synchronous TDM…
 The time slots are pre-assigned and fixed.
 This slot is even given if the source is not ready with
data at this time.
 In this case, the slot is transmitted empty.
 It is used for multiplexing digitized voice streams.

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Synchronous TDM….

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Asynchronous or Statistical TDM
 Statistical TDM is a type of Time Division
Multiplexing where the output frame collects data
from the input frame till it is full, not leaving an
empty slot like in Synchronous TDM.
 In statistical TDM, we need to include the address of

each particular data in the slot that is being sent to the

output frame.
 Statistical TDM is a more efficient type of time-

division multiplexing as the channel capacity is fully

utilized and improves the bandwidth efficiency.

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Asynchronous or Statistical TDM..

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Asynchronous or Statistical TDM…
 The slots are allocated dynamically depending on the
speed of the source or their ready state.
 It dynamically allocates the time slots according to
different input channels’ needs, thus saving the
channel capacity.

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Asynchronous or Statistical TDM….

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3. Wavelength Division Multiplexing
 Wavelength Division Multiplexing is used on fiber
optics to increase the capacity of a single fiber.
 It is an analog multiplexing technique.
 Optical signals from the different sources are combined
to form a wider band of light with the help of
multiplexers.
 At the receiving end, the demultiplexer separates the
signals to transmit them to their respective destinations.
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Wavelength Division Multiplexing..
 In fiber-optic communications, wavelength-division
multiplexing (WDM) is a technology which multiplexes
a number of optical carrier signals onto a single optical
fiber by using different wavelengths (i.e., colors) of
laser light.
 This technique enables bidirectional communications
over a single strand of fiber, also called wavelength-
division duplexing, as well as multiplication of capacity.
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Wavelength Division Multiplexing…
 The term WDM is commonly applied to an optical carrier,
which is typically described by its wavelength, whereas
frequency-division multiplexing typically applies to a radio
carrier which is more often described by frequency.
 This is purely conventional because wavelength and frequency
communicate the same information.
 Specifically, frequency (in Hertz, which is cycles per second)
multiplied by wavelength (the physical length of one cycle)
equals the velocity of the carrier wave.
 In a vacuum, this is the speed of light, usually denoted by the
lowercase letter, c.
 In glass fiber, it is substantially slower, usually about 0.7 times
c. The data rate in practical systems is a fraction of the carrier
frequency.
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Wavelength Division Multiplexing….

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Wavelength Division Multiplexing
 Multiple beams of light at different frequency
 Carried by optical fiber
 A form of FDM
 Each color of light (wavelength) carries separate data
channel
 1997 Bell Labs
◦ 100 beams
◦ Each at 10 Gbps
◦ Giving 1 terabit per second (Tbps)
 Commercial systems of 160 channels of 10 Gbps now
available
 Lab systems (Alcatel) 256 channels at 39.8 Gbps each
◦ 10.1 Tbps
◦ Over 100km
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WDM Operation
 Same general architecture as other FDM
 Number of sources generating laser beams at different
frequencies
 Multiplexer consolidates sources for transmission over
single fiber
 Optical amplifiers amplify all wavelengths
◦ Typically tens of km apart
 Demux separates channels at the destination
 Mostly 1550nm wavelength range
 Was 200MHz per channel
 Now 50GHz

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 Thanks
 FURTHER DISCUSSION

NEXT WEEK …………….

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