Multiplexing

Multiplexing
• Multiplexing is a technique used to combine and
send the multiple data streams over a single
medium.
• The process of combining the data streams is
known as multiplexing and hardware used for
multiplexing is known as a multiplexer.
• Multiplexing is achieved by using a device called
Multiplexer (MUX) that combines n input lines to
generate a single output line.
• Multiplexing follows many-to-one, i.e., n input lines
and one output line.
Demultiplexing
• Demultiplexing is achieved by using a device
called Demultiplexer (DEMUX) available at the
receiving end.
• DEMUX separates a signal into its component
signals (one input and n outputs).
• Therefore, we can say that demultiplexing
follows the one-to-many approach.
Why Multiplexing?
• The transmission medium is used to send the signal from
sender to receiver. The medium can only have one signal at a
time.
• If there are multiple signals to share one medium, then the
medium must be divided in such a way that each signal is given
some portion of the available bandwidth.
• For example: If there are 10 signals and the bandwidth of the
medium is 100 units, then the 10 units are shared by each
signal.
• When multiple signals share a common medium, there is a
possibility of collision.
• Multiplexing concept is used to avoid such collision.
Multiplexing Techniques
Frequency-division Multiplexing
(FDM)
• It is an analog technique.
• Frequency Division Multiplexing is a technique in
which the available bandwidth of a single transmission
medium is subdivided into several channels.
FDM process
• In the above diagram, a single transmission medium is
subdivided into several frequency channels, and each
frequency channel is given to different devices. Device 1
has a frequency channel of range from 1 to 5.
• The main aim of the FDM is to subdivide the available
bandwidth into different frequency channels and allocate
them to different devices.
• Using the modulation technique, the input signals are
transmitted into frequency bands and then combined to
form a composite signal.
• The carriers which are used for modulating the signals are
known as sub-carriers. They are represented as f1,f2..fn.
• FDM is mainly used in radio broadcasts and TV networks.
Applications Of FDM:
• FDM is commonly used in TV networks.
• It is used in FM and AM broadcasting. Each FM radio
station has different frequencies, and they are
multiplexed to form a composite signal. The multiplexed
signal is transmitted in the air.
Example 1
Assume that a voice channel occupies a bandwidth of 4
KHz. We need to combine three voice channels into a link
with a bandwidth of 12 KHz, from 20 to 32 KHz. Show
the configuration using the frequency domain without the
use of guard bands.
[To separate the channels, a guard band
is used, to ensure that the channels do not
interfere with each other. They carry a narrow
frequency range that separates two ranges of
wider frequency.]
[A bandpass filter allows signals between two
specific frequencies to pass]
Solution Shift (modulate) each of the three voice
channels to a different bandwidth, as
shown in
Example 2
Five channels, each with a 100-KHz bandwidth, are to be
multiplexed together. What is the minimum bandwidth of
the link if there is a need for a guard band of 10 KHz
between the channels to prevent interference?

Solution
For five channels, we need at least four guard bands.
This means that the required bandwidth is at least
5 x 100 + 4 x 10 = 540 KHz,
as shown in Figure.
Example 4
The Advanced Mobile Phone System (AMPS) uses two
bands. The first band, 824 to 849 MHz, is used for
sending; and 869 to 894 MHz is used for receiving. Each
user has a bandwidth of 30 KHz in each direction. The 3-
KHz voice is modulated using FM, creating 30 KHz of
modulated signal. How many people can use their cellular
phones simultaneously?
Solution
Each band is 25 MHz. If we divide 25 MHz into 30 KHz,
we get 833.33. In reality, the band is divided into 832
channels.
Wavelength Division Multiplexing
• Wavelength Division Multiplexing (WDM) is a technology that
allows multiple signals to be transmitted over a single fiber optic
cable by using different wavelengths (colors) of light.
• The different wavelengths are separated and then combined
again at the receiving end.
• This means that multiple data streams can be sent over the same
fiber optic cable at the same time, without interfering with each
other.
• It is mostly used for optical fiber communications to transmit
data in several (or even many) channels with slightly different
wavelengths.
•
How does WDM work?
• WDM works by using multiple lasers, each emitting a different
color of light, to transmit data over a single fiber optic cable.
• The light signals are then combined and sent down the fiber
optic cable.
• At the receiving end, the signals are separated using a
demultiplexer and then converted back into their original form.
• WDM allows for multiple data streams to be sent over a single
fiber optic cable at the same time, without interfering with
each other.
• This means that more data can be transmitted in less time,
which increases the capacity of the network.
• One primary advantage of using WDM technology is in
reducing the number of fibers used in the main
transmission line.
• The distance of an optical transmission line sometimes
exceeds 1,000 km, and the cost of fiber cable
manufacturing/deployment would become a serious issue
if we need to install a high-fiber-count cable over a very
long distance.
• Using WDM technology, (1) the number of fibers in an
optical cable is reduced, and (2) the number of
wavelength multiplexer/de-multiplexer basically remains
the same no matter how long the transmission distance is.
• For that reason, WDM generally becomes advantageous as
the transmission distance becomes longer.
Time Division Multiplexing (TDM)
• The Time Division Multiplexing (TDM) is a digital procedure.
• Time division multiplexing (TDM) is defined as a technique
used to transmit multiple signals simultaneously over a
single communication channel.
• In TDM, the channel is divided into several time slots, and
each signal is transmitted during its allocated time slot.
• An example of TDM is the television broadcast.
• In a television serial, generally, a 10 minutes' serial is
followed by a 5 minutes' advertisement.
• The time in which the serial is being broadcasted, the total
frequency is dedicated to the serial.
• The term time multiplexing refers to a multitude of sharing techniques,
including the switching between activities, the provision of attention to
multiple activities, and the breaking up and distribution of fixed time
slots to various activities.
• It is often viewed as a technique to divide time into fixed slots that can
be distributed among different activities or tasks. When one task is
accomplished, the time slot is shifted to the next task.
• This is a continuous process until all tasks are completed. A simple
example of this would be a chair lift at a ski resort.
• Each chair would be equal to the one-time slot, and the entirety of all
chairs would be equivalent to the time available.
• The people riding the chairs are the activities that are multiplexed within
the allotted time slots.
• As long as there are more people (activities), the chairs continue to
rotate, ferrying people up and down the mountain (accomplishing each
task or activity).
Example
• TDM is commonly used in telecommunications, broadcasting, and
computer networking to increase data transmission efficiency.
• Intersection traffic lights: Traffic lights at an intersection use
time division multiplexing to manage the flow of traffic.
• Each direction of traffic is given a specific time slot during which
its traffic light is green, allowing vehicles in that direction to
proceed.
• The other directions have red lights during that time, preventing
them from interfering with traffic flow in the green direction.
• This facilitates the efficient management of traffic flow at
intersections.
Types of TDM
• 1. Synchronous TDM: In synchronous TDM, each
signal is transmitted in fixed time slots synchronized
with the transmitter’s clock. This ensures that each
signal is transmitted at the same rate and in the correct
order.
• 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.
• 2. Asynchronous TDM: In ATDM, each signal is
assigned a time slot, and these slots are transmitted
asynchronously; they are not synchronized to a
common clock signal.
• This allows signals with different data rates to be
transmitted over the same channel.
• 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.
Four channels are multiplexed using TDM. If each
channel sends 100 bytes/s and we multiplex 1 byte per
channel, show the frame traveling on the link, and the
size of the frame.

Solution
Switching
Switched Networks

• A switched network consists of a series of interlinked

nodes.
• In a switched network, connectivity is usually provided
by making the use of switches.
• Switches are those devices that are capable of creating
temporary connections between two or more devices
that are linked to them.
• Switch mainly transfers the data only to the device that
has been addressed (having proper MAC address).
• Verification of destination address is done by the switch
to route the packet appropriately.
Figure: Switched Network
• In the above figure; A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H are end
systems or we can say communicating devices.
• And there are 4 switches labeled as 1,2,3,4.
• Each switch is connected to multiple links.
• The concept of switching is needed for the effective
utilization of the bandwidth.
• Switching also ensures that the best route is decided to
transfer the data when there are multiple paths in a large
network.
• We must know that the information does not directly
reach the receiver, it passes through various nodes.
• The switching technique allows systems to make one-to-
one connections.
Switching techniques
• To decide the best route for data transmission, a
switching technique is used.
• The switching techniques mainly connect the systems in
such a way as to make one-to-one communication
easier.
• There are 3 common switching techniques:
1.Circuit Switching
2.Packet Switching
3.Message Switching
1. Circuit Switching

• When a dedicated path or circuit is created between the sender and

receiver to communicate, this type of switching technique is called circuit
switching.
• A connection is established before the transfer of the data.
• An example of such a circuit is a telephone network. A virtual circuit is
established between the caller and the callee before the user can make a
call.
• A circuit can be permanent or temporary.
• There are three phases that an application has to go through if it has to
use circuit switching. These phases are:
• Establishing a circuit
• Transferring the data
• Disconnecting the circuit
• One of the best examples of Circuit switching is
a telephone. Suppose there are two persons Person A
and Person B; they both want to communicate with
each other and located at a distance far from each
other.
• Person A makes a call to Person B this phase is
the setup phase of circuit switching.
• After the establishment of the connection and after call
pick up by Person B; they both can communicate with
each other. This is the data transfer phase of Circuit
switching
• Once the communication is complete one of them can
cut the call or break the connection. This is a teardown
phase.
2. Message Switching
Email is a common application for message switching. A
delay in delivering email allows real-time data transfer
3. Packet Switching
• In packet switching, each packet travels separately through the
network and can take different paths to reach its destination.
• Packets will go across the network in the quickest possible way.
At the receiving end, all packets are reassembled in the right
order.
• If any packet is missing or corrupted, the message will be
resent. If the packets are received in the right order, the
acknowledgment message is delivered.
• This approach allows for more efficient use of network resources
because we can transmit multiple packets simultaneously over
the same network.
• Packet switching is the basis for the Internet, which uses the
Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) suite
of protocols for communication between devices.
• There are two methods to achieve Packet Switching:
• a. Datagram Packet Switching:
• It is a packet switching approach that treats each packet,
known as a datagram, as a distinct entity. Each packet
contains information about the destination, which the switch
utilizes to route the packet to the right location. At the
receiving end, the packets are reassembled in the right order.
• During data transmission, after each packet reaches a node,
then it decides which path the packet needs to follow the
next.
• This dynamic decision-making of datagram packet switched
networks improves the performance of data transmission.
• It is also known as connection-less switching. Packet-
switched
In the above diagram the datagram approach is used to deliver
four packets from station A to station X. All four packets belong
to the same message but they may travel via different paths to
reach the destination i.e. station X.
• b. Virtual Circuit Packet Switching:
• Another name for virtual circuit switching is connection-oriented switching.
• Virtual circuit switching is a packet-switching methodology
whereby a path is established between the source and the
final destination through which all the packets will be routed
during a call.
• This path is called a virtual circuit because, to the user, the
connection appears to be a dedicated physical circuit.
• However, other communications may also be sharing the parts
of the same path.
• Before the data transfer begins, the source and destination
identify a suitable path for the virtual circuit.