Title: The Latest Development in Computer Networks and Communications

Name: Loo Soo Yong

IC Number: 940326-07-5417
Group Members: Loo Soo Yong
Lee Yanzong
Chew Tsu Sen
Lai Jia Hui

Assignment: LA3.S07.1
1.0 Introduction

The purpose of a computer communications network is to allow moving information

from one point to another inside the network. The information could be stored on a device,
such as a personal computer in the network; it could be generated live outside the network,
such as speech, or could be generated by a process on another piece of information, such as
automatic sales transactions at the end of a business day. The device does not necessarily
have to be a computer; it could be a hard disk, a camera or even a printer on the network. Due
to a large variety of information to be moved, and due to the fact that each type of
information has its own conditions for intelligibility, the computer network has evolved into a
highly complex system. Specialized knowledge from many areas of science and engineering
goes into the design of networks. It is practically impossible for a single area of science or
engineering to be entirely responsible for the design of all the components. Therefore, a study
of computer networks branches into many areas as we go up from fundamentals to the
advanced levels.

2.0 Mobile Computing

2.1 Definition

Mobile computing can be defined as the usage of a computing device while in transit.
Mobile computing implies wireless transmission, but wireless transmission does not
necessarily imply mobile computing. Fixed wireless applications use satellites, radio systems
or wireless radios to transmit between permanent objects such as buildings and towers.
Although mobile computing usually involves wireless applications, however, traditional
wired communications devices such as Ethernet, dialup or ISDN networks sometimes
categorized as mobile computing, too.

The rise of cellular networks has become a trend for mobile computing as cellular
networks has become more reliable and faster. For instance, cellular networks allow users to
access the Internet without the use of cables, as well as eliminating the limitations such as
limited range of WiFi networks. This allows users to perform mobile computing, regardless
of time and place.
 2.2 Specifications, services and frequency of mobile computing

Device: Mobile Phone

Model: Nokia N8

Frequencies GSM 850/900/1800/1900

HSDPA 850/900/1700/2100/1900
Size 113.5 x 59.1 x 12.9 mm, 86 cc
Weight 135g
Display Type AMOLED capacitive touchscreen, 16M colors
Size - Multi-touch input method
- Proximity sensor for auto turn-off
- Accelerometer sensor for UI auto-rotate
- Scratch resistant Gorilla glass display
Alert Tones Vibration; MP3, WAV ringtones
Speakerphone Yes
-3.5mm audio jack
Call records Detailed, max 30 days
Internal 16 GB storage, 256MB RAM, 512 MB ROM
Card Slot microSD, up to 32GB
GPRS Class 33
EDGE Class 33
3G HSDPA, 10.2 Mbps; HSUPA, 2.0 Mbps
WLAN Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n, UPnP technology
Bluetooth Yes, v3.0 with A2DP
Infrared No
USB Yes, microUSB v2.0, USB On-the-go support
Primary Camera 12 MP, 4000x3000 pixels, Carl Zeiss optics,
autofocus, Xenon flash
Features 1/1.83'' sensor size, ND filter, geo-tagging,
 face and smile detection
Video Yes, 720p@25fps
Secondary Camera VGA videocall camera
OS Symbian^3 OS
CPU ARM 11 680 MHz processor, 3D Graphics
HW accelerator
Messaging SMS (threaded view), MMS, Email, Push
Email, IM
Browser WAP 2.0/xHTML, HTML, RSS feeds
Radio Stereo FM radio with RDS; FM transmitter
Games Yes + downloadable
Colours Dark Grey, Silver White, Green, Blue, Orange
GPS Yes, with A-GPS support; Ovi Maps 3.0
Java Yes, MIDP 2.1
- TV-out (720p video) via HDMI and
composite
- Dolby Digital Plus via HDMI
- Anodized aluminum casing
- Digital compass
- MP3/WMA/WAV/eAAC+ player
- DivX/XviD/MP4/H.264/H.263/WMV player
- Voice command/dial
- Document viewer (Word, Excel,
PowerPoint, PDF)
- Video/photo editor
- Flash Lite v4.0
- T9
Battery Standard battery, Li-Ion 1200 mAh (BL-4D)
Standby Time Up to 390 h (2G) / Up to 400 h (3G)
Talk Time Up to 12 h 30 min (2G) / Up to 5 h 30 min
(3G)
Music Play Up to 50 h

3.0 Internet Technology and Services

3.1 VOIP

Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP, Voice over IP) is a general term for a family of
methodologies, communication protocols, and transmission technologies for delivery of voice
communications and multimedia sessions over Internet Protocol (IP) networks, such as the
Internet. Other terms frequently encountered and synonymous with VoIP are IP telephony,
Internet telephony, voice over broadband (VoBB), broadband telephony, and broadband
phone.

Internet telephony refers to communications services — voice, facsimile, and/or

voice-messaging applications — that are transported via the Internet, rather than the public
switched telephone network (PSTN). The basic steps involved in originating an Internet
telephone call are conversion of the analog voice signal to digital format and
compression/translation of the signal into Internet protocol (IP) packets for transmission over
the Internet; the process is reversed at the receiving end.

VoIP systems employ session control protocols to control the set-up and tear-down of
calls as well as audio codecs which encode speech allowing transmission over an IP network
as digital audio via an audio stream. Codec use is varied between different implementations
of VoIP (and often a range of codecs are used); some implementations rely on narrowband
and compressed speech, while others support high fidelity stereo codecs.

A Residential Network with VOIP

3.2 Blog

A blog (a blend of the term "web log") is a type of website or part of a website. Blogs
are usually maintained by an individual with regular entries of commentary, descriptions of
events, or other material such as graphics or video. Entries are commonly displayed in
reverse-chronological order. "Blog" can also be used as a verb, meaning to maintain or add
content to a blog.
 Most blogs are interactive, allowing visitors to leave comments and even message
each other via widgets on the blogs and it is this interactivity that distinguishes them from
other static websites.

Many blogs provide commentary or news on a particular subject; others function as

more personal online diaries. A typical blog combines text, images, and links to other blogs,
Web pages, and other media related to its topic. The ability of readers to leave comments in
an interactive format is an important part of many blogs. Most blogs are primarily textual,
although some focus on art (Art blog), photographs (photoblog), videos (Video blogging),
music (MP3 blog), and audio (podcasting). Microblogging is another type of blogging,
featuring very short posts.

As of December 2007, blog search engine Technorati was tracking more than
112,000,000 blogs.

4.0 Types of Network

4.1 PAN

A personal area network (PAN) is a computer network used for communication

among computer devices (including telephones and personal digital assistants) close to one's
person. The devices may or may not belong to the person in question. The reach of a PAN is
typically a few meters. PANs can be used for communication among the personal devices
themselves (intrapersonal communication), or for connecting to a higher level network and
the Internet. Personal area networks may be wired with computer buses such as USB and
FireWire.

4.2 VPN

A virtual private network (VPN) is a network that uses a public telecommunication

infrastructure, such as the Internet, to provide remote offices or individual users with secure
access to their organization's network. It aims to avoid an expensive system of owned or
leased lines that can be used by only one organization. The goal of a VPN is to provide the
organization with the same secure capabilities but at a much lower cost.

It encapsulates data transfers between two or more networked devices not on the same
private network so as to keep the transferred data private from other devices on one or more
intervening local or wide area networks. There are many different classifications,
implementations, and uses for VPNs.

The advantages of a well-designed VPN are:-

•Extend geographic connectivity

•Improve security

•Reduce operational costs versus traditional WAN

•Reduce transit time and transportation costs for remote users

•Improve productivity

•Simplify network topology

•Provide global networking opportunities

•Provide telecommuter support

•Provide broadband networking compatibility

•Provide faster ROI (return on investment) than traditional WAN

4.4 WIMAX

WiMAX, meaning Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access, is a

telecommunications technology that provides wireless transmission of data using a variety of
transmission modes, from point-to-multipoint links to portable and fully mobile internet
access. The technology provides up to 3 Mbit/s speed without the need of cables. The
technology is based on the IEEE 802.16 standard (also called Broadband Wireless Access).
The name "WiMAX" was created by the WiMAX Forum, which was formed in June 2001 to
promote conformity and interoperability of the standard. The forum describes WiMAX as "a
standards-based technology enabling the delivery of last mile wireless broadband access as an
alternative to cable and DSL".
 In practical terms, WiMAX would operate similar to WiFi but at higher speeds, over
greater distances and for a greater number of users. WiMAX could potentially erase the
suburban and rural blackout areas that currently have no broadband Internet access because
phone and cable companies have not yet run the necessary wires to those remote locations.

Wimax often has a larger range than WiFi, since WiFi has a range of about 30m.
However, WiMAX provides a very large coverage radius, sometimes up to 50 km radius.
Under optimal conditions, WiMAX can deliver speeds up to 70Mbit/s, even though it is
shared among hundreds of home users or dozens of business. However, it is capable of
delivering speeds equivalent of a cable internet service. This allows WiMAX to deliver great
speeds without the use of cables, which makes an ideal condition to provide broadband
access in rural or remote areas.

5.0 Conclusion

As a conclusion, computer networks have indeed revolutionized the way we

communicate, work and play. However, computer networks should not be misused and
developed in a continuous matter so that people can maximize their computing experience.

References

http://computer.howstuffworks.com/wimax1.htm

http://ww http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mobile_computing

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mobile_computing

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Virtual_private_network

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/WIMAX

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Personal_Area_Network

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wireless_LAN

http://www.gsmarena.com/nokia_n8-3252.php