1.3 Mobile Device Networks

How do cellular networks work?

Antennas separate land into cells and cover a cell with certain frequencies.

3G connection standard

Launched 1998 at 2 Mbps and used traditional telephone circuits. (Bandwidth improvement allowed new functionality like GPS, mobile television, video on demand, and video conferencing.)

4G/LTE connection standard

Launched 2009, used IP instead of traditional telephone circuits. Based on GSM (Global System for Mobile Communications). Download 150 Mbps, 50 ms latency. LTE Advanced (LTE-A) 300 Mbit/s.

5G connection standard

Launched 2020, 100-900 Mbps, up to 10 Gbps, 10 ms latency, higher frequencies, wider range (30-300 GHz). Heavy impact on IoT and fast data transfers

What is hotspot?

Phone acts as wireless router to extend its cellular data network to other devices.

What is SIM?

Subscriber Identity Module is a tiny physical card that identifies a mobile device and its cellular provider. Used for authentication (SIM ID & phone number), cellular network info, and data storage (contacts, messages, etc).

What standard for bluetooth?

IEEE 802.15 standard speciifes critera for WPAN that use blueetooth for data-link transport

Pairing bluetooth devices steps

Enable Pairing/Discoverable, choose pairable device, enter or confirm PIN code to link devices. Future connections are automatic

What is GPS?

A satellite-based navigation system created by US DoD, provides current location and tracking for enabled devices using triangulation between receivers and satellites.

What are the three primary components of GPS?

the satellite constellation, the ground control network, and the receiver

What are cellular location services?

User triangulation to determine location with cellular towers instead of satellites and are carrier specific

How does GPS work?

Determines location based on timing differences with longitude, latitude, altitude, needs to see at least 4 satellites.