Fundamentals of Business Information Systems

Fundamentals of Business Information Systems

Chapter 4: Telecommunications, the Internet, Intranets, and Extranets

Principles of Telecommunications

  • A telecommunication system includes many fundamental components that must be appropriately selected to work together effectively to meet both personal and organisational objectives.

    • The effectiveness of a telecommunications system is crucial for operational success in business environments.

  • The Internet is a critical infrastructure facilitating the delivery and access of information and services.

    • It provides a platform for communication, commerce, entertainment, and social interaction.

  • The World Wide Web (WWW) has evolved from a document management system into a major source of news

    • It acts as a hub for information, commerce, and communication.

  • Internet and Web technologies also extend into business networks, manifesting in forms such as intranets and extranets.

Telecommunications

  • Definition: Telecommunications refers to the electronic transmission of signals for communication, utilizing mediums such as telephone, radio, and television.

    • This field is crucial for modern business operations since it reduces the barriers of time and distance.

  • As networks interconnect for free information transmission, businesses face increasing demands for high quality and service.

A General Model of Telecommunications

  • Sending Unit: This can be a person, computer system, terminal, or other device that sends the message signal to a telecommunications device.

  • Telecommunications Device: This device processes the signal, which may include converting it into a different form or format.

  • Telecommunications Medium: Any substance that carries an electronic signal, enabling communication between sending and receiving devices.

  • Receiving Unit: Equipped with another device that receives the signal.

  • The communication process can be bilateral, allowing for messages to reciprocate between units.

Telecommunication Media Types

  • Guided Transmission Media (using a solid medium):

    • Twisted-pair wire

    • Coaxial cable

    • Fiber-optic cable

    • Broadband over Power Lines

  • Wireless Transmission Types:

    • Microwave (both terrestrial and satellite)

    • Radio

    • Infrared

Networks and Distributed Processing

  • A computer network comprises communications media, devices, and software required to connect two or more computer systems or devices.

    • Network Nodes: Computers and devices within the network that can share data, information, and processing capabilities.

    • Use of networks allows organizations to share hardware, programs, and databases, enabling streamlined work processes and collaboration.

  • Networks support geolocation separation among workgroups, fostering teamwork and innovation.

Network Types

  • Personal Area Network (PAN)

  • Local Area Network (LAN)

  • Metropolitan Area Network (MAN)

  • Wide Area Network (WAN)

Centralized vs Decentralized Processing

  • **Centralized Processing: ** Data processing is consolidated in a single location or facility, offering high control and oversight.

  • Decentralized Processing: Devices are distributed across remote locations and operate independently without needing inter-device communication.

    • Benefits of Decentralized Processing:

    • Efficient data processing by allowing managers to allocate data to optimal processing locations.

    • Reduces risk of data loss due to catastrophic events at a single location, ensuring system maintenance and availability.

Client/Server Systems

  • Client/Server Architecture:

    • Servers are dedicated computers that perform specific functions such as data hosting (application server), sending/receiving emails (email server), and serving web pages (web server).

    • These servers are accessible to all computers (clients) on the network.

    • Clients are often personal computers that send requests for services to the servers.

Communications Protocols

  • Definition: A communications protocol is a set of rules governing the information exchange over a communication channel.

    • The protocol's aim is to maintain fast, efficient, and error-free communications, even with imperfect channels.

    • Examples: Wi-Fi, 3G.

Communications Software

  • Applications request data from network resources using a Network Operating System (NOS).

    • The NOS governs communication and control of computer systems and devices on the network, akin to an operating system for individual computers.

    • Functions include memory task management and hardware coordination.

The Internet

  • Definition: The Internet is the largest global computer network, comprised of interconnected networks exchanging information.

  • The scope and exact size of the Internet are unknown as it consists of different independently run networks.

How the Internet Works

  • Data is transmitted from host to host (computers) over the Internet.

  • If the sending and receiving computers are not directly connected, the sending computer forwards the message to intermediary computers that relay the message until it reaches the destination.

    • Messages can traverse multiple forwarders, ensuring reliability even if some nodes are down.

Internet Applications 1

  • World Wide Web: Often mistaken for the Internet itself, the WWW originated as a document management system that has expanded to include streams of multimedia applications, called Web 2.0.

    • Web Browser: Utilizes HTML (HyperText Markup Language) to access and read Web pages.

The Web

  • The WWW provides a collection of globally scattered web servers, each capable of storing various types of data.

    • Its capacity for handling multimedia objects makes it the primary access method to information on the Internet today.

  • It employs a client/server model, organizing resources into easily navigable menu pages.

    • Data can be represented in various formats, such as text, audio, and video files.

    • Hypertext: The capability that allows linking of certain text to other web pages, facilitating user navigation and information access.

Internet Applications 2

  • E-mail: A standard application on the Internet for message transmission.

  • Telnet: Enables users to log in to distant computers to access publicly available files, useful for exploring library holdings and databases.

  • FTP (File Transfer Protocol): A method for transferring files between computers over the Internet.

  • Intranets: Internal networks built using Internet standards for company use.

    • When external partners (like suppliers) are granted access, the Intranet transforms into an extranet.

Summary

  • Telecommunications: The electronic transmission of signals using telephone, radio, and television.

  • Media Types:

    • Guided Transmission: twisted-pair wire, coaxial cable, fiber-optic cable, broadband.

    • Wireless Transmission: microwave, radio, infrared.

  • Network Types: PAN, LAN, MAN, WAN, international networks, and mesh networking.

  • Client/Server Systems: Multiple platforms performing dedicated functions like database management or communications.

  • Communications Protocol: Rules governing information exchanges.

  • Internet and World Wide Web: Extensive networks fostering resource access organized systematically via hypertext and browsers.

  • Key Internet Applications: Include WWW, e-mail, FTP, Telnet, intra/extranets.