COMPUTER NETWORKS

(BCSE 3306)

Lecture Notes
Module II

Ajit K Nayak
ajit@silicon.ac.in
Department of Computer Science Engineering &
Application
Out Line of Module II
„ Data-Link Layer
„ Error detection and correction
„ Data link control and protocols
„ Point-to-Point access (PPP)
„ Multiple Access
„ Local Area Networks: Ethernet
„ Wireless LANS
„ Virtual Circuit Switching: Frame Relay and ATM
Text: “Data Communications and Networking” Third Edition,
Behrouz A Forcuzan, Tata Mc Graw-Hill.
Chapter 10 - Chapter 15 and Chapter 18
Computer Networking / Module II / AKN / 2
 Lecture I
• Error Detection and Correction
• Types of Errors
• Detection
• Error Correction
• Data Link Control and Protocols
• Stop and Wait ARQ
• Go-Back-N ARQ
• Selective Repeat ARQ
• HDLC
• PPP
Computer Networking / Module II / AKN / 3
 The Link layer

ƒ Datalink layer is subdivided into two sub-layers

ƒ Logical Link Control (LLC): non architecture specific, same for all LANS (IEEE)
ƒ Media Access Control (MAC): contains a number of distinct module each carries
proprietary information specific to the LAN product being used
ƒ Project 802 of IEEE sets
standards to enable
intercommunication
between equipment
from a variety of
manufacturers
Computer Networking / Module II / AKN / 4
Errors in Transmission
„ Data can be corrupted during transmission, for reliable
communication, errors must be detected and
corrected
„ Two types of transmission errors
„ Single bit error: only one bit of the data unit is changed

„ Burst error: two or more bits in the data unit have changed

Computer Networking / Module II / AKN / 5

Detection mechanisms
„ To detect errors in transmission the concept of
redundancy is used i.e. adding extra bits along with
data and transmitted to other end.

„ Detection Methods
„ Parity Check
„Cyclic Redundancy
Check (CRC)
„ Checksum

Computer Networking / Module II / AKN / 6

Parity check
„ It can be simple or two dimensional
„ Simple Parity Check
„ A redundant bit called parity bit is added to every data unit
so that the total no of 1s (including parity bit) in the unit
becomes even or odd
„ Performance:
„ it can detect all single
bit errors,
„ also it can detect

burst errors of odd size

i.e. 1, 3, 5 etc.
„ However it can not

detect burst errors of

even size, i.e. 2, 4, 6 etc
Computer Networking / Module II / AKN / 7
Example: Simple Parity Check
„ Suppose the sender wants to send the word ‘world’. In ASCII the five
characters are coded as 1110111 1101111 1110010 1101100 1100100
„ The following shows the actual bits sent after adding parity bit
11101110 11011110 11100100 11011000 11001001
„ Now suppose the word ‘world’ is received by the receiver without
being corrupted in transmission.
11101110 11011110 11100100 11011000 11001001
„ The receiver counts the 1s in each character and comes up with even
numbers (6, 6, 4, 4, 4). No errors, The data are accepted.
„ Now suppose the word ‘world’ is corrupted during transmission as
follows. 11111110 11011110 11101100 11011000 11001001
„ The receiver counts the 1s in each character and comes up with even
and odd numbers (7, 6, 5, 4, 4). Contains error, the data are discards
them, and asks for retransmission.
Computer Networking / Module II / AKN / 8
Two-Dimensional Parity Check
„ A block of bits is organised in a table, now parity bit is
calculated for each row then parity bit of each column
thus generating one more row (redundant data unit).
„ The extra data unit is also transmitted
„ Performance
„ A redundancy of n
bits can easily detect
a burst error of n bits
„ If some even number

of bits of two data units

gets corrupted in same
position then it can not be detected
Computer Networking / Module II / AKN / 9
Example: Two dimensional Parity Check
„ Suppose the following block is sent:
10101001 00111001 11011101 11100111 10101010
„ However, it is hit by a burst noise of length 8, and some
bits are corrupted.
10100011 10001001 11011101 11100111 10101010
„ When the receiver checks the parity bits, some of the bits do
not follow the even-parity rule
10100011 10001001 11011101 11100111 10101010
„ and the whole block is discarded.

Computer Networking / Module II / AKN / 10

Cyclic Redundancy Check (CRC)
„ It is the Most powerful method based on binary division
„ The redundancy bits used by CRC are derived by dividing the
data unit by a predetermined divisor; the remainder is the CRC

„ Method
„ A string of n 0s appended to data unit, n is one less then the number of
bits present in the predetermined divisor
„ Data unit appended with 0s is divided by the divisor using modulo-2
division and the remainder is collected
„ Remainder replaces n no of 0s appended to data unit and transmitted
„ At the receiving end the data along with CRC is divided by the divisor and
if remainder is Zero than no error Computer Networking / Module II / AKN / 11
Binary Division in CRC: An Example

Sending End Receiving End

Computer Networking / Module II / AKN / 12
CRC contd.
„ Modulo-2 division
„ If left most bit of dividend is 1 then quotient will be 1 else 0
„ 0-0 = 0, 1-1=0, 1-0=0, 0-1=1
„ Note: we are dealing with bit-patterens not with quantitative
values
„ Divisor
„It is calculated from an algebraic poly
nomial
„ Properties
„ It should not be divisible by x, guarantees that
all burst errors of a length equal to the degree of
polynomial are detected
„ It should be divisible by x+1, guarantees that
all burst errors affecting an odd number of bits
are detected Computer Networking / Module II / AKN / 13
Standard Polynomials
Name Polynomial Application

CRC-8 x8 + x2 + x + 1 ATM header

CRC-10 x10 + x9 + x5 + x4 + x 2 + 1 ATM AAL
ITU-16 x16 + x12 + x5 + 1 HDLC
x32 + x26 + x23 + x22 + x16 + x12 + x11 +
ITU-32 LANs
x10 + x8 + x7 + x5 + x4 + x2 + x + 1

„ An Example
„ It is obvious that we cannot choose x (binary 10) or x2 + x (binary
110) as both are divisible by x.
„ However, we can choose x + 1 (binary 11) because it is not
divisible by x, but is divisible by x + 1.
„ We can also choose x2 + 1 (binary 101) because it is divisible by x
+ 1 (binary division).
Computer Networking / Module II / AKN / 14
Checksum
„ A simple but effective method based on redundancy
„ Method
„ Subdivide the data unit into equal segment of n bits
„ These segments are added using ones complement arithmetic so that
result is also n bits

„The sum is complemented and

appended at the end of original data
unit as redundant bits
„ At the receiving end all the groups
are added again and if the result is
zero then there is no error

„ Performance
„ Detects all errors involving an odd
number of bits as well as most errors
involving an even number of bits Computer Networking / Module II / AKN / 15
Example
„ Suppose the following block of 16 bits is to be sent using a checksum of 8 bits.
„ 10101001 00111001
„ The numbers are added using one’s complement
„ 10101001
„ 00111001
„ ------------
„ Sum 11100010 , Checksum 00011101
„ The pattern sent is 10101001 00111001 00011101
„ Now suppose the receiver receives the pattern sent without any error.
„ Receiver adds all sections using same method
10101001
00111001
00011101
Sum 11111111 , Complement 00000000 means that the pattern is OK.
Computer Networking / Module II / AKN / 16
 Example
Now suppose there is a burst error of length 5 that affects 4 bits.
10101111 11111001 00011101
When the receiver adds the three sections, it gets
10101111
11111001
00011101
Partial Sum 1 11000101
Carry 1
Sum 11000110
Complement 00111001 the pattern is corrupted.
Computer Networking / Module II / AKN / 17
Error Correction
„ Two ways of error correction
„ Error correction by retransmission
„ When an error is detected, receiver asks sender to
retransmit the whole data unit
„ This method is normally used in TCP/IP. i.e. CRC is used
in Link layer and Checksum is used in Network and
Transport Layer
„ Forward Error Correction
„ A receiver uses an error correcting code, but it requires
more number of redundant bits to know the position of
error in comparison to error detection methods
„ e.g. for a single bit error, one bit parity is sufficient to
know if there is error or no error, i.e. 0 or 1
Computer Networking / Module II / AKN / 18
Forward Error correction
„ Redundancy bits needed is
„ Let number of data bits be m, and redundant bits be r
„ Therefore total no of bits sent is m+r
„ Then r must be able to indicate m+r+1 different
states. i.e. to indicate if there is an error in one of the
m+r positions and one state is needed to say that
there is no error
„ One bit can represent 2 states, then r bit can
represent 2r states therefore the inequation
2r ≥ m+r+1 must be satisfied
„ Now given the value of m, r can be calculated
„ e.g. if m=7 then r has to be 4, i.e.
24 ≥ 7+4+1 is satisfied Computer Networking / Module II / AKN / 19
Hamming Code for Single bit error Correction
„ Provides a practical solution to FEC
„ Method:
„ Let number of data bits (m) be 7 => number of redundant bits
(r) are 4
„ Position of redundant bits are defined as 1st, 2nd, 4th, and 8th,
i.e. 2x, x=0,1,2,…

„ Value of each of r bits is calculated as parity bit for one

combination of data bits given as follows
„ r1: data bits 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 11 (binary value containing 1 at 1st position)
„ r2: data bits 2, 3, 6, 7, 10, 11 (binary value containing 1 at 2st position)
„ r3: data bits 4, 5, 6, 7 (binary value containing 1 at 3rd position)
„ r4: data bits 8, 9, 10, 11 (binary value containing 1 at 4th position)
Computer Networking / Module II / AKN / 20
Redundancy bits calculation

Computer Networking / Module II / AKN / 21

Error detection using Hamming code

Computer Networking / Module II / AKN / 22

Burst error Correction
„ Hamming code cannot correct a burst error directly.
But by rearranging the sending data the code may be
applied
„ Method:
„ Instead of sending all
bits in a data unit
together, we organise
N units in a column and
then send first unit of
each unit followed by
second bit of each and
so on
„ If a burst error of M bits occur (M<N), then only one bit from
each of the M units is corrupted
„ We can then correct the corrupted bit applying the Hamming
code N times Computer Networking / Module II / AKN / 23
Data link control and Protocols
„ Flow Control and Error control are the
important responsibilities of link layer,
collectively called as data link control
„ Flow Control
„ refers to a set of procedures used to restrict the
amount of data that the sender can send before
waiting for acknowledgement
„ Error Control
„ It is based on the Automatic Repeat reQuest (ARQ),
i.e. any time an error is detected, specified frames
are retransmitted also called Positive
Acknowledgement with Computer
Retransmission(PAR)
Networking / Module II / AKN / 24
Stop and Wait ARQ
„ The sending device sends a frame and waits for the
acknowledgement before sending another
„ The sending device keeps a copy of the last frame transmitted
until it receives an ACK
„ Both data and ACK frames are numbered and a data frame 0
acknowledged by ACK 1 frame indicating that the receiver has
received data 0 and expecting Data 1.
„ If a receiver receives a damaged frame then it is discarded
without any response to sender
„ Sender maintains a variable ‘S’, that holds the number of
recently sent frame. Receiver maintains a variable ‘R’ that holds
the number of next expected frame
„ The sender starts a timer when a fame is sent, if ACK is not
received within a pre allotted time period (Time out) the same
frame is retransmitted
„ The receiver sends ACK if a correct frame is received
Computer Networking / Module II / AKN / 25
Operation Lost or
damaged frame
Normal

Lost ACK Delayed ACK

Computer Networking / Module II / AKN / 26

Piggybacking
„ To achieve full duplex (bi-directional transmission) we use a concept
called piggybacking
„ It is a method to combine data frame with an ACK instead of sending
two separate frames, thus ACK gets a free ride on the next out going
data frame. It saves bandwidth.
„ Characteristics of Stop & Wait
„ It is simple but inefficient
because
a) The network will be
completely idle during times
that the receiver responses
b) Wasting of substantial
amount of BW Round Trip Time(RTT): The time
c) Duplication due to required for a frame to arrive at the
premature retransmission or receiver plus the transmission time for
lost ACK ACK to come back
Computer Networking / Module II / AKN / 27
Example
„ Given Channel BW=50Kbps, RTT=500ms, 1 frame contains
1000bits, then Find channel utilization
„ Answer (Method 1)
„ At t=0 first frame transmission starts
„ The time required to push 1000 bits to medium (1 frame) is
t=1000/50,000=20ms
„ 1st bit arrives at t=250ms (RTT/2), the last bit arrives at t=270ms
„ Ignoring the processing time, and length of ACK, At t=520ms ACK
arrives at the sender, i.e. At t=520ms the next frame transmission starts
„ i.e. 20ms utilization time and 500ms waiting time for a total of 520 ms
communication time
„ Utilization = 4%, waiting=96% loss of BW
„ Answer (Method 2)
„ The system can send 50000×.5=25,000 (BW×delay)bits during the time
it takes for the data to go from the sender to the receiver and then back
again.
„ However, the system sends only 1000 bits. i.e. the link utilization is only
1000/25,000, or 4%. Computer Networking / Module II / AKN / 28
Sliding Window
„ The main disadvantage of Stop and wait method is loss of
bandwidth and efficiency is low
„ To improve efficiency, multiple frames should be in transition
while waiting for ACK
„ In this method an window amount of frames can be sent
without receiving ACK
„ An imaginary window with fixed size slides over the frames at
sending end. It contains the frames to be transmitted next
„ It is implemented in two ways. 1. Go Back n ARQ 2. Selective
Repeat ARQ
Window size = 7 frames
Sequence number 0, 1,
Direction of transmission
2, . . ., 7 then wrap
around
Computer Networking / Module II / AKN / 29
Go Back n ARQ
„ The sender maintains three variables
„ S: holds the sequence number of the recently sent frame
„ SF: holds the sequence number of the first frame in the window
„ SL: holds sequence number of last frame in the window
„ The size of the window W = SL – SF + 1
„ The receiver maintains only one variable
„ R: holds the sequence number of the next frame expected
Direction of transmission

Computer Networking / Module II / AKN / 30

Go Back n ARQ

ACK 2

Lost or damaged frame

Normal
Computer Networking / Module II / AKN / 31
Go Back n ARQ contd.
„ A damaged or lost ACK results in two situations
„ If next ACK arrives before the timer expires, no
retransmission is required
„ If next ACK does not arrive before timer expires then all the
frames starting from last ACK received is retransmitted
again, thus the name Go Back n
„ A delayed ACK results in two situations
„ If next ACK arrives before the timer expires, no
retransmission is required
„ If no ACK is received before timer expires then all the
frames starting from last ACK is resent again and these
frames are discarded at the other end if already received
before
„ Piggybacking
„ Each direction needs a window
Computer Networking / Module II / AKN / 32
Go Back n ARQ: Sender Window size
„ Size of Sender window < 2m
„ m is the number of bits available in the header to store the
sequence number of the frames
„ Let m = 2 then

sequence nos are

0, 1, 2, 3
(i.e. 4 frames)
„ Sender window

size = 3 frames?
Other wise there
will be problem

Computer Networking / Module II / AKN / 33

Selective Repeat ARQ
„ Go Back n method is inefficient in case of noisy links where
there is higher probability of damage, as this method has to
resent multiple frames making the condition more worse
„ To avoid this we have another method called Selective repeat
ARQ, which resends only the damaged/lost frame instead of all
frames.
„ Sender and Receiver windows
„ Both have a window having size at most on-half of the value 2m

Computer Networking / Module II / AKN / 34

Selective Repeat ARQ, lost frame

• Draw the figures for

• lost Ack
• delayed ACK
• Piggybacking

Computer Networking / Module II / AKN / 35

 Selective Repeat ARQ, sender window size

ƒ Bandwidth-Delay Product
ƒ It is a measure of efficiency of an ARQ, it is a measure of no
of bits that can be sent while waiting from the receiver
ƒ i.e. BW (bits/sec) × round trip time (sec) = no of bits
Computer Networking / Module II / AKN / 36
Example
In a Stop-and-Wait ARQ system, the bandwidth of the line is 1 Mbps,
and 1 bit takes 20 ms to make a round trip. What is the bandwidth-delay
product? If the system data frames are 1000 bits in length, what is the
utilization percentage of the link? What is the utilization percentage of
the link, if the link uses Go-Back-N ARQ with a 15-frame sequence?
Solution
Stop & Wait ARQ
ƒ The bandwidth-delay product is 1 × 106 × 20 × 10-3 = 20,000 bits , can be sent during
one RTT, But system sends only 1000 bits. i.e. link utilization is 1000/20,000 = 5%.

Go Back n ARQ
ƒ The bandwidth-delay product is still 20,000.
ƒ The system can send up to 15 frames or 15,000 bits during a round trip.
ƒ This means the utilization is 15,000/20,000 = 75%.
ƒ Of course, if there are damaged frames, the utilization percentage is much less
because frames have to be resent. Computer Networking / Module II / AKN / 37
HDLC Protocol
„ High-level Data Link Control is an actual protocol
designed(by ISO in 1979) to support half-duplex and
full-duplex communication over point-to-point and
multipoint links
„ Two Transfer Modes defined
„ Normal Response Mode (NRM)
„ Asynchronous Balance Mode (ABM)
„ NRM: in this unbalanced mode one
station is designated as primary
station and others are secondary
¾ A primary station can send
commands and secondary stations
can only respond to the commands
¾Uses both point-to-point and
multipoint links
Computer Networking / Module II / AKN / 38
HDLC Protocol contd
„ Asynchronous Balance Mode (ABM): in this balanced
mode each station can command and response.
„ It uses point-to-point link

„ Frames: HDLC defines three types of frames

„ Information Frames (I-Frame):used to carry user data and
control information relating to user data
„ Supervisory frames (S-Frame): used only to carry control
information
„ Unnumbered Frames (U-Frames): reserved for system
management or link management
Computer Networking / Module II / AKN / 39
HDLC Frame Formats

„ Each frame contains up to 6 fields as shown above

„ Flag: An 8-bit sequence with a bit-pattern that
identifies both beginning and end of a frame and also
used for synchronization.
„ Address: It contains the secondary station’s address
i.e. a ‘to address’ if frame created by primary or
contains a ‘from address’ if created by secondary.
„ It can be on byte or multiple bytes. If the last bit of one byte
is a 1 then there is no other byte. If the last bit is zero then
next byte is also contains address
„ The system that does not use primary/secondary
configuration like ethernet needs two address field for
Computer Networking / Module II / AKN / 40
sender and receiver respectively
HDLC Frame Formats
„ Control: 1 or 2 byte segment used for flow and error
control
„ Information: contains user information or network
management information. Length is fixed within each
network
„ FCS: Frame Check Sequence field contains either a 2-
byte or 4 byte CRC

Computer Networking / Module II / AKN / 41

HDLC I-Frame Format

„ Control field
„ first bit is zero for I-Frame
„ Next thee bits called N(S) represents sequence number of
data frames
„ P/F bit used for dual purpose i.e. if value is one then it is
either POLL bit or a FINAL bit. If 0 then it is unused
„ Poll: when a frame is sent by primary to secondary
„ Final: when frame sent from secondary to primary
„ Next thee bits called N(R) represents sequence number of
ACK frames when piggybacked
„ Information field
„ Contains user users data, i.e. data received from upper layer

Computer Networking / Module II / AKN / 42

HDLC S-Frame Format

„ These frames are used for ACK, flow and error

control, i.e. used for ACK whenever piggybacking is
inappropriate or not possible
„ Control field
„ First two bits are 10 for S-Frame
„ Next two code bits defines 4 types of S-Frame
„ Receive Ready (RR): value 00, it can be used in 4 different
ways
„ ACK: P/F=0, used by receiver to send an +ve ACK for a received I-
Frame, N(R) contains next frame expected
„ Poll: P=1, used by primary for polling
„ Final: F=1, used by secondary to tell that nothing t be sent
„ +ve response to select, F=1, used by secondary, ready to receive
Computer Networking / Module II / AKN / 43
HDLC S-Frame Control field contd.
„ Receive Not Ready (RNR): value 10, can be used in 3 different
ways
„ ACK, RNR: used by receiver, acknowledging receipt of all frames up to &
excluding N(R), and announces busy condition, i.e. unable to receive
more frames
„ Select: P=1, used by primary to send information to secondaries
„ -ve response to Selcet: F=1, used by secondary, unable to receive data
„ Reject (REJ): value 01, used by receiver to represent –ve ACK
(NAK)
„ Selective reject (SREJ): code 11, used by receiver, NAK for
Selective repeat ARQ
„ P/F bit is as discussed for I-Frames
„ Next thee bits called N(R) represents sequence number of ACK
or NAK value
„ It has no N(S) field as it is never used for data transmission
Computer Networking / Module II / AKN / 44
HDLC U-Frame

„ Theses frames are used to exchange session management and control

information
„ It contains 5 code bits having following options
Code Command Meaning Response

00 001 SNRM Set Normal Response Mode

Set Normal Response Mode
11 011 SNRME (Extended)

Set Asynchronous Balance

11 100 SABM Mode, Disconnect Mode DM

Set Asynchronous Balance

11 110 SABME Mode (Extended)
00 000 UI Unnumberd Information UI

00 110 Unnumberd Acknowledgement UA

Disconnect, Request
00 010 DISC Disconnect RD

Set Initialization Mode,

10 000 SIM Request Information Mode RIM
00 1000 UP Unnumbered poll
11 001 RSET Reset
11 101 XID Exchange ID XID
10 001 Frame Reject FRMR

Computer Networking / Module II / AKN / 45

Data Transparency
„ If a data field of an HDLC frame
contains a pattern that is same as
flag sequence then receiver
interprets it the sequence as ending
flag which causes problem called
lack of data transparency
„ To ensure that the flag sequence
does not appear in the any where
else in the frame HDLC uses
technique called Bit Stuffing
„ According to this technique each
time a sender wants to transmit a
bit sequence having more than five
consecutive 1s, it stuffs (inserts)
one redundant 0 after the fifth 1.
„ At the receiving end receiver
deletes (unstuffs) one 0 after fifth 1
in the received bit stream.

Computer Networking / Module II / AKN / 46

Point-to-Point Access: PPP
„ It is deigned to connect home computers to the
server of ISP.
„ They are connected to the Internet either
through a telephone line or cable TV
connection using a modem
„ PPP is a datalink layer protocol
„ PPP provides following services
„ It defines the data format of the frame
„ Establishment of link and exchange of data
„ Authentication
Computer Networking / Module II / AKN / 47
Point-to-Point Access: PPP

„ It employs a version of HDLC frame

„ Flag: 011111110, identifies boundaries of a PPP frame
„ Address: 11111111, uses broadcast address, as it is a
point to point
„ Control: 11000000, format of U-frame and shows that
does not contain any sequence number, thus no flow
or error control
„ Protocol: it defines the type of data field, i.e. either
user data or any other information
„ Data: carries either user data or other information
„ FCS: 2-byte or 4-byte CRC.
Computer Networking / Module II / AKN / 48
Point-to-Point Access: PPP
„ Idle state: link is not being
used, no active carrier, line is
quit
„ Establishing State: one of the
endpoints starts
communication, options are
negotiated. If negotiation is
successful, system goes to
authentication state
„ Authenticating State: is
optional, if successful,
connection goes networking
state, otherwise goes to
termination stage
„ Terminating stage: closing
the connection
Computer Networking / Module II / AKN / 49
PPP Stack
„ PPP uses a stack of protocols to provide the service.
Each time, a PPP packet can carry packets related to
one of these protocols in its data field. The type of
protocol is defined by the protocol field
„ Link Control Protocol (LCP)
„ It is responsible for establishing, maintaining, configuring,
and terminating links
„ Also provides negotiation mechanism to set options

Computer Networking / Module II / AKN / 50

PPP Stack
„ Code: Type of LCP Packet „ Length: length of LCP Packet
„ ID: A value used to match request with „ Information: extra information
reply. needed for LCP Packet
Code Packet Type
0116 Configure-request „ Options: There are many options that can be
0216 Configure-ack
negotiated between two end points
„ Options are inserted in the information field
0316 Configure-nak
„ Some of the options are as follows
0416 Configure-reject
0516 Terminate-request
0616 Terminate-ack Option Default

0716 Code-reject Maximum receive unit 1500

0816 Protocol-reject Authentication protocol None
0916 Echo-request Protocol field compression Off
0A16 Echo-reply Address and control field
Off
0B16 Discard-request compression
Computer Networking / Module II / AKN / 51
LCP Packet Options
„ Configuration Packets: are used to negotiate options
„ Configuration Request: initiating communication
„ Configuration ACK: if options of configuration Request are accepted.
„ Configure NAK: if configurations are revised, then sender sends a totally
new configuration request
„ Configure Reject: if some options are not recognized then these are
marked with reject packet, sender send a new configure request
„ Link Termination Packets: are used to disconnect the link
„ Termination Request: either of the two parties
„ Termination Reply: other answers
„ Link Monitoring and Debugging Packets
„ Code Reject: receives a packet with unknown code
„ Protocol Reject: receives a packet with unknown protocol
„ Echo Request & Echo Reply: to monitor the link
„ Discard Request: loop-back test packet, used by sender to check internal
condition, request is simply discarded
Computer Networking / Module II / AKN / 52
Authentication Protocol
„ PPP is designed to be used over dial-up links where
verification of user identity is necessary
„ Two protocols are used for authentication(PAP &
CHAP).
„ Password Authentication Protocol(PAP)
„ User needs to access sends an authentication
identification(user name) and a password
„ The system checks the validity of the identification and
password and either accepts or denies connection

Computer Networking / Module II / AKN / 53

PAP contd.
„ PAP packet is embedded in information frame of PPP
„ Authentication request: request access
„ Authentication-ACK: accept access
„ Authentication-NAK: to deny access

Computer Networking / Module II / AKN / 54

Challenge Handshake Authentication Protocol
„ Is a three way handshaking protocol that provides
more security than PAP
„ System sends the user a challenge packet containing a
challenge value, usually a few bytes
„ User applies a predefined function to received value and
own password and produces a result. Sends the result back
to system
„ System also performs same operation with same data and
compares with the received result.

Computer Networking / Module II / AKN / 55

CHAP Contd.
„ 4 packet types as shown

Computer Networking / Module II / AKN / 56

Network Control Protocol (NCP)
„ After successful authentication connection goes to
network state
„ NCP used to encapsulate data coming from network
layer to PPP frame
„ Internetwork Protocol Control Protocol(IPCP)
„ Before the packet can be sent one more connection at the
network layer has to established
„ The set of packets that establish and terminate a network
layer connection for IP Packets is called IPCP

Computer Networking / Module II / AKN / 57

Network Control Protocol Contd.
„ It uses 7 types of packets
„ Configuration request packet is used to negotiate options with other party
„ After configuration link is ready to carry IP data in the payload field of PPP,
and the value of protocol field is changed to 002116
„ After data transmission again IPCP takes control to terminate the network
connection A Complete Example
Types of IPCP packets
Code IPCP Packet

01 Configure-request
02 Configure-ack
03 Configure-nak
04 Configure-reject
05 Terminate-request
06 Terminate-ack
07 Code-reject
Computer Networking / Module II / AKN / 58
 Lecture II
• Multiple Access
• Random Access
• Controlled Access
• Channelization
• Wired LAN: Ethernet (802.3)
• Traditional Ethernet
• Fast Ethernet
• Gigabit Ethernet
• Wireless LAN
• IEEE 802.11
• Bluetooth (802.15)
Computer Networking / Module II / AKN / 59
Access Control
„ The way to coordinate access to a link when used by
more than one device
„ The methods may be classified as follows

Computer Networking / Module II / AKN / 60

Random Access
„ According to this method , each station has the right
to the medium without being controlled by any other
station
„ Some procedures are defined to resolve the access
conflict called collision.

„ Multiple Access (ALOHA)

„ Any station sends when a
frame is ready
„ Waits for an ACK, if not
received in allotted time
then the frame is resent

Computer Networking / Module II / AKN / 61

Carrier Sense Multiple Access (CSMA)
„ To minimize the chance of collision, The CSMA method is
developed
„ Each station listens before transmitting. i.e. transmission
is possible only if line is idle
„ Possibility of collision still exists because of propagation
delay
„ The garbled signal
reaches at times t4
and t5 respectively
„ Two strategies to
sense a busy
medium
„ Non persistent
„ persistent Computer Networking / Module II / AKN / 62
 CSMA, Persistence Strategies
„ If the line is idle, station sends immediately,
otherwise waits a random period of time
before resending
„ Reduces the chance of collision as it is
unlikely that two stations will wait same
amount of time. But decreases efficiency as
waits unnecessarily random amount of time

„ If the line is idle, the station sends with a

probability
„ 1-persistent: station sends frame with a
probability 1 (i.e. 100%). Increases chance of
collision
„ P-persistent: station sends a frame with a
probability p and refrains with a probability 1-
p
Computer Networking / Module II / AKN / 63
CSMA/CD (Collision Detection)
„ After sending the system monitors for a collision
„ If collision detected, it informs others by sending a jam signal
and waits for some time(?) before resending
„ To reduce the probability of collision, station waits for a
little time for first time. Changes waiting time for
subsequent collision

Computer Networking / Module II / AKN / 64

CSMA/CD Contd.
„ Back-off methods
„ Exponential Back-off
„ System waits between 0 – 2 ×max-propagation time
n

„ ‘n’ is the attempted no of transmissions

„ Random Back-off
„ system waits for a random amount of time before
resending.
„ The random number is generated based on current value of
parameter n.
„ ‘n’ is initially 0 and incremented by one each time a collision
occurs
„ When jam signal is received by others, they will discard
the part of the frame received.
„ This method is used in traditional Ethernet
Computer Networking / Module II / AKN / 65
CSMA/CA (Collision Avoidance)
„ This procedure avoids
collision, uses one of the
persistence strategies
„ After it finds a line is idle
„ System waits an Inter Frame
Gap (IFG) amount of time
then another random amount
of time before sending and
sets a timer
„ If it does not receive ACK
before timer expires then it
increments back-off and waits
this amount of time before
sensing the line again.
„ Used in W-LANs. Computer Networking / Module II / AKN / 66
Controlled Access
„ A Station cannot send unless authorized by
other stations
„ Reservation Method
„ A station needs to reserve before sending
„ Time is divided into intervals, In each interval, a
reservation frame precedes the data frames sent in
that interval
„ If N stations are there in the system, there are
exactly N reservation mini slots. Each belonging to
a station

Computer Networking / Module II / AKN / 67

Polling
„ One device designated as primary and others are as secondary
„ Primary has control over the link, the secondaries follows
instructions
„ Polling: Primary asks secondary if they have anything to send
„ Select: primary needs to send to a secondary

Computer Networking / Module II / AKN / 68

Token Passing
„ A station authorized to send data when it
receives a special frame called token
„ A token keeps circulating around the ring

„ If a station needs to send it captures the

token and sends data frames.
„ Finally it releases the
token when finishes.
Now the token may be
used by others

Computer Networking / Module II / AKN / 69

Channelization
„ In this method the available bandwidth of a
link is shared in space, time, frequency or
through code
„ SDMA: space is divided
„ FDMA: The bandwidth is divided into channels
„ TDMA: bandwidth is one channel that is time
shared
„ CDMA: one channel carries all transmissions
simultaneously with different code
Computer Networking / Module II / AKN / 70
 FDMA
„ Separation of the whole spectrum into smaller frequency bands
„ A channel gets a certain band of the spectrum for the whole time
„ Advantages:
„ no dynamic coordination
necessary k1 k2 k3 k4 k5 k6

„ works also for analog signals c

f

„ Disadvantages:
„ waste of bandwidth
if the traffic is
distributed unevenly
„ inflexible t
„ guard spaces

Computer Networking / Module II / AKN / 71

 TDMA
„ A channel gets the whole spectrum for a
certain amount of time k k k k4 k5 k6
1 2 3

„ Advantages: c

„ only one carrier in the f

medium at any time

„ throughput high even
for many users
t

„ Disadvantages:
„ precise
synchronization
necessary
Computer Networking / Module II / AKN / 72
 FTMA
„ Combination of both methods
„ A channel gets a certain frequency band for a certain amount of
time
„ Example: GSM
„ Advantages:
„ better protection against tapping
k1 k2 k3 k4 k5 k6
„ protection against frequency
selective interference c
„ higher data rates compared to f
code multiplex
„ but precise coordination
required
t

Computer Networking / Module II / AKN / 73

 CDMA
„ Each channel has a unique code
k1 k2 k3 k4 k5 k6

„ All channels use the same spectrum

at the same time c
„ Advantages:
„ bandwidth efficient
„ no coordination and synchronization
necessary
„ good protection against interference and f
tapping
„ Disadvantages:
„ lower user data rates
„ more complex signal regeneration
t
„ Implemented using spread spectrum
technology
Computer Networking / Module II / AKN / 74
Access method - Mathematical Representation
„ Each station is assigned a code, which is a
sequence of numbers called chips
„ 0 represented as –1 and 1 as +1

Computer Networking / Module II / AKN / 75

„ Disadvantages:
„ higher complexity of a receiver (receiver cannot just
listen into the medium and start receiving if there is a
signal)
„ all signals should have the same strength at a receiver

„ Advantages:
„ all terminals can use the same
frequency, no planning needed
„ huge code space (e.g. 232)
compared to frequency space
„ interferences is not coded
„ forward error correction and
encryption can be easily
integrated
Computer Networking / Module II / AKN / 76
 Codes in CDMA
¾ What is a good code for CDMA?
¾ A code for one user should have a good autocorrelation and should be
orthogonal to other codes
¾ If inner product of two vectors is zero then two vectors are said to be
Orthogonal
¾ (2,5,0) × (0,0,17) = 0 + 0 + 0 = 0
¾ It has a similar meaning in code space also
¾ If the inner product of a code with itself is very large and drops when
shifted by one chip. It stays at that low value until the code matches itself
again perfectly
¾ Example Barker code

+ - + + - + + + - - - Original

+ + - + + - + + + - - Shifted once

+ - - + - - + + - + + sop
¾Thus Barker code has a good autocorrelation and this property helps
receiver to reconstruct the original data precisely
Computer Networking / Module II / AKN / 77
 Sequence Generation
„ Walsh table is used to generate the sequence.
„ It is a two-dimensional having equal number of rows
and columns
„ Each row is a sequence of chips

W2=4W1, with last w1 complemented

W4=4W2, with last W2 complemented

Computer Networking / Module II / AKN / 78

Properties of Orthogonal Sequences
„ If –1 is multiplied with the sequence, every element is
complemented
„ C.-1 = [+1, +1, -1, -1].-1 = [-1, -1, +1, +1]
„ Inner product of same sequence = N (N is the no of
chips in the sequence)
„ C.C = [+1, +1, -1, -1]. [+1, +1, -1, -1] = 1+1+1+1 = 4
„ Inner product of diff sequences = 0
„ B.C = [+1, -1, +1, -1].[+1, +1, -1, -1] = 1-1-1+1=0
„ Inner product of a sequence with its complement = -N
„ C.-C = [+1, +1, -1, -1]. [-1, -1, +1, +1]=-1-1-1-1=-4

Computer Networking / Module II / AKN / 79

Local Area Networks: Ethernet
„ Designed for a limited geographical area such
as a building or campus
„ Most dominant technology used today for LAN
is Ethernet
„ The original ethernet was designed at Xerox’s
Palo Alto Research Center (PARC)
„ The LLC sub-layer is not used often today
„ LANs differ in their MAC sub-layer and physical
layer
„ ,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
Computer Networking / Module II / AKN / 80
Three Generations of Ethernet

Computer Networking / Module II / AKN / 81

Traditional Ethernet
„ Designed to operate at 10Mbps
„ Access method used is 1-persistent CSMA/CD
„ Frame defined by 802.3, contains seven fields

„ Preamble: 7bytes of alternating 0s and 1s that alert the

receiving system to the coming frame and enable it to
synchronize
„ Start Frame Delimiter: 1 byte (10101011) signals beginning of
frame. Last chance for synchronization.
„ Destination and Source address: 6 bytes, contains the physical
address of source and destinations
Computer Networking / Module II / AKN / 82
Traditional Ethernet
„ Length/Type: if val ≤ 1518 then it represents length of data
if val ≥ 1536 -> type of PDU that is encapsulated
„ Data: carries data encapsulated from the upper layer protocols.
Min of 46 bytes and a max of 1500 bytes
„ CRC: it uses CRC –32 for error detection
„ Frame length
„ is restricted to 64 bytes min, 1518 bytes max for correct operation of
CSMA/CD
„ A collision must be heard before the total frame is sent otherwise MAC
will discard the frame and start sending the next frame
„ Standard defines the smallest length for 10 Mbps Ethernet as 512 bits or
64 bytes without preamble and SFD
„ These 64 bytes contains 18 bits of header and 46 bytes of data.
„ Max frame length is 1518, thus data can be upto 1518-18=1500 bytes
Computer Networking / Module II / AKN / 83
Physical Address
„ The 6-byte (48-bit) physical address is embedded into NIC.
„ The address is normally represented in two-digit hexadecimal
notation
„ They are written hyphenated by octets
„ e.g. 12:34:56:78:9A:BC
„ This gives a theoretical 281,474,976,710,656 addresses.
„ This is more than 56,000 MAC addresses for each person on the planet!
„ In practice, the address assignment policy will inevitably lead to some
wastage - but even so, there are likely to be enough addresses for ever.
„ computer, and a large number of household/office devices (heating
systems, ovens, washing machines, fridges, dispensers, security alarms,
video recorders, ...) which could in the future be internet enabled!!!

Computer Networking / Module II / AKN / 84

Physical layer
• PLS Encodes using Manchester
scheme
• For a datarate of 10 Mbps, a
BW of 20 Mbaud is needed?
• AUI defines the interface
between PLS and MAU
• MAU is medium dependent, It
creates appropriate signal for a
particular medium
• It transmits, receives and
detects collision
Computer Networking / Module II / AKN / 85
Categories of traditional Ethernet

Computer Networking / Module II / AKN / 86

10Base5 10Base2

• Called Thinnet, uses

• called Thicknet, One segment < = 500
mts and uses RG 8 cable
• Access method is CSMA/CD
• AUI is 15 wire cable and DB-15
connector
• AUI length < 50 mts
• Uses BUS topology
CSMA/CD
• RG-58 cable, span length <=
185 mts
• Bus topology LAN, uses BNC-
T connectors
Computer Networking / Module II / AKN / 87
 10Base-T, Twisted Pair Ethernet
10Base-FL (Fiber Link)

• Uses star topology LAN, with

a hub to connect multiple
devices • Star topology LAN
with a hub
• max length 100 mts
• UTP cable and RJ-45
• Uses two pairs of
connectors fiber optic cables
Computer Networking / Module II / AKN / 88
Sharing bandwidth, Changes in standard
• If more than one station starts sending then the
capacity is shared

• If two stations have a lot of frames to send via a

10Mbps link, they alternate the usage of link
• On average, each station sends 5Mbps, i.e. the
capacity for each station is BW/n
Computer Networking / Module II / AKN / 89
Bridged Ethernet
• A bridge divides a LAN into two or more segments
• Now the full capacity may be used independently by
each segment, i.e. theoretically the capacity of each
segment is 10/6 Mbps instead of 10/12Mbps
• Thus Bridged LAN raises the bandwidth of a LAN

Computer Networking / Module II / AKN / 90

Collision domains
• Another advantage of using a bridge is the separation
of collision domain, but broadcast domain remains the
same
• smaller collision domains results in better
performance of the LAN

Computer Networking / Module II / AKN / 91

 Switched Ethernet
• Like a bridge, Switch divides the LAN into N number of
segments where each segment contains only one station. i.e.
equivalent to a bridged LAN with one computer per segment
• i.e. Collision domain is divided into N domains. Communication
among any two station will not disturb others
• The bandwidth is shared by the node and switch

Port 3
Port 1 SWITCH
Port 2

Computer Networking / Module II / AKN / 92

 Full-duplex switched Ethernet
• In full-duplex switched Ethernet, each station is connected to the
switch via two separate channels
•The full duplex mode increases the capacity of each domain
• No need for CSMA/CD as each link is a point to point dedicated
path between switch and node
• Traditional Ethernet was designed as a connection less protocol
without flow and error control
• A new sub-layer is added
called MAC control
between LLC and MAC for
full-duplex switched
Ethernet to provide flow
and error control
Computer Networking / Module II / AKN / 93
 Fast Ethernet (100 Mbps)
„ IEEE 802.3u
„ Access method, frame format, min and max frame
length and addressing are same as Traditional
Ethernet (10 Mbps)
„ There is no need for CSMA/CD, but it is there to be
compatible with traditional Ethernet
„ Auto negotiation: A new feature added to Fast
Ethernet that allows a station or a hub to
„ Allow incompatible devices to connect one another. i.e. back
word compatible with traditional Ethernet to work in 10Mbps
„ Allow one device to have multiple capabilities.
„ Allow a station to check hub’s capabilities
Computer Networking / Module II / AKN / 94
 Fast Ethernet physical layer
Four sub-layers:
1. Reconciliation(RS)
ƒ It replaces the PLS sub-layer in 10Mbps
Ethernet
ƒ It is specifically used to pass data in a 4-
bit format (nibble)

2. Medium Independent Interface (MII)

ƒ AUI is replaced with MII

ƒ This is improved to be used with both 10 and 100 Mbps data rate i.e.
backward compatible
Computer Networking / Module II / AKN / 95
Fast Ethernet Contd.
ƒ It provides a parallel data path (nibble) between the PHY
and RS
ƒ Management functions are added
3. Physical layer entity(PHY)
ƒ This is the transceiver in fast Ethernet
ƒ It is responsible for encoding and decoding
ƒ The transceiver can be external or internal
ƒ An external transceiver is installed close to medium and is
connected via an MII cable
4. Medium dependent interface (MDI)
ƒ Used to connect the transceiver to the medium and is
implementation specific
ƒ Is a hardware and implementation specific
Computer Networking / Module II / AKN / 96
Fast Ethernet Implementations

Computer Networking / Module II / AKN / 97

 100Base-TX implementation

Encoding and decoding

• Uses 2 pairs of cat-
5/STP twisted pair with •To maintain synchronization, the
Star topology encoder first performs block encoding.

• Transceiver is • The 4 parallel bits received from NIC

responsible for are encoded into 5 serial bits using
transmitting, receiving, 4B/5B (requires a bw of 125MHz i.e
detecting collisions, and 125Mbps)
encoding and decoding of • The data is then encoded in to MLT-3
data Computer Networking / Module II / AKN / 98
 100Base-FX Implementation

• uses two pairs of fiber-

optic cables in a physical star
topology
• The transceiver is
responsible for transmitting,
sending, detecting the
collision, and
encoding/decoding.
Encoding and Decoding
•To maintain synchronization, the
encoder performs block encoding
• The four parallel bits received from NIC
is encoded into 5 serial bits using 4B/5B
• Then the data is encoded using NRZ-I
Computer Networking / Module II / AKN / 99
 100Base-T4 Implementation

ƒ Uses Cat-3, 4-pair UTP

ƒ uses 8B/6T for encoding and decoding, which reduces the bW
from 100 to 75Mbaud.
ƒ 100Base-T4 is designed to operate on 25-Mbaud BW
ƒ Two pairs are designed for unidirectional transmission, other two
for bi-directional transmission. Unidirectional pairs are kept free to
carry collision signals. Computer Networking / Module II / AKN / 100
Gigabit Ethernet
„ IEEE 802.3z
„ Uses full-duplex mode without CSMA/CD
„ Lack of collision implies that the max length of the
cable is determined by the signal attenuation in the
cable, not by the collision detection process
„ GMII specifies a parallel data path (8 bits at a time)
between RS sub-and transceiver
„ Implementation
„ Gigabit Ethernet can be categorized as either a two wire or a
four wire implementation.
„ The two wire implementations use either fiber-optic cable
(1000Base-SX, shortwave or 1000Base-LX, long wave) or
STP (1000Base-CX)
Computer Networking / Module II / AKN / 101
Gigabit Ethernet
„ The four wire version
uses category-5 twisted
pair cable (1000Base-T)
„ Two wire implementations
use NRZ encoding after
8B/10B block encoding
„ One wire is used for sending
another for receiving (fiber
or STP)
„ The four wire
implementation uses 4D-
PAM5 to reduce the
bandwidth
„ All four wires used for input
and output and carries
250Mbps each Computer Networking / Module II / AKN / 102
 Wireless LANS
ƒ Defined by IEEE 802.11 & Bluetooth
ƒ The standard 802.11 defines two kinds of services
ƒ Basic Service Set(BSS): the basic building block of WLan
ƒ Extended Service Set(ESS): communicating among BSSs

ƒ Basic Service Set

ƒ Is made of stationary or mobile wireless stations and an
optional central base station known as Access Point (AP)

Computer Networking / Module II / AKN / 103

 Service Sets
ƒ The BSS without AP is a stand alone network and can’t send
data to other BSSs
ƒ It is called an Ad hoc Network or Infrastructure Less Network

ƒ An BSS with an AP is called Infrastructure based network

ƒ Extended Service Sets

ƒ Is made up of two or more
BSSs with Aps
ƒ Communication between two
stations in two different BSSs
usually occurs via two Aps
ƒ APs are connected via
distribution System Computer Networking / Module II / AKN / 104
Station types
„ Three types of stations are defined based on
their mobility
„ No-transition
„ is either stationary or moving only inside a BSS
„ BSS-transition
„ can move from one BSS to another, but the movement
is confined to one ESS
„ ESS-transition
„ can move from one ESS to another. But standard does
not guarantee the continuity in communication

Computer Networking / Module II / AKN / 105

Protocol Architecture
„ It covers MAC and physical layer
„ The basic tasks of MAC is medium access, fragmentation, and
encryption.
„ The MAC management supports the association and re-
association of a station to an access point and roaming
between APs, it also controls authentication mechanisms,
synchronization with AP etc.
„ Physical layer provides carrier sense signal, modulation
encoding/decoding of signals

Computer Networking / Module II / AKN / 106

 Physical Layer
• 802.11 supports three different physical layers
• one layer based on infra-red and two layers based on radio
transmission (in ISM band at 2.4 GHz)
• FHSS: Frequency hopping spread
spectrum for signal generation in a Figure from chap 6, 4ed
2.4 GHz ISM band in 79 sub-bands,
each with a BW of 1MHz
• A pseudorandom number generator selects the hopping sequence
and the sender and receiver agree on the sequence of the
allocated bands.
• The amount of time spent at each sub-band is called dwell
time(400ms)
• Modulation is either a 2-level GFSK at 1Mbaud/s or 4-level GFSK
at 2bit/baud resulting in the data rate of 1Networking
Computer or 2 Mbps / Module II / AKN / 107
 Direct Sequenced Spread Spectrum(DSSS)
• Each bit sent by the sender is replaced by a sequence of bits
called a chip code (CDMA). It uses 11 bit Barker
sequence(10110111000). Uses entire band of 2.4 GHz
• The data rate for sending chip codes is 11 times the data rate of
the original bit stream
• Modulation is Differential Binary PSK at 1Mbaud/s or DQPSK for
2Mbps
Infrared
• uses Infrared light in the range of 850 to 950 nm
• max range is 10m if no sunlight or heat sources interfere.
• Today no products are available that offer this type of
communication
Computer Networking / Module II / AKN / 108
IEEE 802.11a OFDM
„ Orthogonal frequency division multiplexing in 5GHz ISM band
„ 52 sub-bands, 48 used for data and 4 for control information
„ Uses PSK and QAM
„ Datarate is 18Mbps, and 54Mbps

IEEE 802.11b HR-DSSS

„ High-rate DSSS in 5GHz ISM band
„ Uses Complementary Code Keying, which encodes 4 or 8
bits into one CCK symbol
„ Uses 2.4 MHz ISM band
„ Defines 1, 2, 5.5 and 11 Mbps
„ IEEE 802.11g uses OFDM with 2.4 GHz ISM band and
achieves 54Mbps data rate Computer Networking / Module II / AKN / 109
 MAC sub-layers in IEEE 802.11
ƒ Defines two MACs and is called
as Distributed Foundation
Wireless Medium Access Control
(DFWMAC)

ƒ Distributed coordination
function(DCF)
ƒ The CSMA/CD access method of ethernet fails in wireless
medium
ƒ so it uses the basic method CSMA/CA and an optional
method avoiding hidden terminal problem

ƒ Point coordination function (PCF)

ƒ uses contention free polling method by AP for time bounded
service Computer Networking / Module II / AKN / 110
 Motivation for CSMA/CA
„ WLANs cannot implement CSMA/CD because
„ It requires that the station must be able to send data
and receive collision at the same time. (i.e. two paths
and increased BW!)
„ Collision may not be detected due to hidden terminal
problem
„ Signal fading could prevent a station at one end from
hearing a collision from other end called near/far
terminal problem
„ Thus DCF implements CSMA/CA
Computer Networking / Module II / AKN / 111
 Hidden and Exposed terminals
„ Hidden terminals
„ A sends to B, C cannot receive A
„ C wants to send to B, C senses a “free” medium (CS fails)
„ collision at B, A cannot receive the collision (CD fails)
„ A is “hidden” for C

„ Exposed terminals A B C

„ B sends to A, C wants to send to another terminal (not A or B)

„ C has to wait, CS signals a medium in use

„ but A is outside the radio range of C, therefore waiting is not

necessary
„ C is “exposed” to B Computer Networking / Module II / AKN / 112
 Near and Far terminals
„ Terminals A and B send, C receives
„ signal strength decreases proportional to the square of the
distance
„ the signal of terminal B therefore drowns out A’s signal
„ C cannot receive A

A B C
¾Also severe problem for CDMA networks as all signals arrive
with more or less same strength - precise power control
needed!
Computer Networking / Module II / AKN / 113
Inter-frame spacing times
„ 802.11 MAC uses three different parameters for waiting
time that define the priorities of medium access
„ Short inter-frame spacing(SIFS): shortest waiting time and
hence highest priority is defined for control messages like
ACK or polling responses, for DSSS SIFS is 10µs and for FHSS
it is 28µs
„ PCF inter-frame spacing(PIFS): A medium priority waiting
time used for a time-bounded service like AP polling. Defined
as SIFS plus one slot time
„ DCF inter-frame spacing(DIFS): longest waiting time and has
the lowest priority for medium access. Used for data service
within a contention period Defined as SIFS plus two slot times
„ Slot time is 50µs for FHSS and 20µs for DSSS
Computer Networking / Module II / AKN / 114
Basic DFWMAC-DCF without RTS/CTS
t0 t1 t2 t3 t4 t5 t6 t t8 t9 t
7 10
„ 5 stations competes for sta1
sending at arrow marks
„ At first sta3 accesses the sta21
medium at t1
sta3
„ Sta1, sta2, sta5 waits till
the carrier is free (t2)then sta4
waits for DIFS then start
there back-off timer sta5
within the contention
window

„ Sta2 gets access as it has smallest back-off time at t4

„ sta1, sta5 stops their back-off timer and stores their residual back-off time

„ sta4 wants to send between t4 and t5, all three starts their timer at t6.
Accidentally timers of sta4 and sta5 finishes same time(t7). Thus there is a
collision and sta5 stops its timer.
„ finally sta5 gets the medium at t10
Computer Networking / Module II / AKN / 115
Basic DFWMAC-DCF Unicasting
„ station has to wait
for DIFS before
sending data
contention
„ receivers acknowledge at once (after waiting for SIFS)
if the packet was received correctly (CRC)
„ no other station can transmit because DIFS is greater
than SIFS, hence no chance of collision
„ If no ACK is received sender automatically retransmits
the frame
„ but the sender has to wait again and compete for the
access right to retransmit
Computer Networking / Module II / AKN / 116
 Process CSMA with CTS and RTS
„ Before sending a frame source senses the medium
„ Channel uses a persistent strategy with back-off until the
channel is idle
„ Station now waits for a period of time

called the Distributed Inter-Frame Space;

then sends a control frame called RTS
(request to send)
„ After receiving the RTS and waiting a
short period of time called short inter-
frame space, the destination station
sends a control frame called CTS(clear
to Send)
„ Source sends data after waiting an amount of time
equal to SIFS
„ Destination waits for SIFS before
Computer sending
Networking / ACK
Module II / AKN / 117
CSMA/CA flowchart

Computer Networking / Module II / AKN / 118

Process Collision Avoidance
„ When station sends RTS frame, it
includes the duration of the time that it
needs to occupy the channel
„ The stations that are affected by this
transmission create a timer called NAV.
„ Each other station first checks NAV
before sensing the channel
„ If two or more stations try to send RTS at the same
time and there is a collision, then sender tries again if it
does not receive CTS
„ As the wireless medium is noisy, It is more efficient to
replace a large frame with some smaller frames.
Computer Networking / Module II / AKN / 119
Hidden node provision for contention free access
„ Sender issues a
RTS after DIFS
(if medium was
not busy)
„ RTS contains duration of transmission, every node listening to it
sets NAV
„ Receiver answers with CTS which includes another duration and
all listening nodes readjust their NAV
„ This method reserves the medium for one sender thus called a
virtual reservation scheme
„ Sender sends data and receives ACK after SIFS each.
„ When NAV expires the standard cycle starts again
„ Using RTS/CTS is an overhead. Usually it is essential for large
frames and not needed in caseComputer
of shortNetworking
frames / Module II / AKN / 120
Fragmentation, DFWMAC-DCF
„ Wireless LAN have
much more bit
error rate than
any other guided
media.
„ Wireless LAN have much more bit error rate than any other
guided medium for same frame length.
„ Standard specifies a fragmentation mode to reduce bit error rate
„ Here frag1 also contains a duration which is used to set NAV in
case of mobile nodes or for a different set of nodes, this
mechanism further reduces the collision.
„ If frag2 is not the last frame then it should contain another
duration. It is not required for last fragment.
Computer Networking / Module II / AKN / 121
DFWMAC – PCF with polling
„ DCF could not cant guarantee a maximum access delay or
minimum transmission BW
„ To provide a time bound service, the standard specifies a point
coordination function (PCF) on top of standard DCF mechanisms
„ Using PCF requires a access point that controls medium access
and polls one node at a time.
„ Ad-hoc networks cant use this function
„ The point coordinator in access point splits the access time into
super frame periods.
„ A super frame comprises a contention-free period and a
contention period.
„ It is because due to the priority of PCF over DCF, stations that
only use DCF may not gain access to the medium.
„ To prevent this the super frame other wise called as repetition
interval has been designed to cover both traffic
Computer Networking / Module II / AKN / 122
Contention free access using Polling
„ Theoretical contention
period starts at t0, but as
another station still
transmitting thus start of
super frame postponed
till t1
„ The point coordinator
starts polling sta1 by
sending D1 after PIFS and
it responds with U1 after
another SIFS
„ If stai has nothing to
send then it will not
respond so that after
another PIFS the
coordinator polls next
stai+1
„ Finally, the coordinator issues an end marker called CFend so that the
contention period starts. After which the cycle starts again with next super frame
„ Using PCF automatically sets NAV Computer Networking / Module II / AKN / 123
 MAC sub-layer Frame format

Field Frame Control sub-fields Explanation

Version The current version is 0.

Type Type of information: management (00), control (01), or data (10).
Subtype Defines the subtype of each type
To DS Defined later.
From DS Defined later.
More flag When set to 1, means more fragments.
Retry When set to 1, means retransmitted frame.
Pwr mgt When set to 1, means station is in power management mode.
More data When set to 1, means station has more data to send.
WEP Wired equivalent privacy. When set to 1, means encryption implemented.
Rsvd Reserved. Computer Networking / Module II / AKN / 124
Other fields
„ D: This field defines the duration of the transmission used to
set NAV
„ Addresses: Four address fields, each 6byte long
„ Sequence Control: Defines the sequence# of the frame used
for flow control
„ Frame body: Contains information based on the type and sub-
type field in FC
„ FCS: 4byte CRC-32 error detection sequence
„ Frame types: standard defines three types of frames
„ Management frames: Are used for the initial communication
between station and access points
„ Control frames: Used for accessing the channel and ACK
frames
„ Data frames: used for carrying data and control information
Computer Networking / Module II / AKN / 125
Control Frame format Sub-
Meaning
type
ƒ For control frame type field is 01
1011 Request to send (RTS)

1100 Clear to send (CTS)

1101 Acknowledgment (ACK)

Addressing Mechanism (FC)

Add 1: address of next device
To From Address Address Address Address
DS DS 1 2 3 4 Add 2 : the address of previous
Destination Source device
0 0 BSS ID N/A
station station
Add 3 : the address of Final
Destination Sending Source destination if not defined by
0 1 N/A
station AP station
Add 1
Receiving Source Destination
1 0
AP station station
N/A Add 4 : the address of original
Receiving Sending Destination Source source if not same as Add 2.
1 1
AP AP station station
Computer Networking / Module II / AKN / 126
Addressing mechanism: case 1 Case 2

To DS=0, from DS=0

• the frame is not going and is
not coming from a distribution To DS=0, from DS=1
system. • the frame is coming from a
• i.e the frame is going from distribution system.
one station in a BSS to another • i.e the frame is coming from
system without passing through an AP and going to a station
distribution system
• The ACK is sent to the AP
Computer Networking / Module II / AKN / 127
Addressing mechanism: case 3
To DS=1, from DS=0
• the frame is going from a
station to an AP
• The ACK is sent to the
original station
• Address 3 contains the final
destination in another BSS
case 4
To DS=1, from DS=1
• The frame is going from one
AP to another AP via wireless
medium
• As in wire medium ethernet
frame has to be used
Computer Networking / Module II / AKN / 128
Bluetooth
„ Is a wireless LAN technology designed to connect devices of
different functions such as telephones, notebooks, computers,
cameras, printers, coffee makers, and so on
„ A Bluetooth LAN can be connected to Internet if one of the
gadgets has this capability
„ It can not be large
„ This technology can be used to connect peripheral devices to
computer, monitoring devices can be connected to sensors etc.
„ Originally developed by Ericsson and named after Harald
Blaatand (king of Denmark, 940-981). Later in 1998 five
companies (Ericsson, Intel, IBM, Nokia, Toshiba) founded
Bluetooth consortium to develop a low cost, single chip, radio
based wireless network
„ Today the Bluetooth technology is the implementation of a
protocol defined by 802.15 and is called WPAN that is operable
in a small area with small number of devices
Computer Networking / Module II / AKN / 129
Bluetooth
„ A Bluetooth network is called a piconet and needs no
infrastructure, this type of WPANS may be used in
various scenarios
„ Connection of peripheral devices to a desktop

„ Support of ad-hoc networking

„ e.g. teacher distributing data to students PDAs inside the

class
„ Bridging of networks
„ Using piconets, a mobile phone can be connected to a PDA
or laptop. The mobile phone can now act as a bridge
between local piconet and GSM
„ Bluetooth is designed to provide local wireless access
at very low cost with a limited BW and without any
extra infrastructure Computer Networking / Module II / AKN / 130
Bluetooth Architecture
„ Operates on 79 channels in 2.4GHz band with 1MHz carrier
spacing
„ Each device performs frequency hopping with 1600 hops/sec in
a pseudo random fashion
„ A piconet is a collection of Bluetooth devices which are
synchronized to the same hopping sequence with following
properties
ƒ Can have up-to eight stations, one of which
is called the Master, rest are slaves
ƒ Master determines hopping pattern
ƒ Communication may be on-to-one, or one-
to-many
ƒ An additional eighth slave may be in parked state, i.e. cant participate
actively in piconet
ƒ The limit is eight because the address field contains 3 bits and any parked
device can be active if one of the seven slaves goes to parked state
Computer Networking / Module II / AKN / 131
Bluetooth Architecture
„ A group of piconets is combined to form a scatternet and can
accommodate more devices.
„ Different piconets in a scatternet use different hopping

sequences
„ One device may participate in more than one piconet one at a

time
ƒ A master of one piconet
can act as a slave in other
piconet but one cant be
master in two piconets

ƒ communication between different piconets takes place by

devices jumping back and forth between these nets
ƒ however scatternets are not yet supported by all devices
Computer Networking / Module II / AKN / 132
Bluetooth layers (Protocol Stack)
„ Radio Layer
„ Specifications of air interface
and equivalent to physical
layer of internet model
„ Band: 2.4GHz ISM band
divided into 79 channels of
1MHz each
„ FHSS: 1600 hops/sec, i.e. one frequency is used for 625 µs
„ Modulation: uses Gaussian FSK and are available in three
classes
„ Power class 1: max power of 100mW and min power of 1mW, 100m
range without obstacles
„ Power class 2: max power of 2.5mW and min power of 0.25mW,
10m range without obstacles
„ Power class 3: max power of Computer
1mW Networking / Module II / AKN / 133
 Base Band Layer
„ Uses Time Division Duplex-TDMA
„ If the piconet has only one slave, then
the master uses even numbered slots
and slave uses odd numbered slots
„ TDD-TDMA allows the communication
in half-duplex mode. i.e. in slot 0
master sends and slave receives and
in slot 1 slave sends master receives
„ If it has more slaves then master uses
even numbered slots where as odd
numbered slots are used by slaves.

„ if master sends to slave 1 at slot 0 then slave 1 answers at

slot 1 then master sends to slave 2 in slot 2 slave 2 answers at
slot 3, and the cycle continues Computer Networking / Module II / AKN / 134
 Base Band Layer Frame format
„ A frame can be of three types
„ One slot frame: 259µs is used for hopping and control
mechanism thus the frame can last upto 366µs or of 366 bits
„ Three slot frame: length of frame = 3*625-259=1616 bits
„ Five slot frame: length of frame = 2866 bits

„ Access code: contains synchronization bits and the identifier of

master
„ Header: is a repeated 18 bit pattern, each pattern contains
„ Address: represents active slave address. can define seven secondaries, 0
is used for broadcasting from master to slaves
Computer Networking / Module II / AKN / 135
 Base Band Layer Frame format contd.
„ Type: type of data coming from upper layer
„ F: used for flow control
„ A: used for ACK, uses stop and wait ARQ without retransmission
„ S: sequence number of frame
„ HEC: header error correction uses checksum
„ The header has three identical 18-bit sections. Receiver
compares these three sections bit by bit. If all three
corresponding bits are same than the bit is accepted otherwise
majority is taken.
„ This is a form of Forward error correction
„ Payload: it contains the data or control information from upper
layers.

Computer Networking / Module II / AKN / 136

L2CAP data packet format
„ The logical link control and adaptation protocol is used
for data exchange on an asynchronous connection link

„ Length defines the size of the data, in bytes

„ CID defines a unique identifier for the virtual channel created
„ L2CAP duties
„ Multiplexing: supports many application layer protocols

„ Segmentation and reassembly: divides large packets of

upper layer (65535) to smaller size

„ QoS: uses best effort service

„ Group management: allows devices to create logical

addressing among themselves to form a multicast group

Computer Networking / Module II / AKN / 137
 Lecture III

• Wide Area Networks

• Virtual Circuit
• Frame Relay
• ATM

Computer Networking / Module II / AKN / 138

Wide Area Networks
„ WANs provide long distance transmission over large
geographical areas
„ It utilizes public, leased or private communication
equipments to span over countries or continents
„ It uses one of the packet switching methods called
virtual circuit switching.
„ Frame relay is a link layer protocol used in WAN
technology, which provides relatively high speed
transmission
„ ATM (Asynchronous Transfer Mode) is another
protocol for WAN technology that works as a super
highway of communication.
Computer Networking / Module II / AKN / 139
Virtual circuit switching in WAN
„ Global Addressing
„ A source or destination need
to have a global address,
which should be unique in
the scope of WAN
„ Virtual Circuit Identifier
„ Is a small number that only
has switch scope and is
actually used for data
transfer
„ i.e it is used by a frame
between two switch
„ When a frame arrives a
switch, it has one VCI; when
it leaves, it has another
Computer Networking / Module II / AKN / 140
VCI Phases
„ To communicate, the source
and destination need to go
through three phases. i.e.
setup, data transfer, & tear
down

„ Data Transfer phase

„ All switches have table called
a switching table with at least
4 columns
„ When a frame arrives it
checks its VCI and incoming
port no.

Computer Networking / Module II / AKN / 141

Data transfer Phase
„ It finds corresponding out going port and changes
the VCI as in the table before sending out
„ The data transfer phase is active until the source
sends all its frames

Computer Networking / Module II / AKN / 142

Setup Phase
„ Setup phase
„ Source and destination use their global addresses to help
switches make table entries for connection
„ Two approaches: PVC, SVC
„ Permanent Virtual Circuit
„ For each destination one circuit is dedicated (always
present) whether in use or not
„ The corresponding table entry is recorded for all switches by
the administrator
„ An out going VCI is given to the source, and an incoming
VCI is given to the destination
„ If there is a need for duplex communication then two virtual
circuits are established
Computer Networking / Module II / AKN / 143
Switched Virtual Circuit
„ SVC creates a temporary connection, that exists only when data
are transmitted between source and destination
„ Setup request
„ Source sends the set up frame to the switch, switch finds out going port
from its routing table and creates entry in the switching table for the
incoming virtual circuit
„ Acknowledgement
„ The last field of switching table entry is made from ACK

setup ACK

Computer Networking / Module II / AKN / 144

Frame Relay
„ Is a virtual circuit switching WAN used between 1980
– 1990
„ It operates at a higher speed (1.544Mbps, now
44.376Mbps)
„ Operates in physical and datalink layer
„ Allows bursty data with a frame size of 9000 bytes
„ It is less expensive than other traditional WANs
„ It has error detection mechanism at datalink layer. No
flow or error control schemes available.
„ It is so designed to provide fast transmission
capability for more reliable media and for those
protocols that have flow and error control at the
higher layers
Computer Networking / Module II / AKN / 145
Frame Relay Architecture
„ Frame relay network can be a part of Internet
„ Frame relay uses both PVC and SVC. The virtual circuit
is identified by a number called Data Link Control
Identifier(DLCI is same as VCI)

„ Frame Format

Computer Networking / Module II / AKN / 146

Frame format contd.
„ DLCI: total 10 bit used as connection identifier
„ Command/response (C/R): used by upper layers to
identify the frame as either a command or response
„ Extended Address(EA): if 0 then another address byte
to follow; if 1 then current byte is the final byte

Computer Networking / Module II / AKN / 147

Frame format contd.
„ FECN: can be set by any switch to indicate that the
traffic is congested in the direction of flow
„ BECN: is set to indicate a congestion in the opposite
direction
„ Discard eligibility(DE): this bit indicates the priority
level of the frame according to which the frame may
be discarded in case of congestion
Frame Relay Assembler/Dissembler (FRAD)
„ This device is used to to handle frames coming from other
protocols

Computer Networking / Module II / AKN / 148

Other features
Voice Over Frame Relay (VOFR)
Used to send voice by digitizing the voice using PCM and
then sent in data frames
Local Management Information (LMI)
Is a protocol added to frame relay to provide more
management features, It provides
A keep alive mechanism to check if data are flowing
A multicast mechanism to allow a local end system to send
frames to more than one remote end system
A mechanism to allow an end system to check the status of
a switch (if switch is congested)
Congestion Control and Quality of Services are also
provided by frame relay
Computer Networking / Module II / AKN / 149
ATM Networks
Is a cell relay protocol designed by ATM forum and
adopted by ITU-T
A cell is a basic unit of data exchange. It is a small, fixed
sized block of information
Frames of different sizes and formats reach the cell network,
these frames are split into some cells of fixed length
Now cells are multiplexed with other cells and routed

frame of line 1 and lne 2 are splited into 3 cells each then
interleaved so that none suffers long delay
suitable for voice or real-time transmissions
Computer Networking / Module II / AKN / 150
ATM Networks Architecture
ATM uses asynchronous time division multiplexing

The user access devices,

called the end points are
connected to the switches
through a user-to-network
Interface(UNI)
Switches are connected with
each other through Network
to Network Interface (NNI)
Computer Networking / Module II / AKN / 151
ATM Architecture, Virtual Connection
Connection between two end points are accomplished through
transmission paths (TPs). i.e. TPs are physical connection
between endpoints via a set of switches and links
A TP is divided into several Virtual Paths (VPs). A VP provides a
connection or set of connections between two switches
All VP contains more than one Virtual circuits (VCs)

Computer Networking / Module II / AKN / 152

Virtual Connection
A virtual connections are identified by a pair of
parameters called The Virtual path identifier (VPI)
and virtual circuit identifier (VCI)
VPI defines the VP and VCI defines a particular VC
inside VP

In a UNI, the VPI is represented using

8bits and in NNI it represented using
12 bits.
VCI is represented using 16 bits in
both cases Computer Networking / Module II / AKN / 153
Miscellaneous
Cell structure
A cell is of 53 bytes with 5 byte header and 48 byte payload
Switching
Uses both PVC and SVC
A switch routes the cell using both VPIs and VCIs

Computer Networking / Module II / AKN / 154

ATM Layers
Physical layer
Original design was based on
SONET as the physical layer
carrier
But it also can use other carriers
ATM Layer
Provides routing, traffic
management, switching,
and multiplexing services
It accepts 48 byte
segments from AAL and
adds 5byte header to form
a cell of 53 bytes
Computer Networking / Module II / AKN / 155
ATM Layer
It uses two different header formats for UNI and NNI

GFC: 4bit field provides flow control at UNI level

VPI: virtual path identifier (8bit for UNI, 12 bit for NNI
VCI: 16 bit for both UNI and NNI
PT: 3 bit field defines user data or management info
CLP: 1 bit field for congestion control
HEC: 8 bit CRC for header part only Computer Networking / Module II / AKN / 156
Application Adaptation Layer
It is designed to accept any type of payload like
internet data or multimedia load
AAL defines a sub-layer called Segementation and
reassembly sub-layer to segment incoming data in to
48byte segments and at the destination these
segments are reassembled
The converge sub-layer is defined to provide integrity
of data
ATM defines 4 versions of AAL: AAL1, AAL2, AAL3/4,
AAL5
AAL1 is used for streaming audio and video
communication and AAL5 for data communication
Computer Networking / Module II / AKN / 157
AAL1
Supports applications that transfer information at constant bit
rates like video or voice
CS sub-layer divides bit stream into 47 byte segments and
passes them to SAR sub-layer
SAR adds 1 byte header to each segment. The header contains
Sequence number(SN): out of 4 bits, 3bits are used to define sequence
no to order the bits
Sequence number
protection(SNP):
second 4 bit
protects the first
field. First 3 bit
protects sequence #
and last bit is for
parity for all 7 bits

Computer Networking / Module II / AKN / 158

AAL5
It assumes that all cells belonging to a message travel
sequentially
CS sub-layer adds a trailer with following fields
User-to-user(UU): used by end users
Common part identifier (CPI): defines how the the
subsequent fields are to be interpreted
Length(L): 2-byte
L field indicates the
length of original
data
CRC: The last 4
bytes is for error
control in the entire
data unit

Computer Networking / Module II / AKN / 159

END of Module II

Computer Networking / Module II / AKN / 160