Multiplexing

Multiplexing
Multiplexing is a set of techniques that allows the simultaneous transmission of multiple signals across a single data link. There are three types of multiplexing: Frequency Division Multiplexing (FDM) Wave Division Multiplexing (WDM) Time Division Multiplexing (TDM)

Categories of Multiplexing`

Circuit Switching: TDMA and TDMA

FDMA frequency time TDMA Example: 4 users

frequency time

Frequency Division Multiplexing (FDM)

In FDM each signal modulates a different carrier frequency. The modulated carriers are combined to form a new signal that is then sent across the link. Multiplexers modulate and combine signals while demultiplexers decompose and demodulate. Guard bands keep the modulated signals from overlapping and interfering with one another.

Wave Division Multiplexing (WDM)

Wave Division Multiplexing (WDM) is the same as FDM, except that the multiplexing and demultiplexing involve light signals transmitted through fiber-optic channels. A multiplexer can be made to combine several input beams of light, each containing a narrow band of frequencies. A demultiplexer can also be made to reverse the process.

DWDM principle

Wavelength Division Multiplexing

uses different wavelengths on the same fibre is totally protocol independent (SDH, ATM, Ethernet) known as Dense Wavelength Division Multiplex (DWDM) when the wavelengths are close (a few nm.) for DWDM, 40 or more wavelengths can be used on one fibre

Time Division Multiplexing (TDM)

In TDM, digital signals from n devices are interleaved with one another, forming a frame of data (bits, bytes, or any other data unit). In synchronous TDM, each frame contains at least one time slot dedicated to each device. The order in which each device sends its data to the frame is unvarying. If a device has no data to send, its time slot is sent empty. In asynchronous TDM, the time-slot order of a frame depends on which devices have to send at that time. Asynchronous TDM adds device address to each time slot.

Multiplexing versus No Multiplexing

FDM

FDM Multiplexing Process, Time Domain

Synchronous TDM

Framing Bits

Asynchronous TDM

Multiplexing, Frequency Domain

Demultiplexing, Time Domain

Demultiplexing, Frequency Domain

TDM

Synchronous TDM

TDM, Multiplexing

TDM, Demultiplexing

Framing Bits

Interleaving
In synchronous TDM, each device has the opportunity to send a specified amount of data (by bit, byte or any other unit) at a constant rate and in a fixed order. The switching process from device to device is known as interleaving. In a given system interleaved units will always be of the same size.

Data Rate

Asynchronous TDM

Frames and Addresses

a. Only three lines sending data

Frames and Addresses

b. Only four lines sending data

Frames and Addresses

c. All five lines sending data

Inverse Multiplexing
Inverse multiplexing takes the data stream from one high-speed line and breaks it into portions that can be sent across several lowerspeed lines simultaneously, with no loss in the collective data rate. Inverse multiplexing splits a data stream from one high speed line onto multiple lower speed lines.

Multiplexing and Inverse Multiplexing

Telephone Network

Analog Switched Service

Analog Leased Service

Analog Hierarchy

Switched/56 Service

Digital Data Service (DDS)

DS Hierarchy

T Lines
T lines are standard digital telephone carriers originally designed to transmit multiplexed voice channels (after being digitized). Today, however, T lines are also used to carry data between a residence or an organization and the Internet. They provide a physical link between nodes in a switched wide area network. T lines are commercially available in two data rates: T-1 and T-3. Line Rate (Mbps) Voice Channels T-1 1.544 24 T-3 44.736 672

T-1 Lines
The data rate of a T-1 line is 1.544 Mbps. Originally a T-1 line was used to multiplex 24 voice channels. Each voice channel is sampled and each sample digitized to 8 bits. An extra bit added to provide synchronization. This makes the frame 193 bits in length. By sending 8000 frames per second, we get a data rate of 1.544 Mbps. When we use a T-1 line to connect to the Internet, we can use all or part of the capacity of the line to send digital data.

T-3 Lines
A T-3 line has a data rate of 44.736 Mbps. It is equivalent to 28 T-1 lines. In other words, 28 T-1 lines can be multiplexed to obtain a T-3 line.

DSL
Digital Subscriber Line (DSL) is a technology that uses existing telecommunication networks such as the local loop telephone lines to accomplish highspeed delivery of data, voice, video, and multimedia. DSL technology used for residential connection to Internet is asymmetric DSL (ADSL). Telephone companies have installed high speed wide area networks to handle communications between their central offices. The link between the user and the network is still an analog line.

ADSL
ADSL is asymmetric, which means it provides higher bit rates in downstream and (from telephone central office to the users site) than the upstream direction. ADSL divides the bandwidth of the twisted pair cable into three bands 0 to 25 kHz 25 to 200 kHz 250 kHz to 1 MHz

Digital Subscriber Line (DSL)

Telephone companies originally transmitted within the 0 to 4kHZ range to reduce crosstalk. Loading coils were added within the subscriber loop to provide a flatter transfer function to further improve voice transmission within the 3kHZ band while increasing attenuation at the higher frequencies. ADSL (Asymmetric Digital Subscriber Line) Uses existing twisted pair lines to provide higher bit rates that are possible with unloaded twisted pairs (i.e., no loading coils on subscriber loop.)

DSL

the network transmits downstream at speeds ranging from 1.536 Mbps to 6.144Mbps

asymmetric bidirectional digital transmissions

[higher frequencies] users transmit upstream at speeds ranging from 64 kbps to 640 kbps

0 to 4kHZ

used for conventional analog telephone signals

DSL
ITU-T G992.1 ADSL standard uses Discrete Multitone (DMT) that divides the bandwidth into a large number of small subchannels. A splitter is required to separate voice signals from the data signal. The binary information is distributed among the subchannels. Each subchannel uses QAM. DMT adapts to line conditions by avoiding subchannels with poor SNR.

T-1 Line

T-1 Frame

Fractional T-1 Line

Types of Multiplexing
Frequency Division Time Division
PDH (Plesiochronous Digital Hierarchy) SDH (Synchronous Digital Hierarchy) ATM (Asynchronous Transfer Mode)

Wavelength Division (for optical cables)

PDH
the data sources are nominally synchronous (to within a few 10s of ppm of the nominal rate) this makes the multiplexing process very complicated because of bit stuffing and stripping.and prone to transmission errors every new data rate in the hierarchy needs a completely new multiplexing definition

SDH
the data sources are precisely synchronous the multiplexing process is relatively simple lower data rate tributaries can be extracted from the data stream without total demultiplexing (and similarly for inserting a tributary) can easily make self-healing rings the specification is future proof

Wavelength Division Multiplexing

uses different wavelengths on the same fibre is totally protocol independent (SDH, ATM, Ethernet) known as Dense Wavelength Division Multiplex (DWDM) when the wavelengths are close (a few nm.) for DWDM, 40 or more wavelengths can be used on one fibre

DWDM principle

DWDM system

DWDM components
Tunable lasers Wavelength adaptors Diffraction gratings Thin film filters Bragg gratings Waveguide gratings

SDH & DWDM combined

SDH and DWDM are complementary SDH provides:
flexibility resilience in case of failure

DWDM provides:
very high bandwidth

CONCLUSION: BANDWIDTH IS NO LONGER A PROBLEM ON LONG-DISTANCE TRANSMISSION LINKS

Examples of SDH/DWDM systems

TAT-14 (transatlantic cable)
8 fibre, dual bi-directional ring with protection ring 16 wavelengths of STM-64 per fibre pair 2.4 Tbit/s total capacity if fully equipped

FA-1: Flag Atlantic 1 (transatlantic cable)

six fibres 40 wavelengths per fibre 10 Gbit/s SDH per wavelength 2.4 Tbit/s total capacity if fully equipped

(NB: 2.4 Tbit/s can carry 10,000,000 telephone circuits)

Distribution technologies
CATV Community Access (or Cable) TV ISDN Integrated Services Digital Network ADSL Asymmetric Digital Subscriber Line Optical fibre