Sunday, June 8, 2014
Wireless Networks:
Wireless networking is a method by which homes
telecommunications networks and enterprise (corporate) installations avoid
the costly process of introducing cables into a building, or as a connection
between various equipment locations. Wireless telecommunications networks
are generally implemented and administered using radio communication. Examples
of wireless networks include cell phone networks, Wi-Fi local networks and
terrestrial microwave networks.
Types of Wireless Networks
Wireless PAN
Wireless personal area networks (WPANS) interconnect
devices within a relatively small area that is generally within a person's
reach. For example, both bluetooth radio and invisible infrared light
provides a WPAN for interconnecting a headset to a laptop. Zigbee also
supports WPAN applications. Intel My WiFi and window7 virtual Wi-Fi
capabilities have made Wi-Fi PANs simpler and easier to set up and configure.
Wireless LAN
A wireless local area network (WLAN) links two or more
devices over a short distance using a wireless distribution method, usually
providing a connection through an access point for internet access. The use of
spread spectrum or OFDM technologies may allow users to move around within
a local coverage area, and still remain connected to the network.
Wireless mesh network
A wireless mesh network is a wireless network made up of
radio nodes organized in a mesh topology. Each node forwards messages on behalf
of the other nodes. Mesh networks can self heal automatically re-routing around
a node that has lost power.
Wireless MAN
Wireless metropolitan area networks are a type of
wireless network that connects several wireless LANs. Wimax is a type of
Wireless MAN and is described by the ieee 802.16 standard.
Wireless WAN
Wireless Wide Area Networks are wireless networks
that typically cover large areas, such as between neighboring towns and cities,
or city and civic. These networks can be used to connect branch offices of
business or as a public internet access system. The wireless connections
between access points are usually point to point microwave links using
parabolic dishes on the 2.4 GHz band, rather than Omni directional
antennas used with smaller networks. A typical system contains base
station gateways, access points and wireless bridging relays.
A Cellular Network
A cellular network or mobile network is a
radio network distributed over land areas called cells, each served by at least
one fixed-location transceiver, known as a cell site or base station. In a
cellular network, each cell characteristically uses a different set of radio
frequencies from all their immediate neighboring cells to avoid any
interference.
Global area network
A global area network (GAN) is a network used for
supporting mobile across an arbitrary number of wireless LANs, satellite
coverage areas, etc. The key challenge in mobile communications is handing off
user communications from one local coverage area to the next.
Space network
Space networks are networks used for communication between
spacecraft, usually in the vicinity of the Earth. The example of this is NASA's
space network.
