Communications Systems and Networks (M & T Networking Technology)

Packed with diagrams and illustrations, Communications & Systems delivers plain-English explanations of all the technical fundamentals -- and puts everything in context by addressing standards, regulations, and the real-world outlook for legacy, contemporary, and emerging technologies. In this unique overview, Ray Horak lucidly describes today's communications systems and networks -- voice, data, video, and multimedia -- and explains how they are likely to evolve and converge as we move further toward an information-based economy. Whether you're a communications pro who wants to gain some perspective or you just want to understand our increasingly wired and wireless world, this is the one book you need to see the big picture, with just the right amount of detail. Communications Systems and Networks offers a comprehensive, common-sense explanation of current and developing communications systems and networks. The book broadly explores the current range of communications systems including wired and wireless voice, data, and video. It also features recently developed and emerging technologies such as Frame Relay, SMDS, and ATM. Convergence technologies and networks ranging from the Internet and video-on-demand, to interactive TV are evaluated in the context of the developing Information Superhighway. This valuable reference demystifies the complex layers of networking technology, places standards in perspective, and explains regulatory issues and trends. Each chapter addresses a key area of telecommunications technology and applications with an eye toward the development of meaningful and cost-effective solutions to vital communications concerns. Communications professionals including business people, network managers, regulators, TelCom attorneys, and manufacturers will use Communications Systems and Networks as the essential handbook for working with the complex, emerging communications systems for the next century. Explains essential telecommunication concepts, covering transmission media, voice systems, data communication, LAN and WAN engineering, Internet protocols, and such emerging technologies as frame relay, broadband ISDN, and advanced intelligent networks