Chapter 2 Communication and Internet Technologies:

Answers to coursebook questions and tasks

Syllabus sections covered: 1.2 (1.2.1 – 1.2.3)

Task 2.01

Best approach probably to work in KiB units. The number of bits leaving the buffer in
two seconds at 300 Kbps is 300 x 1000 x 2. In KiB this is (300 x 1000 x 2)/(1024 x
8). A similar calculation using 1 000 000 instead of 300 gives the number of KiB
entering the buffer in two seconds. The amounts for different times are just simple
multiples of these values. The difference between inflow and outflow gives net gain.
This allows a rough estimate of the time taken to fill to be made. This in turn allows
a rough estimate of the time to empty to be made. Exact values need algebra but
there is no need to insist on an exact answer.

Task 2.02

Type of answer should be: 11000011 01101001 00000110 00100101 /

00011000,where spaces are shown between the bytes just for readability and where
it has been assumed that the suffix is represented in a byte. Corresponding dotted
decimal form is 195.105.6.37/24.

Extension question 2.01

Number of addresses possible is 2128 which is 3.4 x 1038.

Earth radius = 6371 km. Formula for surface area is 4πr2. r2 in m2 is 6371 x 1000 x
6371 x 1000 = 4.06 x 1013 so surface area = 5.1 x 1014. Therefore dividing the
number of addresses by this area shows that there could be about 6.7 x 1923
addresses per square metre. Quite a few!

Exam-style Questions (with mark allocation in brackets):

1 a i Twisted pair, coaxial or fibre optic NOT copper. (1 for an example, 2 for
all)
ii Bandwidth, which defines the rate of data transfer. Attenuation, which
defines how much the signal degrades over time. Interference, which is
how much the signal might be affected by external factors. (1 per
factor + 1 per explanation, max 4)
b i Might be answered by choosing from radio, microwave or infrared.
Radio can penetrate walls, infrared has the best bandwidth are two
possibilities. Alternatively might argue that within a room or a building
wireless is sensible. (1 + 1 for explanation)
ii No infrastructure needed, no drilling holes in walls or digging tunnels
underground. (1)
iii If wireless is used outside a building it can be affected by weather
conditions. Not guided. More interference likely. (1)

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 c i Public switched telephone network, POTS, or provides telephone
connections. (1)
ii Could provide dial-up connection through a modem to allow data
transfer (1). Could provide a leased line dedicated data connection (1).
These would allow connections between buildings on the site (1).
Alternatively could provide access points for WiFi set up in individual
rooms or buildings (1). Note that the three marks for this question
require some detail in the explanation. Should explain that connections
between buildings could involve PSTN support. (Max 3)
2 a i Database (1), server (1)
ii Any application that involves a website accessible via a URL that
includes a domain name. Email using an email address that includes a
domain name. (1 for each name + 1 for each description, max 4)
b i Dotted decimal (1). Each byte in the 32-bit address is given its denary
equivalent value (1).
ii Class C (1) because the top three bits are 110 when denary 205 is
converted to binary (1).
iii Addressing is hierarchical (1). NetID is used for navigation through the
Internet (1). Once the communication reaches the network the hostID
is used to locate the exact destination (1).
c Because the netID is defined by the topmost 24 bits i.e. the first three
bytes, the hostID is defined by the remaining byte (1). Denary 152 converts
to binary 10011000 (1).
3 a i (Web application) developer (1)
ii On a (web) server (1)
iii On a client workstation/PC/system (1)
b i Any of the lines of the file between the <script> tags. Variable declared
and assigned in one statement (1 per example). Value read in using a
prompt. Assignment statement to calculate a value. Output a value. (1
per example, max 4)
ii Client computer selects URL (1). Request transmitted to web server (1).
Server finds web page (1). Page contents transmitted to client
computer (1). Client computer processes JavaScript code (1). Web page
is displayed on client computer screen (1). (Note that in this part of the
syllabus no details of networking protocol use are expected.)

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