Multiplexing/MAC

Lecture: Athar Tanveer

Multiplexing/MAC

• Outline

• Types of links
• Multi-access (shared single) link
• Point-to-point link

• Types of multiplexing techniques

• Circuit-based multiplexing
• Packet-based multiplexing

2
Purpose of multiplexing/MAC
• To share link bandwidth

3
MAC
• MAC: Medium Access Control or Media Access Control
• Set of functions to support the sharing of a single link by multiple endpoints

• MAC vs. Multiplexing (MUX)

• The term "MAC" is used to describe sharing techniques on multi-access links
• The term "multiplexing" is used to describe sharing techniques on point-to-
point links

4
Types of links
• Multi-access links Switch
• Typically used to connect multiple hosts to a switch
• Cheaper than point-to-point links Host Host ...... Host
• Mostly used in wireless networks
• Sometimes in wired networks through hub

• Point-to-point links
• Typically used between switches Host
Switch Host
• Increasingly typical between hosts and switches in
wired networks (port costs are decreasing)
Host

5
Recall our multiple-link network

Point-to-point link shared using MUX

Point-to-point link
techniques

Switch
Host Host

Switch Switch
Host
Host

e.g., roadways network (an intersection is comparable to a switch)

6
Multi-access wireless link between hosts and
switch
Multi-access wireless link

Host
Switch
Host

Switch Switch
802.11 wireless
Host Host
access point
Switch
Equivalent to:

Host Host ...... Host

Image courtesy: http://compnetworking.about.com 7

Multi-access wireless link (cell phones)

Base station/cell site Switch

Switch Switch

Images courtesy of cnet.com and wikipedia 8

Multi-access wired link between hosts and
switch
Multi-access wired link

Host
Switch
Host

Switch Switch
Ethernet hub Host
Host

Recall a hub is a multipoint repeater

from tasks/layers class notes: shared single-link network

Image courtesy: wikipedia 9

Usage of links
• Point-to-point links
• Host-to-switch, or more generally endpoint-to-switch (e.g., telephone, video
camera)
• Switch-to-switch

• Multi-access links
• Endpoint-to-switch

10
Classification of
Multiplexing/MAC techniques
Multiplexing/MAC techniques

Circuit-based multiplexing Packet-based multiplexing

Position based: Packet header based:
• space • header carries
• time destination address
• frequency Each multiplexed data
Each multiplexed data stream consists of
stream occupies a packets with headers
different position carrying corresponding
destination addresses 11
Circuit-based multiplexing
• Frequency Division Multiplexing (FDM)
• Called Wavelength Division Multiplexing (WDM) in the optical range

• Time Division Multiplexing (TDM)

• Space Division Multiplexing (SDM)

• Each fiber in a fiber bundle

12
Frequency Division Multiplexing (FDM)
• Each communication session is assigned its own frequency for the session

• A few control channels (frequencies) are set aside to allow users to send requests for frequencies
for their communication sessions (these requests are called "call setup signaling protocol
messages")

• Frequencies are released upon completion of the session (with "call release signaling protocol
messages")

• Modulation technique determines the required carrier spacing (e.g., 30 kHz for analog cellular)
and correspondingly the number of simultaneous sessions

• Examples
• Each broadcast radio and TV station is assigned a different carrier frequency – long-held “sessions”
• Analog cellular systems: two frequencies are assigned – one for reception, another for transmission to
each cellular caller
13
Time Division Multiplexing (TDM)

• Each communication session is assigned time slots for its session on one or more
frequencies

• A few control channels (time slots) are set aside to allow users to use for signaling
messages, i.e., to send requests for timeslots for their communication sessions

• Timeslots are released upon completion of the session

• Examples
• Classroom being shared by multiple classes one after another in time
• Digital cellular systems: US system has three users sharing one carrier frequency for a cellular
call

14
Use of circuit-based multiplexing on different
types of links

• Multi-access wireless link

• Cellular phones

• Point-to-point links between switches

15
Forward and reverse channels

Reverse
channels Switch

Forward channels Switch Switch

Base station/cell site

Images courtesy of cnet.com, wikipedia, google 16
Duplex techniques
• Separates signals transmitted by base stations from signals
transmitted by terminals

• Frequency Division Duplex (FDD): use separate sets of frequencies for forward
and reverse channels (upstream and downstream)

• Time Division Duplex (TDD): same frequencies used in the two directions, but
different time slots

17
Hexagonal cell frequency plan

• D: Distance between a base station and the

nearest base station that uses the same channels

• R: Radius of a cell

D • Reuse distance = D/R

R
• Channel plan: method of assigning channels to
cells to guarantee a minimum reuse distance
between cells that use the same channel

• S/I: Signal to Interference Ratio

18
Different reuse patterns (factors)

19
Packet-based multiplexing
• For point-to-point links
• Scheduling techniques
• For multi-access links
• Random access MAC schemes

20
Packet buffering
• Buffers hold packets waiting to be transmitted on output link
• FCFS: Single buffer
• Priority: As many buffers as there are priority classes
• When the transmitter is ready to choose the next packet for transmission
• FCFS: Select next packet in line if buffer is non-empty
• Priority: Check buffers in order of priority and transmit packet from the first non-empty
buffer

21
Examples of packet multiplexing

• Point-to-point links between switches

• Point-to-point link between endpoint and switch

22
Packet-based multiplexing on a point-to-point link
between switches
Switch

Host 1 Host 2

Switch
input output
link link

Host 3 input Packet-based

Host 4
link multiplexer

23
Packet-based multiplexing on a point-to-point link
between switches
Switch

Host 1 Host 2
App. 2 App. 2
Switch

Host 3 Host 4
App. 1 App. 1

Two communication
sessions sharing this switch-to-switch link

24
Packet-based multiplexing on a point-to-point link
between a host and a switch
Packet-based
Host 1
App. 2 multiplexer
Host 2
App. 3 App. 2
Switch Switch

Host 3 Host 4
App. 3

25
Packet-based multiplexing on a point-to-point link
between a host and a switch

Host 1
App. 2
Host 2
App. 3 App. 2
Switch

Host 3 Host 4
App. 3

Two communications sessions sharing this host-to-switch link

26
Random access MAC protocols
• No reservations are made; instead a host just sends data packets

• What can happen?

• Collision (recall multi-access)

• Need to avoid collisions or detect collisions and retransmit

• What’s the cost of being too careful to avoid collisions?

• Utilization will be sacrificed

27
Random-access MAC
(packet based sharing on multi-access links)

• ALOHA: just send & wait for ACK

• Slotted ALOHA: send in slots
• CSMA: sense carrier, but wait for ACK
• CSMA/CD: detect collisions instead of waiting for ACK
• CSMA/CA

28
CSMA
• Carrier Sense Multiple Access
• sense carrier
• if idle, send
• wait for acknoledgement
• If there isn’t one, assume there was a collision, retransmit
• if busy, wait
• Vulnerable period

29
CSMA/CD
• CSMA/Collision Detection (CSMA/CD):
• In CSMA, if collision occurs, need to wait until damaged frames have fully
propagated. For long frames compared to propagation delay, this could lead
to significant waste of capacity. So add collision detection.
• Listen for collision and immediately suspend sending data if collision is
detected.
• Rule: Frames should be long enough to allow collision detection prior to the
end of transmission

30
CSMA/CA: 802.11
• Why CA (Collision Avoidance) and not CD?
• difficult to receive (sense collisions) when transmitting due to weak received
signals (fading)
• hidden station problem:
• Two mutually far away stations A and C want to send to B.
• At A and C, channel appears idle
• But collision occurs at B

32
Kurose and Ross’ slides
Random-access MAC protocols used in practice today

• Multi-access link

• Wired: Ethernet
– CSMA/CD scheme

• Wireless: IEEE 802.11

• Wireless and mobile networks class

33
Example of CSMA/CD: Ethernet

Ethernet protocol:
1. Each station listens before it transmits.
2. If the channel is busy, it waits until the channel goes idle, and then it transmits.
3. If the channel is idle it transmits immediately. Continue sensing.
4. If collision is detected, transmit a brief jamming signal, then cease transmission, wait
for a random time, and retransmit.
• collision detection is not by waiting for an ACK

34
Ethernet protocol support for DLL functions
• Destination and source MAC address fields
• for multiplexing
• CRC
• for error detection
• No sequence numbers/ACK numbers
• for error correction
• Pause feature
• for ON/OFF flow control (special control frame)

35