Multiplexing

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 Objectives
 Multiplexing
 Different Form of Multiplexing
 Frequency Division Multiplexing(FDM)
 Time Division Multiplexing (TDM)
 FDM system
 Wavelength Division Multiplexing

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 Multiplexing
 Multiplexing is the name given to techniques, which allow more than one
message to be transferred via the same communication channel. The
channel in this context could be a transmission line, e.g. a twisted pair or
co-axial cable, a radio system or a fibre optic system et c.

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 Different Form of Multiplexing

 Three different form of multiplexing

o Frequency Division Multiplexing (FDM)

o Wavelength Division Multiplexing (WDM) and

o Time Division Multiplexing (TDM)

 Synchronous Time Division Multiplexing
 Asynchronous Time Division Multiplexing

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Frequency Division Multiplexing (FDM)
 FDM is derived from AM techniques in which the signals occupy the same
physical ‘line’ but in different frequency bands. Each signal occupies its
own specific band of frequencies all the time, i.e. the messages share the
channel bandwidth.

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Frequency Division Multiplexing (FDM)
 Useful bandwidth of medium exceeds required bandwidth of channel
 Each signal is modulated to a different carrier frequency
 Carrier frequencies separated so signals do not overlap (guard bands)
 Channel allocated even if no data

 FDM is widely used in radio and television systems (e.g. broadcast radio
and TV) and was widely used in multichannel telephony (now being
superseded by digital techniques and TDM).

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 Time Division Multiplexing (TDM)
 TDM is derived from sampling techniques in which messages occupy all
the channel bandwidth but for short time intervals of time, i.e. the
messages share the channel time.

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 Time Division Multiplexing (TDM)

 TDM is widely used in digital communications, for example in the form of

pulse code modulation in digital telephony (TDM/PCM). In TDM, each
message signal occupies the channel (e.g. a transmission line) for a short
period of time.

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 FDM and TDM
Example:
FDM
4 users

frequency

time

TDM

frequency

time
Introduction 1-9
FDM System

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 Example of FDM

FDM of Three Voiceband

Signals

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 Analog Carrier Systems
 AT&T (USA)
 Hierarchy of FDM schemes
 Group
o 12 voice channels (4kHz each) = 48kHz
o Range 60kHz to 108kHz
 Supergroup
o 60 channel
o FDM of 5 group signals on carriers between 420kHz and 612 kHz
 Mastergroup
o 10 supergroups
o Supports 600 voice channel

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 Wavelength Division Multiplexing
 FDM with multiple beams of light at different frequency
 Each color of light (wavelength) carries separate data channel
 Carried by optical fiber link
o Commercial systems of 160 channels of 10 Gbps now available
o Lab systems (Alcatel) 256 channels at 39.8 Gbps each

 architecture similar to other FDM systems

o Multiplexer consolidates laser sources (1550nm mostly) for
transmission over single fiber
o Optical amplifiers amplify all wavelengths (Typically tens of km apart)
o Demux separates channels at the destination

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 Synchronous Time Division Multiplexing
 Data rate of medium exceeds data rate of digital signal to be transmitted
 Multiple digital signals interleaved in time
 May be at bit level or blocks
 Time slots pre-assigned to sources and fixed
 Time slots allocated even if no data
 Time slots do not have to be evenly distributed amongst sources

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Synchronous
TDM System

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 TDM Link Control
• No headers and trailers
• Data link control protocols not needed
• Flow control
– Data rate of multiplexed line is fixed
– If one channel receiver can not receive data, the others must carry on
– The corresponding source must be quenched
– This leaves empty slots
• Error control
– Errors are detected and handled by individual channel systems

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 Data Link Control on TDM

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 TDM of Analog and Digital Sources

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 Statistical TDM
• In Synchronous TDM many slots are wasted
• Statistical TDM allocates time slots dynamically based on demand
• Multiplexer scans input lines and collects data until frame full
• Data rate on line lower than aggregate rates of input lines

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 Statistical TDM Frame Formats

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 References
[1] William Stallings, Data and Computer Communications, Prentice Hall, New
Jersey, 6th ed, 2000, ISBN 0-13-086388-2.
[2] James F. Kurose and Keith W. Ross, Computer Networking A Top-Down
Approach Featuring the Internet, …………………………….

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