17 Communication Software and Protocols

Let’s Think
Select ‘Start’  ‘Run’. Type ‘cmd’ and press ‘OK’.
Type ‘ipconfig’ in the command prompt and press ‘Enter’.

Activity 3
2. (a) 202.45.32.12
(b) 69.147.76.15
3. (a) 202.177.25.234
(b) ns.kloth.net
(d) Yes. Type the DNS server you want to handle your query in the ‘Server’
field.

Concept Map
1. D
2. H
3. F
4. B
5. I
6. J
7. C
8. G
9. A
10. E

Concept Checker
1. F
2. F
3. T
4. F
5. F

Multiple Choice questions

1. D
2. A
3. A
4. D
5. B
6. D
7. D
8. B
9. D
10. D

Short Questions
1. (a) ‧Instant or higher data transmission speed
‧Much lower transmission cost
‧Support multimedia messages
‧Transmitted information is reusable for most cases
(any two  1)
(b) E-mail: Microsoft Outlook
Instant messaging: Windows Live Messenger
Discussion forum: Internet Explorer
Internet phone: Skype
(any three  1)

2. (a) A communication protocol is a set of rules about data formatting or

signalling that is used for data transmission over the network. (1)
Communication software utilizes these communication protocols to
represent its data format. (1) So both communication parties can understand
the messages sent from each other. (1)
(b) Post Office Protocol Version 3 (POP3) (1) and Wi-Fi protocol (802.11) (1)

3. (a) Application layer, presentation layer, session layer, transport layer, network
layer, data link layer and phyiscal layer (2 for correct answers, 1 for correct
order)
(b) It is responsible for physical layer addressing as well as errors detection and
correction. (1) Examples are Ethernet (1) and Wi-Fi. (1)
(c) ‧It confirms that the packet has been correctly sent to the destination. (1)
‧If the sender computer does not receive the acknowledge packet after a
certain period of time, it is assumed the data packet has been lost during
transmission. (1) The sender computer will then resend the data packet to
the destination (probably in a different path). (1)
4. (a) (i) 132.22.138.8 (1 for correct value, 1 for correct format)
(ii) Class B (1)
(b) Network address: 1000 0100 0001 0110 (1)
Host address: 1000 1010 0000 1000 (1)

5. (a)
Country-code top-level domain hk (1)
Second-level domain org (1)
Type of organization org (1)
(b) A uniform resource locator refers to a particular web page or a file residing
on a web site. (1) It must contain the protocol to be used and the domain
name. (1) Domain name is one part of the uniform resource locator (URL).
(1)

Long Questions
1. (a) Case 1: The insurance broker can retrieve the latest insurance policy
information by using the handheld device that is connected to the company
network through Virtual Private Network (VPN). (1) The VPN
communication software (1) manages the wireless connection of the
handheld device and establishes a virtual private network to the company
via the Internet. (1)
Case 2: The company can send an e-mail to the mailboxes of all employees
about permission to leave early. (1) Each employee can access his or her
mailbox using e-mail program (1) via the company network and check the
official e-mail immediately. (1)
(b) Case 1: More convenient. (1) The insurance policy information can be
accessed instantly using the handheld device. (1) The insurance broker does
not need to go back to the company to get the information. (1)
Case 2: Faster communication. (1) The permission of early leave message
can be immediately broadcasted to all employees. (1) The employees can
read the message almost at the same time. (1)
2. (a) Bitmap format. (1) The filename is logo.bmp. (1)
(b)
Application layers logo.bmp (1)

Transport layer TH logo.bmp (1)

Network layer NH TH logo.bmp (1)

Data link layer DLH NH TH logo.bmp DLT (2)

(c) It helps transfer the data between different types of networks or layers.
It provides information of the source and destination which enables the
nodes passing the packet in a right path.
It contains information for data verification.
It contains information of how the data should be reassembled.
(any two  1)
(d) Data link layer. (1)
It retrieves the information of error detection and correction in the Data
Link Header (1) and verifies the data in the frame. (1)