Wireless Computing

Glory Mutiha Natalia
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Wireless Computing Assignment 2

Packet Switching
Packet switching is the approach used by some computer network protocols (A network protocol defines rules and conventions for communication between network devices. Protocols for computer networking all generally use packet switching techniques to send and receive messages in the form of packets. Network protocols include mechanisms for devices to identify and make connections with each other, as well as formatting rules that specify how data is packaged into messages sent and received. Some protocols also support message acknowledgement and data compression designed for reliable and/or high-performance network communication. Hundreds of different computer network protocols have been developed each designed for specific purposes and environments) to deliver data across a local or long distance connection. Packet switching entails packaging data in specially formatted units (called packets) that are typically routed from source to destination using network switches and routers. Each packet contains address information that identifies the sending computer and intended recipient. Using these addresses, network switches and routers determine how best to transfer the packet between hops on the path to its destination.
Packet switching is the alternative to circuit switching protocols used historically for telephone (voice) networks and sometimes with ISDN connections. Compared to circuit switching, packet switching offers the following:
  * More efficient use of overall network bandwidth due to flexibility in routing the smaller packets over shared links. Packet switching networks are often cheaper to build as less equipment is needed given this ability to share.
  * Longer delays in receiving messages due to the time required to package and route packets. Delays are not long enough to be significant but for high-performance applications, like real-time video, additional data... [continues]

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