Exploiting The Bandwidth Of Fiber Optic Cable-Employment by Multiple Users:Sharing the Transmission Medium

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EMPLOYMENT BY MULTIPLE USERS

3.1 Sharing the Transmission Medium

You are the network manager of a company. You have a Source-User link requirement given to you. In

response you install a premises fiber optic data link. The situation is just like that illustrated in Figure 2-

1. However, the bandwidth required by the particular Source-User pair, the bandwidth to accommodate

the Source-User speed requirement, is much, much, less than is available from the fiber optic data link.

The tremendous bandwidth of the installed fiber optic cable is being wasted. On the face of it, this is not

an economically efficient installation.

You would like to justify the installation of the link to the Controller of your company, the person who

reviews your budget. The Controller doesn't understand the attenuation benefits of fiber optic cable. The

Controller doesn't understand the interference benefits of fiber optic cable. The Controller hates waste.

He just wants to see most of the bandwidth of the fiber optic cable used not wasted. There is a solution

to this problem. Don't just dedicate the tremendous bandwidth of the fiber optic cable to a single,

particular, Source-User communication requirement. Instead, allow it to be shared by a multiplicity of

Source-User requirements. It allows it to carve a multiplicity of fiber optic data links out of the same

fiber optic cable.

The technique used to bring about this sharing of the fiber optic cable among a multiplicity of Source-

User transmission requirements is called multiplexing. It is not particular to fiber optic cable. It occurs

with any transmission medium e.g. wire, microwave, etc., where the available bandwidth far surpasses

any individual Source-User requirement. However, multiplexing is particularly attractive when the

transmission medium is fiber optic cable. Why? Because the tremendous bandwidth presented by fiber

optic cable presents the greatest opportunity for sharing between different Source-User pairs.

Conceptually, multiplexing is illustrated in Figure 3-1. The figure shows 'N' Source-User pairs indexed

as 1, 2, . . . There is a multiplexer provided at each end of the fiber optic cable. The multiplexer on the

left takes the data provided by each of the Sources. It combines these data streams together and sends

the resultant stream out on the fiber optic cable. In this way the individual Source generated data streams

share the fiber optic cable. The multiplexer on the left performs what is called a multiplexing or

combining function. The multiplexer on the right takes the combined stream put out by the fiber optic

cable. It separates the combined stream into the individual Source streams composing it. It directs each

of these component streams to the corresponding User. The multiplexer on the right performs what is

called a demultiplexing function.

A few things should be noted about this illustration shown in Figure 3-1.

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Figure 3-1: Conceptual view of Multiplexing. A single fiber optic cable is "carved" into a multiplicity of fiber optic data

links.

First, the Transmitter and Receiver are still present even though they are not shown. The Transmitter is

considered part of the multiplexer on the left and the Receiver is considered part of the multiplexer on

the right.

Secondly, the Sources and Users are shown close to the multiplexer. For multiplexing to make sense this

is usually the case. The connection from Source-to-multiplexer and multiplexer-to-User is called a tail

circuit. If the tail circuit is too long a separate data link may be needed just to bring data from the Source

to the multiplexer or from the multiplexer to the User. The cost of this separate data link may counter

any savings effected by multiplexing.

Thirdly, the link between the multiplexer, the link in this case realized by the fiber optic cable, is termed

the composite link. This is the link where traffic is composed of all the separate Source streams.

Finally, separate Users are shown in Figure 3-1. However, it may be that there is just one User with

separate ports and all Sources are communicating with this common user. There may be variations upon

this. The Source-User pairs need not be all of the same type. They may be totally different types of data

equipment serving different applications and with different speed requirements.

Within the context of premise data communications a typical situation where the need for multiplexing

arises is illustrated in Figure 3-2. This shows a cluster of terminals. In this case there are six terminals.

All of these terminals are fairly close to one another. All are at a distance from and want to communicate

with a multi-user computer. This may be either a multi-use PC or a mini-computer. This situation may

arise when all of the terminals are co-located on the same floor of an office building and the multi-user

computer is in a computer room on another floor of the building.

The communication connection of each of these terminals could be effected by the approach illustrated

in Figure 3-3. Here each of the terminals is connected to a dedicated port at the computer by a separate

cable. The cable could be a twisted pair cable or a fiber optic cable. Of course, six cables are required

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and the bandwidth of each cable may far exceed the terminal-to-computer speed requirements.

Figure 3-2: Terminal cluster isolated from multi-user computer

Figure 3-3: Terminals in cluster. Each connected by dedicated cables to multi-user computer

Figure 3-4: Terminals sharing a single cable to multi-user computer by multiplexing

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A more economically efficient way of realizing the communication connection is shown in Figure 3-4.

Here each of the six terminals is connected to a multiplexer. The data streams from these terminals are

collected by the multiplexer. The streams are combined and then sent on a single cable to another

multiplexer located near the multi-user computer. This second multiplexer separates out the individual

terminal data streams and provides each to its dedicated port. The connection going from the computer

to the terminals is similarly handled. The six cables shown in Figure 3-3 has been replaced by the single

composite link cable shown in Figure 3-4. Cable cost has been significantly reduced. Of course, this

comes at the cost of two multiplexers. Yet, if the terminals are in a cluster the tradeoff is in the direction

of a net decrease in cost.

There are two techniques for carrying out multiplexing on fiber optic cable in the premise environment.

These two techniques are Time Division Multiplexing (TDM) and Wavelength Division Multiplexing

(WDM). These techniques are described in the sequel. Examples are introduced of specific products for

realizing these techniques. These products are readily available from Telebyte. TDM and WDM are then

compared.

3.2 Time Division Multiplexing (TDM) with Fiber Optic Cable

With TDM a multiplicity of communication links, each for a given Source-User pair, share the same

fiber optic cable on the basis of time. The multiplexer(s) set up a continuous sequence of time slots

using clocks. The duration of the time slots depends upon a number of different engineering design

factors; most notably the needed transmission speeds for the different links. Each communication link is

assigned a specific time slot, a TDM channel, during which it is allowed to send its data from the Source

end to the User end. During this time slot no other link is permitted to send data. The multiplexer at the

Source end takes in data from the Sources connected to it. It then loads the data from each Source into

its corresponding TDM channel. The multiplexer at the User end unloads the data from each channel

and sends it to the corresponding User.

As an example, the Telebyte Model 273 is a high performance four-channel, time division multiplexer

whose composite link is implemented in fiber optics. The Model 273 will transport four full-duplex

channels of asynchronous RS-232 data over two fiber optic cables. In addition, a bi-directional control

signal is also transmitted for each of the four primary channels. The maximum rate for all four channels

is 256 KBPS, 64 KBPS each. A jumper option allows upgrading channel 1 to 128 KBPS while reducing

the total channel capacity from four to three. As an aid to installation and verification of system

performance the Model 273 is equipped with a front panel TEST switch. The function of this switch is

to send a test pattern to the remote Model 273, which causes it to go into loopback. A SYNC LED

indicates status of the fiber optic link. Signals on the RS-232 data lines are monitored via the four

Transmit Data LED's and the four Receive Data LED's. Power for the Model 273 is supplied by a small

power adapter. Each Model 273 is supplied with four pieces of modular cable and eight RS-232

adapters. These adapters, four male and four female, offer users the ability to provide any connection

required by their RS-232 interfaces.

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Figure 3-5: Model 273 Four channel fiber optic TDM Multiplexer with Model 272A Fiber Optic Line Driver, a copper to

fiber converter.

The illustration Figure 3-6 shows an application of the Telebyte Model 273 Four Channel Fiber Optic

Multiplexer. On the right side are four (4) different data devices. These are of different types, PCs and

terminals. All of these data devices need to communicate with a main frame computer. This is not

shown but what is shown on the left is the Front End Processor (FEP) of this main frame computer. All

communication to/from the main frame computer is through ports of the FEP. Each data device is

assigned a dedicated port at the FEP. The two Model 273's effect the communication from/to all these

devices by using just one fiber optic cable that can be as long as 2 km.

Figure 3-6: Model 273 realizing time division multiplexed data communications to a mainframe computer through its FEP.

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When dealing with copper to fiber connections, an interface converter such as the Model 272A provides

the capability of performing an interface conversion between full duplex, RS-422 signals and their

equivalent for fiber optic transmission. For applications where the transmission medium must be

protected from electrical interference, lightning, atmospheric conditions or chemical corrosion fiber

optics is the perfect solution. The Model 272A RS-422 to Fiber Optic Line Driver handles full duplex

data rates to 2.5 MBPS. The electrical interface to the RS-422 port is fully differential for transmit and

receive data and is implemented in an industry standard DB25 connector. The fiber optic ports are

implemented using the industry standard ST connectors. The design has been optimized for 62.5/125

micron fiber cable, however other sizes may be used. The optical signal wavelength is approximately

850nm. The optical power budget for the Model 272A is 12 dB. In normal applications the distance

between a pair of Model 272A's will be at least 2 km (6,600 ft). Power to operate the Model 272A is

supplied by a small, wall mounted, 9 Volt AC transformer and line cord.

3.3 Wavelength Division Multiplexing (WDM) With Fiber Optic Cable

With WDM a multiplicity of communication links, each for a given Source-User pair, share the same

fiber optic cable on the basis of wavelength. The data stream from each Source is assigned an optical

wavelength. The multiplexer has within it the modulation and transmission processing circuitry. The

multiplexer modulates each data stream from each Source. After the modulation process the resulting

optical signal generated for each Source data stream is placed on its assigned wavelength. The

multiplexer then couples the totality of optical signals generated for all Source data streams into the fiber

optic cable. These different wavelength optical signals propagate simultaneously. This is in contrast to

TDM.

The fiber optic cable is thereby carved into a multiplicity of data links - each data link corresponding to

a different one of these optical wavelengths assigned to the Sources.

At the User end the multiplexer receives these simultaneous optical signals. It separates these signals out

according to their different wavelengths by using prisms. This constitutes the demultiplexing operation.

The separated signals correspond to the different Source-User data streams. These are further

demodulated. The resulting separated data streams are then provided to the respective Users.

At this point a slight digression is necessary. The focus of this book is on premise data communications,

data communications in the local area environment. Notwithstanding, it must be mentioned that WDM

has been receiving a tremendous amount of attention within the context of Wide Area Networks

(WANs). Both CATV systems and telecommunication carriers are making greater and greater use of it

to expand the capacity of the installed WAN fiber optic cabling plant. Within the Wide Area

Networking environment the multiplicity of channels carved from a single fiber has increased

tremendously using WDM. The increase has led to the term Dense Wavelength Division Multiplexing

(DWDM) to describe the newer WDMs employed. Now, back to our main topic.

3.4 Comparing Multiplexing Techniques for the Premises Environment

It is best to compare TDM and WDM on the basis of link design flexibility, speed and impact on BER.

Link Design Flexibility - TDM can be engineered to accommodate different link types. In other words, a

TDM scheme can be designed to carve a given fiber optic cable into a multiplicity of links carrying

different types of traffic and at different transmission rates. TDM can also be engineered to have

different time slot assignment strategies. Slots may be permanently assigned. Slots may be assigned

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upon demand (Demand Assignment Multiple Access - DAMA). Slots may vary depending upon the

type of link being configured. Slots may even be dispensed with altogether with data instead being

encapsulated in a packet with Source and User addresses (statistical multiplexing). However, within the

context of premises environment there is strong anecdotal evidence that TDM works best when it is used

to configure a multiplicity of links all of the same traffic type, with time slots all of the same duration

and permanently assigned. This simplest version of TDM is easiest to design and manage in premise

data communications. The more complex versions are really meant for the WAN environment.

On the other hand, in the premises environment WDM, generally, has much greater flexibility. WDM is

essentially an analog technique. As a result, with WDM it is much easier to carve a fiber optic cable into

a multiplicity of links of quite different types. The character of the traffic and the data rates can be quite

different and not pose any real difficulties for WDM. You can mix 10Base-T Ethernet LAN traffic with

100Base-T Ethernet LAN traffic with digital video and with out of band testing signals and so on. With

WDM it is much easier to accommodate analog traffic. It is much easier to add new links on to an

existing architecture. With TDM the addition of new links with different traffic requirements may

require revisiting the design of all the time slots, a major effort.

With respect to flexibility the one drawback that WDM has relative to TDM in the premises

environment is in the number of simultaneous links it can handle. This is usually much smaller with

WDM than with TDM. Nonetheless, advances in DWDM for the WAN environment may filter down to

the premise environment and reverse this drawback.

Speed - Design of TDM implicitly depends upon digital components. Digital circuitry is required to take

data in from the various Sources. Digital components are needed to store the data. Digital components

are needed to load the data into corresponding time slots, unload it and deliver it to the respective Users.

How fast must these digital components operate? Roughly, they must operate at the speed of the

composite link of the multiplexer. With a fiber optic cable transmission medium, depending upon cable

length, a composite link of multiple GBPS could be accommodated. However, commercially available,

electrically based, digital logic speeds today are of the order of 1 billion operations per second. This can

and probably will change in the future as device technology continues to progress. But, let us talk in

terms of today. TDM is really speed limited when it comes to fiber optic cable. It can not provide a

composite link speed to take full advantage of the tremendous bandwidth presented by fiber optic cable.

This is not just particular to the premises environment it also applies to the WAN environment.

On the other hand, WDM does not have this speed constraint. It is an analog technique. Its operation

does not depend upon the speed of digital circuitry. It can provide composite link speeds that are in line

with the enormous bandwidth presented by fiber optic cable.

Impact on BER - Both TDM and WDM, carve a multiplicity of links from a given fiber optic cable.

However, there may be cross talk between the links created. This cross talk is interference that can

impact the BER and affect the performance of the application underlying the need for communication.

With TDM cross-talk arises when some of the data assigned to one time slot slides into an adjacent time

slot. How does this happen? TDM depends upon accurate clocking. The multiplexer at the Source end

depends upon time slot boundaries being where they are supposed to be so that the correct Source data is

loaded into the correct time slot. The multiplexer at the User end depends upon time slot boundaries

being where they are supposed to be so that the correct User gets data from the correct time slot.

Accurate clocks are supposed to indicate to the multiplexer where the time slot boundaries are.

However, clocks drift, chiefly in response to variations in environmental conditions like temperature.

What is more, the entire transmitted data streams, the composite link, may shift small amounts back and

forth in time, an effect called jitter. This may make it difficult for the multiplexer at the User end to

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