Network Throughput Gain in Optical-Wireless (FiWi) Networks Subject to Peer-to-Peer Communications - Book Report/Review Example

Network Throughput Gain in Optical-Wireless (FiWi) Networks Subject to Peer-to-Peer Communications Abstract The paper attempts to detect the changes in network throughput gain in the new FiWi networks, from the perspective of peer to peer communications and other relevant factors affects the network throughput gain. FiWi or Optical-Wireless access network is the emerging access network architecture technology which combines the two networks, wireless mesh networks (WMNs) and the passive optical networks (PONs) to provide an internet experience which can handle a high bandwidth and be easily accessible and low cost at the same time. In the conventional wireless networks, the wireless network carries the peer to peer communication from a wireless client to the other whereas in the new FiWi network, the wireless-optical-wireless mode assists in the rendering of peer to peer communication. The FiWi mode of communication thus does not have the drawback of interferences which wireless clients potentially have. One of the most preferred optical access network solutions these days is the Passive Optical Network or PON. The PON comprises of a OLT or an Optical Line Terminal which is located at the central office. The OLT transmits optical signals to the internet from access networks and vice versa. In FiWi, the traffic is sent from the wireless client source to the ONU which is situated the closest. In turn, the ONU located closest receives the communication. Finally, the destination wireless client gets the communication delivered with the help of the PON sub network. SWOT Analysis There are a number of internal and external factors as well as features that the FiWi inherently possess, which can be evaluated using the SWOT analysis. The strengths and weaknesses are generally the internal factors whereas the opportunity and threats are the external ones. There are several strengths or advantages that the FiWi offers over traditional networks. First of all, the integration of WMNs and PONs can improve the network throughput considerably, which is not possible in traditional network architectures. Especially in the area of peer to peer wireless client communication, FiWi definitely has the edge. Moreover, the FiWi’s unique wireless-optical-wireless communication mode facilitates a sustained interference in the wireless sub network, which eventually improves the network throughput. Moreover, the FiWi helps the ONUs to modulate signals which are received wirelessly from wireless mesh routers. These signals can easily be demodulated and then wirelessly transmitted to the WMN. Another inherent strength of the FiWi is that the FiWi facilitates the PON sub network to achieve a throughput which is extremely impressive. Lastly, the integration of the WMN’s and PONs in the FiWI greatly reduces the chances of interference on the network throughput, particularly in matters of peer to peer communications from a wireless client to the other. Although there are a number of strengths that FiWi have, there are still a few weaknesses which exists in the architecture. First of all, although the FiWi network and its sub network does have the capability of providing as very high bandwidth, the throughput still gets limited to a great extent by the interferences which the wireless sub network experiences. Especially in a scenario when the network traffic is completely online on the internet, this limitation often arises. Secondly, the PON has the capability to provide about 1.25Gbps EPON, which is a very high bandwidth, although it does not get utilized to the fullest since the FIWi network gets bottlenecked by wireless communication interference. Hence a number of shortcomings still exist for the new FiWi network, although these shortcomings are far outweighed by the advantages which FiWi provides. FiWi intrinsically offers a number of possibilities, owing to its enhanced network architecture which is future ready. These days a number of peer to peer based applications are moving up the popularity charts. Applications such as multimedia communications, VVoIP or Voice and Video over Internet Protocol and internet phone are now being preferred by a growing population of people. FiWi enabled wireless clients would effortlessly allow communications of this sort and other applications as well such as video transmitting and online chats. Some other opportunities that FiWi would bring include reducing the peer to peer communications and therefore helping in rapid development of the multi-hop wireless network. FiWi can also help in the increase of network throughput in the near future by re- routing peer to peer communications. This type of traffic would cause much less interference and thus would help in the development of high quality applications which makes full use of this increased network throughput. In the future, the FiWi enabled increased network throughput would also assist in the increase in the number of gateways. Discussion Businesses today require to always being ahead of the competition. In this age where the knowledge economy rules the roost and information technology serves as a backbone to business communications, it is absolutely imperative for businesses to integrate the communication technologies which gives them an advantage over their rivals, and furthermore aids the business to seamlessly communicate and send volumes of data across all its branches, suppliers or clients. A FiWi enabled network architecture would definitely help a business in faster and better communication and data transfer. Not only that, a business can utilize the latest communication application such as VVoIP to expedite all its communication functions. Businesses often encounter network problems and bottlenecks which can have a detrimental effect on their service delivery. A FiWi network offers the least throughput interference even during heavy traffic, thereby offering the business a smooth communication platform which traditional WMN cannot offer. References Chang-Hee Lee, Wayne V. Sorin, Fiber to the Home Using a PON Infrastructure, JOURNAL OF LIGHTWAVE TECHNOLOGY, Vol. 24, No. 12, Dec. 2006, pp. 4568-4583 M. Alicherry, R. Bhatia, L. Li, Joint Channel Assignment and Routing for Throughput Optimization in Multi-radio Wireless Mesh Networks, ACM MobiCom 2005, pp.58-72. M. Kodialam and T. Nandagopal, Characterizing the Capacity Region in Multi-Radio Multi-Channel Wireless Mesh Networks, ACM MobiCom 2005, pp.73-87. Read More