Comparative Telecommunications Law

Spring, 2007Prof. Karl Manheim

14: Internet I (Tech Basics)

Copyright © 2007

Spring, 2007 CTL2

What is the InternetAn InterNetwork A global connection of public networks

Consisting of hardware, transmission, other layers

predominant vehicle for telecommunication carrying ~ 10 exabytes of information annually <

link> Exa = 1 quintillion (10^18 or 2^60) 1,000,000,000,000,000,000 bytes (~ words)

Compare all human communication (1999) ~ 12 exabytes How the Internet works <article>

Spring, 2007 CTL3

What is the InternetInterconnection requires standards Who should set them? If not by gov’t, how is interoperability assured?

Voluntary adoption by networks (“buy-in”) New standards by IETF (private org)

Internet protocols (standards) IP : datagrams/packets (info blocks) TCP : transmission/routing protocols

End-to-end principle The Internet runs on TCP/IP

Spring, 2007 CTL8

U.S. Backbone Connectivity

Spring, 2007 CTL11

The Layers of the InternetHardware: Physical Devices & ConnectionsTransmission modality: MethodTransmission protocols: LanguageAddressing: Delivery InstructionsApplications: Particular Services (& their code)Data: Usable Information

Spring, 2007 CTL12

The Layers of the InternetData: Usable InformationApplications: Particular ServicesAddressing: Delivery InstructionsTransmission protocols: LanguageTransmission modality: MethodHardware: Physical Devices

Spring, 2007 CTL13

Internet HardwareComputers & other processing devices Including storage devices (e.g., raid arrays)Wire “Backbone” (mostly fiber & radio) Increasingly wireless The “Inter-network” Currently, mostly owned by major telcosSwitches (routing devices) Compare automobile traffic

Spring, 2007 CTL14

Transmission ModalityDigital transmission Binary digits, 0 and 1

That’s what modern computers use To put data on an analog tel network, you need a ModulatorDemodulator

Packet Switching Discrete length Packets of binary information Routing

Each packet sent/routed/received independently Redundancy, robustness

Compare “circuit switching” for telephony

Spring, 2007 CTL15

Transmission ProtocolLanguage of the Internet Sender and receiver both know binary digits

and packets, but must code/decode the sameMust be device independent (cross-platform)Must be human language independentMust be application independent

TCP/IP IP (Internet Protocol)

communicable rules for packetsTCP (Transmission Control Protocol)

sequencing & error checking (assure packets are readable) assuring “end-to-end” connections and reliability

Everything that goes over the Internet uses TCP/IP

Spring, 2007 CTL16

TCP/IP Packets

source

Spring, 2007 CTL17

AddressingIP Addresses <tutorial> 137.204.190.254

4 numbers (quartet), 2 base 8 (0-255) Network address Specific computer address

www.lls.edu Universal Resource Locator (URL) [web address] Top Level Domain (ccTLD) Second Level Domain (SLD) [network address] Computer address

Domain Name Servers

translate IP numbers into

URLs

Spring, 2007 CTL18

Comparing IP Numbers with PSTN

157.242.136.220 157: Region

Regional Internet Registry (RIR) Am. Registry for Inet Nos.

242: National/Local NIR or LIR (mostly Asia)

136: Internet Service Provider

220: Computer/Inet device DHCP? Further addressing

Static or dynamic

1.213.736.1000 1: Country code

US/Canada/Caribbean China (86)

213: Area (city) code Beijing (10)

736: Exchange 1000: Number

Extension? Further addressing

Static

Spring, 2007 CTL19

Comparing IP Numbers with PSTN

157.242.136.220 Translated by DNS

www.lls.eduGo to “root server”

Where do I find edu directoryGo to edu directory

What is the main IP number for lls.edu?

Go to lls.edu (157.242.136.220) What is the IP number for

Prof. Manheim’s computer?Go to Manheim’s computer

1.213.736.1000 Translated by Phone Book

Loyola Law School (LA)Go to national directory

Where do I find LA bookGo to LA book

What is the main phone number for Loyola Law Sch

Go to LLS (1.213.736.1000) What is the phone number

for Prof. Manheim’s officeGo to Manheim’s phone

Spring, 2007 CTL20

Domain Name System (DNS)

Root Server contains IP #s of all TLD serversTLD Server contains IP #s of all SLD servers (for that TLD)SLD Server contains IP #s of all 3LDs (or Internet devices)

www.lls.eduTLD (top level domain name)

SLD (second level domain name)3LD (3d level d. name or computer/internet device)

Spring, 2007 CTL21

Types of Top Level DomainsgTLD (generic) .com, .net, .org, .name, .biz, .info, .xxx, .e

u .edu, .gov, .milccTLD (country code) .us, .uk, .cniTLD (international) .int (limited to treaty organizations – UN.

int)

Spring, 2007 CTL22

Root Servers

Spring, 2007 CTL23

Internet ApplicationsWorld Wide Web Graphical User Interface (GUI)

Graphical depiction and formatting of data Code: Hyper Text Markup Language (HTML)

Alt. Codes: XML, Java, Flash, WAPEmail Text transport (Client-Server-Inet-Server-Client) Code: Simple Mail Transport Protocol (SMTP)

Alt. Codes: MIME, HTMLOther: FTP, Skype, File sharing, ATMs, etc.

Spring, 2007 CTL24

DataAnything that can be digitized Text Images Sound Video Genetic information

Spring, 2007 CTL25

Putting it all together - Layers

Used by Internet HTTP, SMTP, FTP MIME, ASCII N/A (session timing) TCP IP Ethernet, 802.11 Cables, hubs, wires

Spring, 2007 CTL26

Who Owns ItThere is no “it,” only components distributed system w/o centralized control compare ownership of spectrum

scarcity vs ubiquityComponents are privately owned computers, network components, lines users may have to pay for use of componentsInformation on the internet may be “owned” (as in intellectual property) or in the public domain (not owned, or “open”)