THE INTERNET BACKGROUND
This Chapter examines the internet and World Wide Web of Today and tomorrow, how it evolved, how it works, and how the present and futures infrastructure of the Internet and the web enables new business opportunities.
3.1 THE INTERNET : TECHNOLOGY BACKROUND
The word Internet is derived from the word internetwork of the connecting together of two or more connecting together of two or more computer networks. So, internet is an interconnected network of thousands of network and millions of computers linking business, educational institutions, government agencies, and individuals together.
World Wide Web (Web) is one of the Internets most popular service, providing acces to over 6 billion Web Pages, which are documents created in aprograming language called HTML and that can contain text, graphic, audio video, and other object, as well as “hyperlinks” that permit users to jump easily from one page another.
THE EVOLUTON OF THE INTERNET 1961-2003
The Invation Phase, from 1975 to 1995, large institutions such as Departement of Defense and the National Science Foundation provided funding and legitimization for the fledging invention called the internet. Once the concept of the internet had been proven in several government-supported demonstration project then called ARPANET (Advance Reserch Project Agency Network). In 1986 , the National Science Foundation assumed responsibility for the development of the civilian Internet (then called NSFNet). In the third phase, the Commercialization Phase, from 1995 on the present government agencies encouraged private corporations to take over and expand both the Internet backbone and local services to ordinary citizens-families and individuals across Amerika and the world who were not students on campuses. By 2000, the internet’s use had expanded well beyond military installations and research universities.
THE INTERNET : KEY TECHNOLOGY CONCEPT
Three extremely important concept that are the basis for understanding the internet :
1. Packet Switching
A method of slicing digital message into packets, sending the packets along different communication pats as they become available, and then ressembling the packet once they arrive at their destiitation.
2. TCP / IP
Transmission Control Protocol (TCP) is protocol that established the connections among sending and receiving Web computers, handles, the assembly of packets at the point of transmission, and their reassembly at the receiving end. Internet Protocol (IP) that provides the Internets addressing scheme. Protocol a set of rules for formatting, ordering, compressing, and error checking messages. IP Adress is internetadresses expressed as 32-bit numbers that appear as a series of four separate numbers marked off by period. IP address can be represented by natural language convention called domain names. The Domain Name System (DNS) allows expressions to stand for numeric IP address. Uniform Resource Locations (URLs), which are the addresses used by Web browsers to identify the location of content on the web, also use domain names as part of the URL.
3. Client / Server Computing
A model of computing in which very powerful personal computers are connected in a network together with one or more servers. Client a vary powerful personal computer that is part of a network. They are capable of displaying rich graphics, storing large files, and processing graphics and sound files. Sever is networked computer dedicated to common functions that the client computers on the network need, such as storing files, software applications, utility program such as Web connection, and printers.
OTHER INTERNET PROTOCOLS AND UTILITY PROGRAMS
There many other Internet protocols that provide services to users in the form of Internet applications that run on Internet client and servers.
A. HTTP (Hyper Text Transfer Protocols)
The internet protocols used for transferring Web Pages
B. SMTP (Simple Mail Transfer Protocols)
The internet protocol used to send mail to server
C. PDP (Post Office Protocol)
A protocol used by the client to retrieve mail from an Internet Server.
D. IMAP (Internet Message Acces Protocol)
A more current email protocol that allows users to search, organize, and filter their mail prior to downloading it form the server.
E. FTP (File Transfer Protocol)
One of the original Internet services. Part of the TCP/IIP protocol that permits users to transfer file from the server to their client computer, and vice versa.
F. SSL (Source Sockets Layer)
A Protocol that secures communications between the client and the server
G. Talnet
A terminal emulation program that runs in TCP/IP
H. Finger
A utility program supported by UNIX computers that tells who is logged in, how long they have been attacted, and their user name.
I. Ping
A program that allows you to check the connection between your client and the server
J. Tracert
One of several route tracing utilities that allow you to follow the path of a message you send from your client to a remote computer on the internet
3.2 THE INTERNET TODAY
The internet can be viewed conceptually as having four layers :
1. The Network technology substrate. The Network Teknology layer is composed of telecommunications networks and protocols.
2. Transport services and representation standards. The Transport layer houses the TCP / IP protocol.
3. Middleware services. Middleware is the glue that ties the applications to the communications networks, and includes such services as security, authentication, addresses, and storage repositories.
4. And applications
The network layers is described below :
a. THE INTERNET BACKBONE
The main physical elements of today’s internet. The internets backbone is formed by Network Service Providers (NSPs), which own and control the major networks composing the Internets backbone. Bandwidth meansure how much data can be transferred over a comunications medium within a fixed periode of time, and is usually expressed in bits per second (Bps), kilo bits per second (Kbps), Mega bits per secons (Mbps), or Giga bits per second (Gbps).
b. NETWORKS ACCESS POINT (NAP)
One of the hubs where the backbone intersect One of the hubs where the backbone intersect with regional and local networks, and where the backbone owners connect with one another.
c. METROPOLITAN AREA EXCHANGES (MAEs)
Another name for one of the hubs where the backbone intersect with regional and local networks, and where the backbone owners connect with one another.
d. CAMPUS AREA NETWORKS (CANS)
Generally local area networks operating within a single organization that leases access to the Web directly form regional and national carriers.
e. INTERNET SERVICE PROVIDER (ISP)
Firm that provides the lowest level of service in the multi-tiered Internet architecture by leasing Internet access to home owners, small busineses, and some large institutions. There are two types of ISP service : narrowband and broadband. Narrowband service is the traditional telephone modem connection now operating at 56.6Kbps. Broadband refers to any communication technology that permits clients to play streaming audio and video files at acceptable speeds-generally anything above 100 Kbps.
f. INTRANETS AND EXTRANETS
Intranet a TCP / IP network located within a single organization for purposes of communications and information processing. Extranet formed when firms permit outsiders to access their internal TCP / IIP networks.
WHO GOVERNS THE INTERNET?
Among a governing bodies of the internet are :
1. The internets Archotecture Board (IAB)
Help define the overall structure of the internet
2. IP Addresses, and the internet Network Information Center (InterNIC)
Assigns domain names
3. The Internet Engineering Steering Group (IESG)
Oversees standard setting with respect to the internet
4. Agancies and non ptofit organization that monitors Internet policies and practices
5. The World Wide Web Consortium (W3C)
Sets HTML and other programming standards for the web.
3.3 INTERNET II : THE FUTURES INFRASTRUCTURE
LIMITATIONS OF INTERNET I
Much of the internet’s current infrastructure is several decades old (equivalent to a century in Internet Tome). It suffers from a number of limitations, including :
1. Bandwidth Limitations.
2. Quality of services limitations
3. Network Architecture Limitations
4. Language Development Limitations
5. Wired Internet
THE INTERNET2 PROJECT
Internet2 ia a consortium of more than 200 universities, government agencies, and private business tht are collaborating to find ways to make the internet more efficient.
The three primary goals of Internet2 are to :
1. Create a leading-edge very high-speed network capability for the national research community
2. Enable revolutionary Internet applications, and
3. Ensure the rapid transfer of new network services and applications to the broader internet community
Some of the areas Internet2 participants are focusing on in this persuit are :
1. Advaanced Network Infrastructure
The advanced networks creted and in use by Internet2 members provide the environment in which new technologies can be tested and enhanced.
2. New Networking Capabilities
Internet2 is identifying developing, and testing new networking services and technologies to provide the relation performance advanced applications require.
3. Middleware
Internet2 is developing new middleware capabilities. Reseraches are developing standardized middleware that incorporates identification, authentication, authorization, directory, and security services that today are often handled as a apart or applications running on the internet.
4. Advanced Applications
Internet2 work teams are collaborating on a number of advanced applications, including distributed computation, virtual laboratpries, digital libraries, distributing learning, tele-immersion, and syntehesis of all of these working in combination.
THE LARGER INTERNET II TECHNOLOGY ENVIRONMENT : THE FIRST MILE AND THE LAST MILE
The federal Government recently concluded the NGI (Next Generation Internet) project, which focused on developing advanced applications and networking capabilities needed by US government agencies.
The most significant privately initiated changes are coming in two areas :
1. Fiber Optics trunk lines bandwidth and wireless internet services Fiber optics is concerned with the first mile or backbone Internet services that carry bulk traffic long distances.
2. Wireless Internet is concerned with the last mile-from the larger Internet to the user’s cell phone or laptop.
BENEFITS OF INTERNET II TECHNOLOGIES
SERVICES | DESCRIPTION |
HORIZONTAL MARKET SERVICES | Service that apply across industries and firms |
Personalized Information | Stock value, news, quotes based on user profiles and needs |
Localized Content | Maps, hotel finders, movie location and times, and restaurant reviews |
Convenience Services | Photos, short movie, easy to use menus |
Banking Services | Balance checking, money transfer, bill payment, overdraft alerts |
Financial Services | Trading, stock alerts, interest rates based on user account information |
VERTICAL MARKET SERVICES | Services that apply within a firm or industry |
Sales Support | Stock and production information, remote orders, calendars and planning information |
Reservation Systems | Coordination of sales with inventory |
Dispatching | Communication of job details, parts information, repair routines |
Fleet Management | Control of fleet delivery or services staff ; monitoring locations and work schedule |
Parcel Delivery | Tracing of packages, queries, and performance monitoring |
3.4 THE WORLD WIDE WEB
DEVELOPMENT OF THE WEB
· Mosaic : Web rowser with a graphical user interface (GUI) that made it possible to view documents on the web graphically
· Universal Computing : The sharing of files, information, graphics, sound, video, and other objects across all computer platforms in the world, regardless of operating system
· Netscape Navigator : the first commercial Web browser
· Internet Explorer 9IE) : Microsoft’s web browser
MARKUP LANGUAGES
1. Standard Generalized Markup Language (SGML)
An early version of Generalized Markup Language (GML)
2. Hyper Text Markup Languages (HTML)
One of the next generation of GMLs that is relatively easy to use in Web page design.
3. eXtensible Markup Language (XML)
A new markup language specification developed by the W3C (the World Wide Web Consortium) that is designed to describe data and information
WEB SERVERS AND CLIENTS
Web server services is software that enables a computer to deliver Web pages written in HTML to client computers on a network that request this services by sending an HTTP request.
Aside from responding to request for Web pages, all Web services provide some additional basic capabilities such as the following :
1. Security Services
These consist mainly of authentication services that verify that the person trying to access the site is authorizrd to do so.
2. File transfer Protocol (FTP)
This protocol allows users to transfer files to and from the servers
3. Search Engine
When conducting a serach, a search engine makes use of an index, which is alist of all the documents on the servers
4. Data Capture
Web servers are also helpful at monitoring site traffic, capturing information on who has visited a ite, how long the user stayed there, the date and time of each visit, and which specific pages on the server were accessed.
3.5 THE INTERNET AND THE WEB : FEATURE
The internet and the web have spawned a number of powerful new software applications uon which the foundations of e-commerce are built.
· ELECTRONIC MAIL (EMAIL)
The most used application of the internet. Uses a series of protocols to enable message containing text, images, sound, and video clips to be transferred from one Internet user to another.
· INSTANT MESSAGING (IM)
Displays words typed on a computer almost instantaneously. Recipiens can then respond immediately to the sender the same way, making the communication more like a live conversation than is possible through e-mail.
· SEARCH ENGINES
Identifies Web pages that appear to match keywords, also called queries, typed by the user and provides a list of the best matces.
· INTELLEGENT AGENTS (BOTS)
Software programs, that gather and/or filter information, on a specific topic and then provide a list of result for the user.
· CHAT
Enables users to communicate via computer in real time, that is, simultaneously. Unlike IM, chat can occur among several users.
· MUSIC, VIDEO, AND OTHER STANDARD FILES
· STREAMING MEDIA
Enables music, video, and other large files to be sent to users in chunks so that when received and played, the file comes through uninterrupted
· COOKIES
Tools used by Websites to store information about user. When a visitor enters a Web Site, the site sends a small text file (the cookie) to user’s computer so that information from the site can be loaded more quickly n futures visits. The cookie can contain any information desired by the site designers.
INTERNET II AND E-COMMERCE : EMERGING FEATURES AND SERVICES
The internet II infrastructure will permit the rapid deployment of new services and greatly expand e-commerce opportunities. New technologies, increased bandwidth, and grater reliance on the internet for communications will create new e-commerce product and services opportunities and potentially replace exiting modes of communication. Telephone communication is one area destined for change.
· IP TELEPHONY
A general term for the technologies that use VOIP and the Internet’s packet-switched network to transmit voice and other forms of audio communication over the internet. Voice Over Internet Protocol (VOIP) is protocol that allows for transmission of voice and other forms of audio communication over the internet.
· DIGITAL LIBRARIES
As bandwidth capabilities of the internet increase, distribution of software applications by Application Services Providers (ASPs) over the Internet is also expected to increase.
· DISTRIBUTION STORAGE
APSs can assist both in processing data and in strong it, dispersing it to multiple servers rather that having it reside on one.
· DISTANCE LEARNING
Perhaps one of the biggest educational initiatives in recent years, the distance learning opportunity has pushed school, college, and universities worldwide to make cources and whole degree programs available online.
· DIGITAL VIDEO
Digital video demand is considered by many to be the “killer app” for inyernet II. New video, audio and presentation approaches could dramatically change the nature of the media and news business.
· VIDEO TELECONFERENCING
Internet II will significantly reduce cost, making affordable for most workers to use video conferencing to share information that involves either an image or audio component.
· TELE-IMMERSION
One of the newest services to come onto the market will be teleimmersion, a merger of virtual reality and video conferencing, where participant can see each other and collaborate on visual project.
· M-COMMERCE APPLICATIONS
Combining voice, data, images, audio, and video on one wireless device will become possible during Internet II.