The book is comprised if Foreword, 28 chapters and three appendences structurally organized into seven parts. In addition, a Bibliography with 23 entries and a comprehensive Index are appended to the end of this book. It is organized as follows:
The Foreword, The Evolution of the Communication Networks: A Historical Overview of Telecommunications is divided into two parts. Part I covers development period of telecommunications industry between 1845 and 1920, while Part II concentrates on technical evolution of the network between 1920 and the present.
Part One, High-Level Overview, composed of Chapters 1 through 3, presents an overview of the telecommunication industry and identifies components of the telephone network. Chapter 1 concentrates on basics of sound, electrical signals, and electromagnetic spectrum. Chapter 2 explains how telephone works and how telephone lines connect to telephone switches. Chapter 3 provides an overview of the telephone networks, and points how to Xconnect the dotsX of the network.
Part Two, Networking Fundamentals, contains Chapter 4 trough 8. It explains at a high level the fundamental concepts associated with communication system. Chapter 4 focuses on the various ways information is transformed, packaged, and readied for transport. Chapter 5 concentrates on OSI seven layer model. Chapter 6 gives more details related to the structure of the three protocols, TCP, UDP, and IP. Chapter 7 concentrates on three most popular Layer 2 protocols: Ethernet, Frame Relay and ATM. Chapter 8 presents physical layer protocols such as TDM protocols X DS-1, DS -3, and SONET.
Part Three, Switching and Routing, includes Chapter 9 trough Chapter 12. The following three themes are considered: a) How voice signals are switched across the network; b) How data information is routed across the network; and c) How signaling protocols are used in order to direct the information signals. Chapter 9 covers a problematic related to the digital circuit switching technique as an approach that establishes a connection through a network. Chapter 10 describes different signaling methods, explains principles of signaling and provides a brief description of new trend in this field. Chapter 11 defines the distributed switching architecture and equipment associated with IP voice as one of the most dramatic change in telephony during the past twenty years. Chapter 12 presents details related to Internet Routing (IP) protocol.
Part Four, Telecommunication Network, contains Chapter 13 through Chapter 17. It focuses on networks that connect all switching and routing devices into a structure used to carry the information. Chapter 13 discusses about the physical attributes of three types of media used in the communication network, copper cables, fiber optic cables, and wireless technologies. Chapter 14 presents the components that make up the physical infrastructure of the communications networks outside plant infrastructure. Chapter 15 defines the elements that make up the core of contemporary telecommunications networks. Chapter 16 describes the principles of operation of Metropolitan Networks, including network architectures, the protocols, and type of equipment. Chapter 17 concentrates on the access network as one of the most complicated portions of the telecom infrastructure. More details about ISDN service, Broadband services, Gigabit and Fast Ethernet services, optical services and others are given.
Part Five, Communication Services Providers, consists of Chapter 18 trough 24. It concentrates on three primary service providers in telecommunications: the telephone company, the cable television providers and wireless providers. Chapter 18 gives an overview of central office services, and explains each of the element found in switch site. Chapter 19 provides an overview of the outside plant network, describing how the outside plant is laid out the equipment used in the outside plant, and the different carriers cabling methods. Chapter 20 deals with variety of networks, equipment and communications methods found at the end users premises. Chapter 21 explains the general principles of operations and possibilities of the cable television as telecommunications service providers. Chapter 22 discuses the structure of cable television network and points how the network handles voice communications. Chapter 23 looks at wireless telephony. Cellular networks and satellite telephony networks are described, and wireless analog cellular network are discussed. Chapter 24 deals with wireless broadband technologies. The most common technologies deployed to carry broadband services across the wireless space, such as 3G and WiFi / WiMAX, are presented.
Part Six, Telecommunications Applications, is comprised of Chapter 25 trough 27. It describes various types of communications applications sold to subscribers by the different service providers. Chapter 25 discus the services the services offered to the residential customers by the PSTN. In Chapter 26 various services offered by telephone companies to business customers are described. In Chapter 27 the Internet functions as a service to all end user are presented.
Part Seven, Emerging Technologies, includes Chapter 28 and three appendences. Chapter 28 concentrates on several areas related to new telecommunications systems equipment and, networks.