Multiplexing

Multiplexing is the set of techniques that allows the simultaneous transmission of multiple signals
across a single data link.In a multiplexing system, n devices share the capacity of data link.

The four lines (devices) on the left direct their transmission streams to a multiple (MUX). Which
combines them into a single stream (many to one).

At the receiving end, that stream is fed into a demultiplexer (DEMUX). which separately the stream
back into its component transmissions (one to many) and directs them to their intended receiving
devices.

The word channel refers to a portion of a path that carries a transmission between a given pair of
devices. One path can have many (n) channels.

Signals are multiplexed using the following basic techniques. Those are

1.Frequency-division multiplexing (FDM)

2.Time – division multiplexing (TDM)

1.Frequency- division multiplexing (FDM)

It is an analog technique that can be applied when the bandwidth of a link is greater than
the combined bandwidths of the signals to be transmitted. In FDM signals generated by
each sending device modulate different carrier frequencies.

These modulated signals are then combined into a single composite signal that can be
transported by the link. The carrier frequencies are separated by the enough bandwidth to
accommodate the modulated signal. Channels must be separated by strips of unused
bandwidths (Guard bands) to prevent signals from overlapping.

The above figure is a conceptual time-domain illustration of the multiplexing process. FDM is
an analog process and we show it here using telephones as the input and output devices.
Each telephone generates a signal of a similar frequency range.

Inside the multiplexer, these similar signals are modulated on to different carrier
frequencies (f1,f2 & f3).The resulting modulated signals are then combine into a composite
signal that is sent out over a media link that has enough bandwidth to accommodate it.

Demultiplexing:- The Demultiplexer uses a series of filters to decompose the multiplexer

signal into it’s constituent component signals. The individual signals are then passed to a
demodulator that separates them from carrier and passes to the waiting receivers.
2. Time-division multiplexing (TDM)
TDM is a digital process that can be applied when the data rate capacity of the transmission
medium is greater than the data rate required by the sending and receiving devices.

In such a case, multiple transmissions can occupy a single link by subdividing them and
interleaving the portions The next figure gives a conceptual view of TDM. The link is shown
sectioned by time rather than frequency. The portions of signals 1,2,3 and 4 occupy the link
sequentially.

a. Synchronous TDM:
Time slots are grouped into frames. A frame consists of one complete cycle of time slots,
including one or more slots dedicated to each sending device. If the number of inputs are 5,
then the number of slots in each frame is 5.
Interleaving:- Synchronous TDM can be compared to a very fast rotating switch. As the
switch opens in front of a device that devices has the opportunity to send a specified
amount (x bits) of data onto the path.

The switch moves from device to device at a constant rate and in a fixed order. This process
is called interleaving.

The above two figures also point out the major weakness of synchronous TDM. By assigning
each time slot to a specific input line, we end up with empty slots unevenness not all the
lines are active.

b.Asynchronous TDM:

Synchronous TDM does not guarantee that the full capacity of a link is used. ATDM or
statistical time-division multiplexing is designed to avoid the disadvantage of STDM.
Asynchronous TDM allows a number of lower-speed input lines to be multiplexed to a
signals higher-speed line.

In this the total speed of the input lines to be multiplexed to a signals higher-speed line. In
this the total speed of time input lines can be greater than the capacity of the path.

If we have n input lines, the frame contains no more than m slots with m less than n.
Example: