SRELS Journal of Information Management

Vol. 41, No.2, June 2004, Paper R. pI79-186.

LIBRARY AND INTERNET: VIA CABLE NETWORK - A

PROPOSE

K.R. Mulla*

This article deals with the INTERNET. Miraculous developments in telecommunication

systems and information technology have created marvels for the new generation i.e.
Internet using a phone line. Internet via phone connections are painfully slow, especially
when downloading photographs, graphics, or video images and large files. The cable
modem technology for the Internet provides an 'always on' feature for individuals to
access the Internet rapidly, while its digital broadband network technology allows user
to move around quickly.
KEYWORDSIDESCRIPTORS: Internet, Cable modem, Cable network, Broad band
network

1 INTRODUCTION

The technological revolution and the emergence of efficient communication

tools together have created diverse channels for access and efficient disseIl)ination
of information. The impact of global communication technology has· rapidly
changed, while satellite technology may supplement to library and learning in a
big way, the access of information system through INTERNET, NICNET and
INFLIBNET will keep at the researcher a vast gamut of information facilitating
an easy hitting upon the probable options that can open vistas of wonders. The
computer, telephone and cable television network link up has created a novel
media and existing trend in information usage. This link up has made possible for
the user to have direct access and wide option to choose from, be it for
information or entertainment.
This network is all-pervasive and has invited all walks of life- domestic,
educational, official and the commercial sectors. With a mobile phone and a
laptop computer the interaction is made portable now. The corporate world has
grabbed this golden opportunity and has gone in for options unthinkable from the
conventional setup, such as the merging of telephone company with the cable
television company.

* Librarian, H.K.B.K. College of Engineering, Nagawara, Bangalore 45, INDIA. Ph:.544-

1722/ ::n::n /1744 T.ih Ex-1m FilX No. ORO-:1441R 11. Emili1: infoCWhkhkerhlciltion.com

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 Mulla

The librarians have to take advantage and adapt fast to this new technological
trend if they want to be more effective in serving the user community. A library
that ignores these pressures will become obsolete and miss the opportunity to be
the vehicle of change and development of the community it serves.

2 ACCESS ON INTERNET

We are all quite familiar with the Internet browsing via fax modem through
dial-up. The Internet is accessed using a telephone line as the transmission media.
The analogue telephone lines originally meant for voice transmission now carries
data but at very low speeds. The basic disadvantages of this method are the
occupation of the telephone line while the Internet is being accessed, and the
telephone bill, in addition to the fees for Internet account, which can touch the
roof! The disconnections and redialing required quite often during the browsing,
is distressing more so when the connection gets cut while you are downloading
important information or large files. Whereas broadband access technologies
enable data transfer at high speeds. Therefore, any medium or technology that
allows data transfer speeds of more than 64kbps can be called as broadband
technology. The medium can carry numerous voice, video and data channels
simultaneously since each channel takes up a different frequency and there is no
interference with one another. A co-axial cable TV is a classic example of
broadband technology as it can broadcast several channels simultaneously, but
only in one direction. The same technology principles are now applied for
delivering rich multimedia content in two-way direction.

3 CABLE NETWORK (BROADBAND NETWORK TECHNOLOGY)

.For access of Internet through the cable network you need a cable modem
instead of a telephone modem. The cable modem is however, not just a modem,
its encryption and security features are in-built and user can also access television
channels simultaneously through the cable connection, optionally, as shown in
figures 1 and 2.

A cable modem is a device that allows high-speed access to the Internet via
cable TV network. It typically has two connections, one to the cable wall outlet
and the other to a computer and TV through a splitter. With cable TV network and
cable modem, the Internet on cable allows consumers to keep their lines free.

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 Library and Internet: Via Cable Network - A Propose

I
TELEVISION
TTER COMPlITER
TV Cable
I I
MODEM

Fig. 1: Single-user premise equipment configuration

s
P
L
I TELEVISION
T
lVCable MODEM T
E
R

COMPUTER COMPUTER

(Up to 16 pes with current software configuration)

Fig. 2: Multi-user premise equipment configuration

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Using a phone line, connections are painfully slow, especially when

downloading photographs, graphics, or video images. The cable modem
technology for the Internet provides an always-on feature for individuals to access
the Internet rapidly, while its broadband network allows user to move around
quickly. One gets unlimited time of surfing at a very high speed. As a result,
information providers are able to offer better-quality content as more consumers
gain higher-speed access to the Internet.

4 COMPARISONS

The revolution of digital technology and evolution of cable TV network

(broad band technology) helps to access Internet, the cable modem's speed
varying widely. In the downstream direction from network to the computer,
speeds can be any where up to 36Mbps. Few computers will be capable of
connecting at such high speeds; a more realistic number for computers is 3 to
lOMbps<.In the upstream direction from computer to network, speed can be up to
lOMbps. However, most modem producers will probably select a more optimum
speed between 200kbps and 2Mbps. for instance, a file that takes eight minutes to
download over a 28.8kbps modem connection would take two minutes to
download on ISDN, compared to eight seconds via cable modem.

Once broadband technology becomes available to large sections of the

society, a whole range of applications will become possible to consumers. There
will be high-speed Internet access, real time video conferencing, video streaming,
music downloads, interactive television, online education and remote classroom
distance learning, online shopping, video-on-demand, online games and tele-
working. Broadband technologies can deliver information faster and because of
the efficient and use of the communication pipes, more number of users can be
connected to the Internet without affecting the speed of downloading or uploading
data. Typically, in an academic business environmerit, this helps to boost
employee efficiency, increase their productivity and reduc~ cost.

In the cable modem development an asymmetric setup will probably be more

common than a symmetric setup. In an asymmetric scheme, the downstream
channel has a much higher bandwidth allocation, faster data rate than the
upstream. Qne reason is that the current Internet applications tend to be
asymmetric in nat~lfe. Activities such as web navigation and news group reading
send much more data down to the computer than to the network. Mouse clicks

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Library and Internet: Via Cable Network - A Propose

(URL requests) and e-mail messages are not bandwidth-intensive in the upstream
direction. Image files and streaming media i.e. audio-video are very bandwidth-
intensive in the downstream direction. Hence, using cable modem is much
beneficial than the telephone dial-up-modem.

A cable modem can be part modem, part tuner, part encryption or decryption
device, part bridge, part router, part network interface card, part simple network
management protocol agent and part Ethernet hub. Typically a cable modem
sends and receives data in two slightly different fashions. In the downstream
direction, the digital data is modulated and then placed on a typical television
carrier. The signal can be placed in 6MHz channels adjacent to TV signals on
either side, without disturbing the cable television video signals.

5 NETWORK SETUP

A· propose typical cable network is shown in figure 3. It consists of Internet

backbone connectivity from internal service protocol. It then goes to the router
and to the switch. The switch connects to the server as well as the cable modem
termination system (CMTS). The CMTS output goes to the up converter before
finally being fed in to the cable network. Information will reach your doorstep,
which is a great extended development of satellite technology and communication
technology to help develop and design such type of networks to save the wealth of
nation and its potential to parental organization to adopt such a technology. The
kind of technology has been already. existing in the US and UK for the last few
years.

There are several methods for computer connection, but Ethernet 10 Base T is
emerging as the most predominant method. Although it probably would be
cheaper to produce the cable modem as an internal card for the computer, this
would require different printed-circuit cards for different kinds of computers, and
additionally would' make the demarcation be'tween cable network and the
customer's computer too fuzzy (Fig. 3).

6 SERVICES

The emergence of communication technology and information technology

lead to electronic library with the help of INTERNET, and expert systems
development and a widespread use of information networks for the dissemination

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 Mulla

INTERNET

COMPUTER PREMISES
CABLE HEADEND
RF UP-Converter S

_10
System E
R
V
E
A OCT R
Cable Modem

Combiner TERMINATION SYSTEM

000011 011100011
1110000

S
E
R
V
E
AUTH R
INTERNET

Fig. 3: A Propose typical network using cable for Internet access

and interactive use of information covering every facet of human life will become
the order of the day. The vision and legacy of Dr. S.R. Ranganathan will continue
to be an inspiration and a guiding star for the emergence of the new library and
information profession. To keep abreast and to lead the information revolution of
the new millennium, the profession should strive for a dynamic approach in
training and development with a new spectrum of specializations. These are
essential to scenarios in information systems and related technologies; including
development of cable TV network and more techniques to meet the emerging user
needs.

184 SRELS il. Info. Manage.

Library and Internet: Via Cable Network - A Propose

In this network the most popular serVIce undoubtedly is the high-speed

Internet access. This enables a typical array of Internet services at speeds
hundreds of times faster than with a telephone. Other services offered may
include access to streaming audio and video servers, local content (community
information and services), and CD-ROM servers. New services and ideas are born
daily. The Internet on cable will offer high-speed interactive content to homes and
workplaces over coaxial distribution architecture. The network provides the high -
sj?eed ca.\)\e modem:, 1L\-na\lIS a da)l, \In\lmlteu access to tne intemet~ e-mail ana
chat; a Netscape navigator browser; and an internet guide featuring local and
world-wide content cable modems enable data connections with much higher
speeds than ISDN. ISDN transmits and receives at speeds of 64 kbps and 128
kbps. Cable modems will be able to receive data at up to 10Mbps and send it at
. speeds up to 2 Mbps (in some cases up to 10 Mbps). Other benefits include local
customer care, no need for additional phone line, always-on facility, and unique
local and national content.

7 CONCLUSION

Internet accessing via cable network with help of broadband technology have
opened up a new realm of information access, storage, and deli very of
information for librarians and information professionals. qbraries are striving to
respond to the pervasive and persistent growth of global networking and manage
the demand for access to this dynamic medium. Working in the trenches of the
networking revolution, librarians and information professionals are beginning to
offer Internet services to their patrons; their work marks the beginning of the
grassroots implementation of the electronic library.

The Internet is accessed mainly using a telephone line as the transmission

media. The basic disadvantages of this method are the occupation of the telephone
line while the Internet is being accessed, and the telephone bill, in addition to the
fees for Internet account, which can be highly expensive. Access of Internet via
cable television network offers very high speed without traffic jam and with less
cost. This technology is feasible if certain basic requirements are met which
includes two way cable network and better-quality cables.

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REFERENCE FOR FURTHER READING

1. Roddy Dennis. Satellite Communications. 2nd Ed. New York, McGraw Hill 1996.
2. David Garrett; et al. Internet Unleashed, 1st Ed. New Delhi Techmedia. 1998.
3. Gulati (R R). Colour Television: Principles & Practice. New Delhi, New Age International
(P) Limited, 1998.
4. Grab Bernard; Herndon Charles (E). Basic Television and Video Systems. 6th Ed. New York
McGraw-Hill, 1999.
5. Ha Tri (T). Digital Satellite ConulIunications. 2nd Ed. New York. McGraw Hill Publishing
Company, 1999.
6. Brian; Keith. Internet with Web PagelWeb Site Design Bible. 2nd Ed. New Delhi. lOG Books
India (P) Ltd., 2000.
7. Minoli Daniel. Internet and Tnranet Engineering, New Delhi. Tata McGraw-Hill Publishing
Com. Ltd., 2000.
8. Gulati (R R). Monochrome and Colour Television, New Delhi. New Age International (P)
Limited, 2000.
9. Young (Margaret Levine). Internet The Complete Reference. Millennium Edition. New Delhi,
Tata McGraw-Hill Publishing Com. Ltd., 2000.
10. Pratt Timothy; Bostian, Charles (W). Satellite Communications. New York. John Wiley &
Sons, 2001.
11. Richharia (M). Satellite Communication Systems-Design Principles. 2nd Ed. London.
Macmillan, 2001.
12. www.electronicsforu.com
13. www.deccanherald.com
14. www.racal.com/networking
15. www.irn-telecom.net
16. www.wirelessnetworkmagazine.com
17. www.practicallynetworked.com/support/cable_network_sccurc.htm
18. www.yahoo search engine
19. www.google search engine

Sarada Ranganathan Endowment Lectures

9-11 August 2004

Natural Language Processing in Information Storage and Retrieval

by Prof. K. Narayana Murthy

Dept. of Computer and Information Sciences, University of Hyderabad, Hyderabad

at Sarada Ranganathan Endowment for Library Science

702, . Upstairs', 42nd Cross, III Block, Rajajinagar, Bangalore 560 010
Time: 18.00 hrs.

186 SRELS Jl. Info. Manage.