Includes index.

Part 1 Introduction: background; uses of computer communications; physical connection; how computers talk amongst themselves. Part 2 Time: agreement on time periods; implementation of complex time periods; chapter summary; exercise. Part 3 Temporal packages: datagrams; simple handshake; virtual circuits; chapter summary; exercises. Part 4 Space: agreement on spaces; implementation of complex spaces; chapter summary; exercises. Part 5 Message broadcasting networks: multi-broadcast channel implementation; communication multiplexing examples of guided technology networks; unguided technology networks; chapter summary; exercises. Part 6 Message switching networks: channel implementation; communication multiplexing; examples of low-level switching implementations; examples of public switching network services; example of a high-level switching implementation; chapter summary; exercises. Part 7 Inter-networks: inter-network switching; examples of inter-network implementations; chapter summary; exercises. Part 8 Case study 1: accessing the World Wide Web. Part 9 Case study 2: driving a manufacturing device. Part 10 Case study 3: video conferencing. Part 11 Standardization: standard bodies; reference model for open systems interconnection; Internet standards; ITU-T standards; IEEE standards; propriety standards; the impact of standardization.

A main course text for courses or modules on computer communications, this text takes an approach that looks at computing communications in terms of principles (information, time and networks). It includes three major case studies and covers current issues such as B-ISDN and ATM.