1

Estimate, to the nearest millisecond, the time taken for a data packet to travel from the second PC from the back in lab LB43 (Craiglockhart Campus, Napier) to the central square in Milan, Italy. Where are the likely slow points, and where are errors likely to occur?

Note that there is no need to show any working out, or mathematical formulas, as a single number will do. Assume that it is 9:15pm on a rainy Tuesday in April, and that someone has just crashed a computer in a lab adjacent to LB43 (Hint: It is more than 10ms, and less than 10 seconds).   (25)

Q1 3.1415926

2

(a)

Show, using illustrations (with good use of colour), how data packet travel from a council estate in Coatbridge to Stonybridge. How does this differ from data packets which originate from Wishaw? From Coatbridge, how might the traffic vary to the Glasgow Celtic WWW and the Glasgow Rangers WWW sites? Which is likely to be greater?   (15)

(b)

Describe, in great detail, how Class X IP addresses are used to access WWW sites which have objectionable content. Give examples of these domains which you have accessed, giving exact times and their content. Where on your computer might these files be stored, and why are the data packets invisible to the Internet? [10]

(a) Data packets would travel by the following method: Packet would be wrapped in green white and gold paper and deposited into Postman Pats van; being a Mason, true of heart he would then add red, white and blue coloured paper prior to final delivery. Data packets that originate in Wishaw do not require additional red, white and blue paper to be added however a check is made at this point to ensure all the packets are stamped with the Red Hand of Ulster Insignia. WWW traffic to the RFC web site would be non existent from Coatbridge however many users from Coatbridge complain about being unable to connect to CFC web site due to net congestion.

(b) Examples of objectionable content web sites we have visited:

www.soc.napier.ac.uk/~bill
www.rfc.co.uk
www.cfc.co.uk
www.naughty.com
www.dirtyburds.com
www.hairy-killie-pies.com

These files should be kept on floppy disk in case your PC is sent off for repair and the techy bloke looks at your temp internet files directory or history folder, then your caught my man!! Also casual use by the missus of your kit may result in a random access of your favs folder and this may lead to permanent disconnection.

3

(a)

Explain the technology that allows gigabit per second speeds down a standard piece of door bell cable. How is it possible to transmit data, and also front door bell signals, along the same cable?

Carefully explain how the door bell signals could be decoded by any host on the Internet, and then how these could be used to open the door (Note: do not use the example of a person actually getting up to go to the door). Also, what happens when the user uses the wrong voltage rating for the front door bell battery? [12]

(b)

Show how it is possible to avoid network collision in Ethernet with users waving flags when they are about to send data. How is priority of transmission built into this system, and how is it difficult for a user to predict when they are about to receive data. Also, how might different coloured flags be used? Finally, if different coloured t-shirts are used instead, what effect does this have on the latency of the data packet. that coloured flags would not.   [13]

(a) Gigabit access is available through a doorbell cable if you utilise gel pack technology at either end. For full details on this subject contact Belana Torres, c/o the USS Voyager, The Delta Quadrant, The Universe, BFPO USS 1701E.

(b) To avoid Ethernet network collisions we propose this new radical 100% cast iron guaranteed method: A bloke, or burd, precedes each data packet waving a red flag and the propagation speed must under no circumstances exceed 3mph. If you wish to access the network you must first gather your data behind you and look right and left and right again before moving onto the network, all the time looking and listening while waving your flag vigorously. Priority is assigned to any traffic entering from the right and you must give way to this traffic. In an emergency you may pull into a connector to allow emergency data to pass. Two or more flag bearers usually precede this traffic and a wee man in front waving a large pole covered in red white and blue tape. Woe betide any individual who dares cross the path of this traffic!! Latency problems have been abolished as no one is allowed to wear t-shirts any more as flags are now the OSI standard. It was found that all traffic came to a halt when female t-shirt wearers stopped to change colour, several instances of road rage have even been reported at this time.

4

(a)

Estimate the length of the cable, to the nearest inch, that connects Merchiston to Craiglockhart and what colour is the outer coating? [5]

(b)

To the nearest thousand, how many users currently connect to the Internet (1pm, Wednesday, 24 January 2001)? Determine, using complex mathematical formulas, the percentage of people who, at this current hour, connect to the Internet in each of the countries around the world. If you have time illustrate these using coloured pens/pencils (Note: marks will be given for neatness, and also the usage of colours. If possible use light colours for areas where there is a light connectivity to the Internet, and dark colours for the rest. You can ignore Antarctica.) [20]

(a) 3.1415926 miles 1 inch plus or minus 1/8th of an inch Outer sheath is a pinky redish colour and usually tastes of raspberries if you have the occasion to lick. Sometimes a slight rippling effect can also be found thereon.

(b) One One

5

(a)

Explain, in great detail, why it is not possible to get connected to your free unmetered access ISP after 6pm at night. Also describe how they will cut you off, just as your accessing important information. What is the protocol that they use so that you cannot connect back to the Internet for at least eight hours after you have been disconnected.   (12)

(b)

What is the IP address, and MAC address of the www.intel.co.jp server? What protocol is used if you know the MAC address of a host in another continent and you want to determine its processor type (13)

(a) This is usually due to under 18s accessing sites described in answer 2(b) Sudden disconnection follows the Bobbit Theorem. The protocol that prevents continual and uninterrupted ISP access is called www.thewife.com

(b) Do you honestly think we have the wherewithal or knowledge to answer this question, basically we don't give a monkeys. Too technical for us electrical engineers, this is a question for the sad softies that companies employ. Easily spotted as the pasty white peeps that run around in cords and woolly Arran jumpers and are in need of a good haircut.

6

(a)

Describe the purpose of each of the following smilies:

(9--+)

(#@-0)   (5) 

(b)

Explain the operation of the protocol that converts the data bits from one language (such as English bits) into the bits for another language (such as Chinese bits). Using this protocol, describe how the English bits of 0 and 1, are converted into NAW and AYE, in Scottish. At what location between Scotland and England does the conversion take place? (20)

(a) Could you repeat the question please?

(b) Today this new protocol converts any chosen language into the internationally recognised Chinese takeaway menu standard numbering system. This was developed by WONG (World Organisation for New Gibberish). Data conversion at the border can have some serious side effects whereby there is a region of about 2 miles either side of the border where the conversion from 1 to Aye and 0 to Naw goes through the stage of being a "mibees Aye, mibbes Naw" this has a unique protocol called the Transfer to Celtic Protocol (TCP).