Multiplexing (Computer Network)

 What do you understand by multiplexing ?

Multiplexing -

Multiplexing means to break one high-speed physical communication circuit into several lower-speed logical circuits so that many different devices can simultaneously use it but still "think" that they have their own separate circuits.

         We use the term multiplexing to refer to the combination of information streams from multiple sources for transmission over a shared medium, and multiplexor to donate a mechanism that implements the combination.

           Typically, two communicating stations will not utilize the full capacity of a data link. for efficiency, it should be possible to share that capacity. A generic term for such sharing is multiplexing. or the technique of transmitting multiple signals over a single medium is multiplexing. Similarly, we use the term demultiplexing to refer to the separation of a combination back into separate 

Fig -: The concept of multiplexing in which independent pairs of senders and receivers share a transmission medium 

information streams, and demultiplexor to refer to a mechanism that implements separation. Multiplexing and demultiplexing are not restricted ta hardware or to individual bit streams the idea of combining and separating communication forms a fundamental basis used in many parts of computer networking.

           In the figure, each sender communicates with a single receiver. Althought they carry on independent communication. all pairs share a single  transmission medium. the multiplexor  combines information from the senders for transmission in such a way that the demultiplexor can separate the information for receivers. the widespread use of multiplexing in data communication can be explained by the following :

 The higher the data rate, the more cost-effective the transmission facility. that is for a given application and over a given distance.