Chapter 2: Problem 43
Three packet-switching networks each contain \(n\) nodes. The first network has a star topology with a central switch, the second is a (bidirectional) ring, and the third is fully interconnected, with a wire from every node to every other node. What are the best-, average-, and worst-case transmission paths in hops?
Short Answer
Step by step solution
Understand Specific Topologies
Determine the Best-Case Path
Determine the Average-Case Path
Determine the Worst-Case Path
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Key Concepts
These are the key concepts you need to understand to accurately answer the question.
Star Topology
- **Best-case transmission**: When information is sent from one node to another through the central hub, it takes 1 hop, as data always goes straight to the hub first.
- **Average-case transmission**: Since communication involves going to the hub and then to another node, the average transmission path is about 2 hops.
- **Worst-case transmission**: Similarly, even in the worst-case, it only takes 2 hops since all communications inevitably pass through the central node.
Ring Topology
- **Best-case transmission**: If two nodes that need to communicate are neighbors, data is transferred in just 1 hop.
- **Average-case transmission**: On average, a node is approximately a quarter-way around the ring, making the average number of hops about \( \frac{n}{4} \).
- **Worst-case transmission**: The most hops occur when nodes are directly opposite each other in the ring, resulting in \( \frac{n}{2} \) hops as data traverses half the ring.
Fully Connected Network
- **Best-case transmission**: Every transmission is just 1 hop because each node has a direct line to any other node.
- **Average-case transmission**: As all nodes are interconnected directly, the average number of hops remains 1.
- **Worst-case transmission**: Even in the scenario considered as worst-case, it's still just 1 hop, since no intermediate nodes are involved.