| Essential Guide to Voice Over IP | | | | addressing system has a tendency to be complicated, |
| Voice over IP (VoIP) is a means of sending voice | | | | requiring the interconnection of packets within packets |
| communication through the Internet. Instead of the | | | | and goes through a series of processes as it moves |
| traditional telephone, which uses copper wires to | | | | through cyberspace. |
| transmit conversations, VoIP technology uses optical | | | | When finally the packet arrives, its placement is |
| wires to transmit voice, which has traditionally | | | | checked to proper sequencing. A decompression |
| transmitted data or computer information. These days, | | | | procedure restores data to its original structure, while |
| execution of the VoIP technology is easy unlike five | | | | time-related techniques ensure proper sequencing. |
| years ago, and this article will tell you all about it. | | | | Because data goes through the Net through different |
| Companies implement VoIP because of the following | | | | routes, they don't necessarily arrive in the same order |
| reasons: | | | | as was sent. To correct the situation, incoming packets |
| 1. Huge savings in their network operations costs as | | | | are momentarily piled while waiting for the delayed |
| well as maintenance. Because VoIP uses existing LAN | | | | packets. How long the data are momentarily stored |
| WAN equipment, cabling and set-up, there is very | | | | depends on the network set-up. |
| minimal need for new equipment. Having only a single | | | | In IP networks, a percentage of the packets can be |
| system for voice and data allows for simplified | | | | lost or delayed, especially in periods of congestion. |
| management and administration. | | | | Also, some packets are discarded due to errors that |
| 2. Speedy implementation of the service. With VoIP, | | | | occurred during transmission. Lost, delayed, and |
| you use open, adaptable, and simultaneous execution | | | | damaged packets result in a substantial deterioration |
| of PSTN-type services using IP-based protocols and | | | | of voice quality. In traditional error-correction techniques, |
| technologies. | | | | arriving chunks of data with errors are eliminated, and |
| How Does VoIP Work? | | | | the receiving computer requests to resend the packet; |
| Digitization is the first step in the process of VoIP. | | | | thus, the message that is finally delivered to the user is |
| Then, unwanted voice signals are compressed. | | | | exactly the same as the message that originated. As |
| Compression has two stages. First, the system | | | | VoIP systems are time-sensitive and cannot wait for |
| determines if the digitized info contains legitimate voice | | | | retransmission, more sophisticated error detection and |
| or only ambient noise. If noise is detected, it is | | | | correction systems are used to create sound to fill in |
| discarded. Next, complex algorithms are used to | | | | the gaps. This process stores a portion of the incoming |
| decrease the size of information being sent. Noise is | | | | speaker's voice and then, using a complex algorithm to |
| suppressed and voice streams are optimized using | | | | copy the contents of the missing packets. Thus, new |
| codecs. | | | | sound information is created to enhance the |
| After compression, voice must be put in chunks called | | | | communication and the sound heard at the receiving |
| packets simultaneously adding VoIP protocols. Storage | | | | end is not exactly the sound transmitted, but an |
| occurs in the process, while the transmitter is waiting | | | | enhanced version of it. |
| for voice data being collected before being formed | | | | Because of the reduction in on-going costs and |
| into a packet. Signals are added to the packet to ease | | | | maintenance, most companies with excess LAN |
| the transmission. Because IP is a set of rules that | | | | capacity are resorting to VoIP solutions. Shouldn't you |
| interconnect networks, the smaller the network, the | | | | be thinking about it? |
| more steps is required to interconnect them. The | | | | |