SEMESTER I EXAMINATION 2013

Academic Year 2012/2013

Bachelor of Science (Sri Lanka), BSc 16 Full Time

MIS2007L
Electronic Commerce Infrastructure
Professor Debra Howcroft
Dr Peter Keenan
Dr John D. Byrne
Time Allowed: 3 Hours

Instructions for Candidates

Candidates MUST attempt Question 1 and ANY Other Three questions.

Question 1 carries 40 marks, all other questions 20 marks each.
Instructions for Invigilators
No books allowed during examination.

Question 1:
As a student of Information Systems, you have been asked to advise on the design and
administration of a communications network infrastructure for a small Sri Lankan logistics
company with offices in Colombo, Kandy and Galle.
Explain why you might choose a building-block rather than a more traditional approach to Network
design and describe the process establishing IS Infrastructural needs and system design and
costing.
Briefly discuss methods for optimising network performance and its
installation.

administration, after

In respect of you answer, you are encouraged to cite examples from your experience or casehistory readings, to illustrate the points you are making.
(Question Total 40 marks)
Question 2:
(a)

Describe the basic communications infrastructure underlying mobile or cellular technology,

(5 marks)

(b) Briefly, outline what is meant by the acronyms GSM, UMTS, WCDMA, 3G, 4G and CODEC
(5 marks)
(c) Discuss the potential impact of VOIP on traditional voice-based telecommunications.
(5 marks)
(d) Briefly compare the features of fixed and mobile wireless systems accessing the internet
(5 marks)
(QuestionTotal 20 marks)
Question 3:
(a) Specify the three basic requirements for the implementation of payment platforms on the internet
and outline the steps in processing a Credit Card order for goods or services over the Internet,
briefly explaining the terms.
(5 marks)
(b) Identify the basic components of cryptography and explain the use of public and private keys in
encryption schemes
(5 marks)
(c) Describe briefly what is meant by the terms 'SSL', and TLS, in the context of transmitting private
data on the internet.
(5 marks)
(d) Briefly describe how the SET protocol in used in the conduct of eCommerce
(5 marks)
(Question Total

20 marks)

Question 4:
Describe, in detail, the IT infrastructure which requires to be in place, its purpose and function and the
processes involved when you
(a) submit a request a Web Page request.
(b) engage in Webcasting
In your answer, you should outline the main Application Architectures.
(Question Total

20 marks)

Question 5:
Describe the function of an ADSL Modem telephone modem, in the context of digital communications
infrastructure and describe, in detail, two basic types of modulation used.
In your answer, describe the advantages of digital transmission and explain the term ATM, in the
context of Data Link layer communications
(Question Total

20 marks)

Question 6:
(a) In the context of computer networks, describe the basic function of a NIC. Specifically, explain why it
has a unique identification number
(5 marks)
(c) In the context of wired/wireless local area networks (LANs) what is meant by
(i) CSMA/CD
(ii) CSMA/CA
(iii) Half Duplex transmission
(iv) Multiplexing

(5 marks)

(b) Discuss the advantages and disadvantages of using Manchester encoding

(5 marks)
(d) Describe the basic types of cabling used in the construction of Ethernet-based local area networks
and their limitations, in terms of
(i) Length of run
(ii) Transmission speed

(5 marks)

(Question Total

20 marks)

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