ABSTRACT
Communication networks are the key elements of Internet of Things (IoT) systems that provide the necessary infrastructure to exchange information among a large number of connected devices. This chapter introduces basic network architecture, protocols, wireless network basics and traffic characteristics. It reviews a range of communication architecture and protocols suitable for IoT-type communication networks. The chapter discusses wireless networking basics such as network configurations, radio channel models, error correction techniques, and traffic models. Communication networks have dramatically changed modern society, offering a large number of services to improve civic facilities, business opportunities, healthcare, and many other aspects of life. A communication network consists of user/network devices, transmission links, routers, switches, and other network elements used to offer seamless connectivity. A wide area network generally covers a large geographical area, typically serving the backbone needs of access networks. The medium access control layer generates the address for each network device which is the physical address of the device.
