Question

Q3). Differentiate, with the help of diagrams, between Packet Switching and Circuit Switching.

1.What are the applications of each kind?

2.What are the advantages and disadvantages of each?

3.Give some application names that use Packet Switching and Circuit Switching

Answer 1

Circuit Switching :

Let's think we have a message to be transmitted from a sender A to receiver B. Now if we already have a physical connection existing between the sender and receiver, then the message will be transmitted across this path. Such kind of information transfer is called Circuit Switching.

Data Switching :

Imagine the same scenario but without a physical connection between the sender and receiver. Now the message will be transferred to receiver but in a connectionless manner. Here, the message is divided into small parts called packets. These packets are transferred to receiver and are reassembled at the receiver.
2 types :
If all the packets are independent of each other and may not follow same route, then it's Datagram Approach. If all the packets are dependent on each other and follow same route , then it's Datagram Approach.

Advantages of Circuit Switching :
--Dediacted path, hence more secure.
--Continuous transmission of data since the path is only used by particular sender and receiver.
--Guaranteed data rate.
--No delay as no other person is using this transmission line

Disadvantages of Circuit Switching :
--Dedicated channel but if user is not using it, it's wasted as no one else can use it.
--Inefficient utilization of bandwidth.
--Costly to establish link

Advantages of Circuit Switching :
--Advanced
--No prior physical connection is needed
--Efficient use of network

Disadvantages of Circuit Switching :
--Transmission delay
--More process power to reconstruct packets to switch nods

Differences between Packet and Circuit switching :

Parameter	Circuit switching	Packet switching
Implented in	Physical layer	Network layer
Order	transmitted in sequential order	Transmitted out of order and rearranged at receiver
Orientation	Connection oriented	connection less
Efficiency	Less	More

Applications

Circuit switching

--Telephone

--PCB

Packet switching

--Data transmission