E-commerce| Unit-3 | E-commerce Infrastructure: The Internet, The Web and The Mobile Platforms

 E-commerce

Unit 3 - E-commerce Infrastructure: The Internet, The Web and The Mobile Platforms

TU Syllabus: The Internet: Technology Background; Internet Infrastructure and Access; The Web The Internet and Web: Features and Services Mobile Apps

The Internet: Technology Background

The Internet is an interconnected network of thousands of networks and millions of computers  linking businesses, educational institutions, government agencies, and individuals.  The Internet provides services such as e-mail, apps, newsgroups, shopping, research, instant messaging, music, videos, and news.

Key technology concepts:

Pocket Switching: Packet switching is a connectionless network switching technique. Here, the message is divided and grouped into a number of units called packets that are individually routed from the source to the destination. There is no need to establish a dedicated circuit for communication.

TCP/IP: TCP/IP, which stands for Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol, is a set of standardized communication protocols that enable devices to connect, communicate, and exchange data over the Internet or other networks. TCP ensures reliable data transfer by managing packet sequencing and error correction, while IP handles addressing and routing.

IP Address: An Internet Protocol (IP) address is a unique numerical identifier for every device or network that connects to the internet. Every device on the Internet is assigned a unique IP address (e.g., IPv4: 192.168.1.1 or IPv6: 2001:0db8::1) to identify and locate it within the network.

DNS: The Domain Name System (DNS) is a system that translates domain names into IP addresses so that web browsers can load internet resources. It's often called the internet's phonebook.

URL: URL or Uniform Resource Locator is a Unique identifier that is contained by all the resources available on the internet. It can help to locate a particular resource due to its uniqueness. It is also known as the web address. A URL consists of different parts like protocol, domain name, etc.

Internet Infrastructure and Access

Internet infrastructure refers to the physical and logical systems that support the operation, connectivity, and functionality of the internet. It includes the hardware, software, protocols, and services that facilitate data transfer, storage, and communication.

Internet access is the ability of individuals, businesses, and devices to connect to the internet through various means.

1. Components of Internet Infrastructure

a. Physical Infrastructure

• Fiber Optic Cables: High-speed cables that transmit data as light signals, forming the backbone of the Internet. They include terrestrial cables on land and submarine cables linking continents.
• Data Centers: Specialized facilities that house servers, routers, and storage devices to manage and store Internet data, with examples including cloud providers like AWS, Google Cloud, and Microsoft Azure.
• Routers and Switches: Network devices that route and manage data traffic; core routers connect to the Internet backbone, while edge routers handle local network traffic.
• Internet Exchange Points (IXPs): Physical hubs where different networks interconnect to exchange data, enhancing efficiency and reducing costs.
• Wireless Infrastructure: Comprises cellular towers (supporting 4G and 5G), satellite networks, and Wi-Fi hotspots, providing wireless Internet access.

b. Logical Infrastructure

• IP Address: discussed previously ( refer 2-3 paragraph up)
• Domain Name System: discussed previously  ( refer 2-3 paragraph up)
• Protocols: Sets of rules for communication (e.g., HTTP, HTTPS, FTP, TCP/IP).
• Cloud Infrastructure: Cloud infrastructure refers to virtualized computing resources provided over the Internet, allowing businesses and users to access scalable services like storage, processing power, and applications. Example: Amazon Web Services (AWS) provides cloud infrastructure where an e-commerce company can store customer data.

2. Types of Internet Access

a. Wired Access

• DSL (Digital Subscriber Line): DSL is a type of Internet connection that uses existing telephone lines to deliver Internet access. It allows you to use the phone and Internet at the same time, with speeds reaching up to 100 Mbps depending on the plan and distance from the provider.
• Cable Broadband: Cable broadband provides Internet access through the same coaxial cables used for cable TV. It offers faster speeds than DSL, up to 1 Gbps, and is widely available in urban areas.
• Fiber Optic: Fiber optic Internet uses light signals sent through thin glass or plastic fibers to deliver extremely high-speed Internet, with speeds reaching 10 Gbps or more. It’s one of the fastest and most reliable connection types.

b. Wireless Access

• Wi-Fi: Wi-Fi provides local wireless Internet connectivity using a router that sends signals to devices like phones, laptops, and tablets. It’s commonly used in homes, offices, and public spots for easy, cable-free access.
• Cellular Networks: Cellular networks deliver Internet access through mobile networks like 3G, 4G, or 5G, using cell towers to connect devices. 5G, the latest version, offers super-fast speeds up to 10 Gbps and very low delays, great for things like streaming or gaming on the go.
• Satellite Internet: Satellite Internet provides Internet access by sending signals to and from satellites in orbit. It’s useful in remote areas where other connections aren’t available, but it can have higher delays (latency) due to the long distance the signal travels.

3. Internet Access Providers

• Internet Service Providers (ISPs): ISPs are companies that give people and businesses Internet access through different connection types like DSL, cable, or fiber. They set up the connection to your home or office so you can go online. Examples: AT&T (offers DSL and fiber), Comcast (provides cable Internet), Vodafone (offers Internet in many countries).
• Mobile Network Operators (MNOs): MNOs are companies that give you Internet on your phone or mobile device using cellular networks like 4G or 5G. They use cell towers to keep you connected wherever you go. Examples: Verizon (runs a big 5G network), T-Mobile (offers fast mobile Internet).
• Satellite Providers: Satellite providers are companies that give Internet access using satellites in space, perfect for places where regular Internet can’t reach, like remote areas. The signal comes to a dish at your location. Examples: Starlink (by SpaceX, for rural Internet), HughesNet (serves remote homes).

Important for case

Challenges in Internet Infrastructure and Access

1. Digital Divide: Unequal access to the internet between urban and rural areas or developed and developing regions. Factors: affordability, availability, and digital literacy.
2. Scalability: Meeting the demands of billions of devices (IoT, smart cities) and data-intensive applications.
3. Security: Protecting infrastructure from cyberattacks (e.g., DDoS attacks) and ensuring data privacy.
4. Reliability: Infrastructure must handle natural disasters, outages, and hardware failures.

Solutions and Innovations

a. Expanding Access 

• Submarine Cables: Increasing global connectivity with new undersea cable projects.
• 5G Networks: Enhanced wireless connectivity for rural and urban areas.
• Satellite Internet: Low-Earth Orbit (LEO) satellites like Starlink improving access in remote regions.

b. Addressing the Digital Divide

• Public-private partnerships to improve infrastructure in underserved areas.
• Affordable access programs for low-income communities.

c. Smart Infrastructure

• IoT-enabled systems for real-time monitoring and maintenance.
• AI and automation for efficient network management.

d. Sustainability

• Using renewable energy in data centers and optimizing energy consumption in networks.

The Web

The World Wide Web (WWW), invented by Tim Berners-Lee in 1989, is a system of interlinked resources accessible via the Internet. It operates on the HTTP/HTTPS protocols and uses web browsers (e.g., Chrome, Firefox) to access content.

Key Components:

• URLs (Uniform Resource Locators): Addresses used to locate resources on the web (e.g., https://www.sorrygurudev.com).
• HTML (HyperText Markup Language): The standard language for creating web pages, structuring content with tags like <p> for paragraphs or <img> for images.
• Web Servers: Computers that host websites and deliver web pages to users upon request (e.g., Apache, Nginx).
• Web Browsers: Software that interprets HTML and displays web content to users.

Evolution:

1. Web 1.0: Web 1.0 was the early version of the web in the 1990s, where websites were like digital brochures—static pages with text and images you could only read. There was no interaction; you just looked at information, like an online phone book or company info page. Example: An old informational site about a company’s history, with no comments or updates.
2. Web 2.0: Web 2.0, starting in the early 2000s, turned the web into a two-way street. It’s interactive, letting users add content like reviews, posts, or videos. This made e-commerce boom with platforms like Amazon (for shopping) and eBay (for auctions), where people can buy, sell, and connect. Example: Writing a product review on Amazon after buying a gadget, helping others decide.
3. Web 3.0: Web 3.0 is the next big step, often called the “semantic web.” It uses smart technology like artificial intelligence (AI) and blockchain to understand your needs better, offering personalized suggestions (e.g., products you might like) and even letting you own your data securely. It’s more decentralized, meaning no single company controls it all. Example: A website suggesting shoes based on your past purchases, powered by AI, or using a blockchain-based marketplace for unique digital items.

Role in E-commerce:

The web is the heart of e-commerce, acting as the main stage where online stores operate. It hosts everything from product pages and shopping carts to secure payment gateways (like PayPal) and customer support chats. Without the web, you couldn’t browse catalogs, compare prices, or check out with a click. Its evolution from Web 1.0 to Web 3.0 has made shopping faster, smarter, and more personalized, connecting buyers and sellers globally.

Example: An online store like Shopify uses the web to let a small business sell handmade jewelry, process payments, and track orders, all through a browser.

The Internet and The Web: Features and Services

Electronic mail (e-mail) the most-used application of the Internet. Uses a series of protocols to enable messages containing text, images, sound, and video clips to be transferred from one Internet user to another.

Instant messaging (im) displays words typed on a computer almost instantaneously. Recipients can then respond immediately to the sender the same way, making the communication more like a live conversation than is possible through e-mail.

Search engine identifies Web pages that appear to match keywords, also called queries, entered by the user and then provides a list of the best matches.

Online forum a Web application that allows Internet users to communicate with each other, although not in real time.

Online chat enables users to communicate via computer in real time, that is, simultaneously. Unlike IM, chat can occur among several users.

Streaming media enables music, video, and other large files to be sent to users in chunks so that when received and played, the file comes through uninterrupted.

Cookie a tool used by Web sites to store information about a user. When a visitor enters a Web site, the site sends a small text file (the cookie) to the user’s computer so that information from the site can be loaded more quickly on future visits. The cookie can contain any information desired by the site designers

Blog personal Web page that is created by an individual or corporation to communicate with readers.

IP telephony a general term for the technologies that use VoIP and the Internet’s packet switched network to transmit voice and other forms of audio communication over the Internet.

Voice over internet Protocol (voiP) protocol that allows for transmission of voice and other forms of audio communication over the Internet.

MOBILE APPS:

Mobile applications (apps) are software programs specifically designed to run on mobile devices, such as smartphones and tablets. These apps provide a wide range of functionalities, from communication and entertainment to productivity and e-commerce.

Categories of Mobile Apps

1. Social Media Apps: Facebook, TikTok, Twitter.
2. Gaming Apps: Candy Crush, PUBG Mobile, Among Us.
3. E-commerce Apps: Amazon, eBay, Shopify.
4. Entertainment Apps: Netflix, Spotify, YouTube.
5. Productivity Apps: Microsoft Office, Google Calendar, Trello.
6. Finance Apps: PayPal, Venmo, Robinhood.
7. Health & Fitness Apps: MyFitnessPal, Fitbit, Headspace.
8. Travel & Navigation Apps: Google Maps, Uber, Airbnb.
9. Educational Apps: Duolingo, Khan Academy, Quizlet.

Advantages of Mobile Apps

• Accessibility: Quick access to services and information from anywhere.
• User Experience: Optimized interfaces tailored for small screens and touch input.
• Performance: Native apps are faster and more responsive.
• Offline Functionality: Many apps provide offline access to certain features.
• Engagement: Push notifications and personalized experiences keep users engaged.