Digital Communications

• Introduction to Data Communication

• Network Components
• Data Representation
Contents • Data Flow
• Network Physical Structure
• Network Physical Topology
Introduction
• When we communicate, we are sharing information.
• Sharing can be local (face-to-face) or remote (telecommunication).
• The term Telecommunication, which includes telephony, telegraphy, and
television, means communication at a distance.
• The word Data refers to information presented in whatever form is agreed upon
by the parties creating and using the data.
• Data communications (DC) are the exchange of data between two devices via
some form of transmission medium such as a wire cable.
• Communicating devices must be part of communication system made up of a
combination of hardware (physical equipment) and software (programs)
Introduction Contd..
• The effectiveness of a data communications system depends on four fundamental
characteristics:

• Delivery: Data delivery to the correct destination.

• Accuracy: System must deliver the data accurately.

• Timeliness: System must deliver data in a timely manner.

• Jitter: Refers to the variation in the packet arrival time (uneven delay in delivery).
DC/Network Components

Figure: Five components of data communication

Data Representation
• Information today comes in different forms such as text, numbers, images, audio,
and video.
• Text:
• Sequence of bits (0s or 1s).
• Different sets of bit patterns have been designed to represent text symbols.
• Each set is called a code, and the process of representing symbols is called coding.

• Numbers:
• Numbers are also represented by bit patterns.
Data Representation
• Images:
• Images are also represented by bit patterns.
• Composed of a matrix of pixels.
• 2-bit pattern (00-Black and 11-White) for BW images and RGB/YCM for coloured images.

• Audio:
• Audio refers to the recording or broadcasting of sound or music.
• It is continuous, not discrete.

• Video:
• Video refers to the recording or broadcasting of a picture or movie.
• Video can either be produced as a continuous entity, or it can be a combination of images.
Network Communication Protocols
• In computer networks, communication occurs between entities in different systems.
• However, two entities cannot simply send bit streams to each other and expect to be
understood.
• For communication to occur, the entities must agree on a protocol.
• A protocol is a set of rules that govern data communications.
• A protocol defines what is communicated, how it is communicated, and when it is
communicated.
• The key elements of a protocol are syntax, semantics, and timing.
Network Communication Protocols
• Syntax: Structure or format of the data.
• Semantics: Refers to the meaning of each section of bits.
• Timing: When data should be sent and how fast they can be sent. For example, if a sender
produces data at 100 Mbps but the receiver can process data at only 1 Mbps, the
transmission will overload the receiver and some data will be lost.
Data Flow

Walkie-Talkie
Network

• A network is a set of devices (often referred to as nodes) connected by

communication links.
• A node can be a computer, printer, or any other device capable of sending and/or
receiving data generated by other nodes on the network.
• Device can be a host or a connecting device, connected using wired or wireless
medium.
• A network must be able to meet a certain number of criteria (performance,
reliability, and security).
Network Criteria
• Performance
• Transit time, response time, number of users, type of transmission medium,
capabilities of the connected hardware, efficiency of software, throughput, and
delay.
• Reliability
• Frequency of failure, time taken for a link to recover from a failure, network’s
robustness in catastrophe.
• Security
• Protecting data from unauthorized access, protecting data from damage and
development, implementing policies and procedures for recovery from
breaches and data losses.
Network: Physical Structures
• A network is two or more devices connected through links, so it must have some
structure.
• Two types of connections

• Point-to-point connection
• Dedicated link between two devices; entire capacity is reserved for the two devices

• Multipoint connection
• More than two specific devices share same link
• Channel capacity is shared
Network: Physical Topologies
• Way the network is laid physically.
• Geometric representation of the relationship of all links and linking devices
(nodes) to one another.

[Link]
Mesh Topology
• Dedicated link to all nodes.
• Number of physical links (if n nodes):
• n(n-1) – if simplex mode (two links for up and down)
• n(n-1)/2 – if full-duplex mode
• Example: Each telephone regional office is connected to every other regional
office
Star Topology
• Each device has dedicated link with the central controller (hub).
• Does not allow direct traffic between devices
• Controller relays the traffic.
• Its dependency on one single point.
• Example: LANs.
 Bus Topology
• Multipoint topology.
• One long cable acts as a backbone to link all devices.
• Nodes connected by drop lines and taps
• Drop line is connected between main line and node.
• Tap is a connector that splices or punctures into main cable to create contact with the
metallic core.
• Difficult to reconnect and manage faulty installation.
 Ring Topology
• Each device has a dedicated point-to-point connection with
only two devices on either side of it
• When a device receives a signal intended for another device,
its repeater regenerates bits and passes them along.
 Hybrid Topology
• A network can be hybrid. For example, we can have a main star topology with each
branch connecting several stations in a bus topology.
Tree Topology
• A tree topology is a sort of structure in
which each node is related to the others in a
hierarchy.
• Sometimes it is also called hierarchical
topology as in this topology, all elements
are arranged like the branches of a tree.
• Tree topologies are commonly used to
arrange data in databases and
workstations in corporate networks.
• Tree topology, can be viewed as a
collection of star networks arranged in a
hierarchy.
Categories of Networks
Personal Area Network
• It is a network which connects devices within small range typically on the order of 10 to
100 meters.
• It involves a computer, phone, tablet, printer, PDA (Personal Digital Assistant) and other
and other entertainment devices like speakers, video game consoles, etc.
• PAN is relatively flexible and provides high efficiency for short network ranges.
Local Area Network
• Covers a small region of space, typically a
single building.
• The simplest form of LAN is to connect
two computers together.
• LAN is operated within a limited physical
area such as at home, school, a single
building or several buildings.
• A network which consists of less than 500
interconnected devices across several
buildings.
• LAN is very high-speed network.
Metropolitan Area Network
• The Metropolitan Area Network (MAN) is a network type that covers the network
connection of an entire city or connection of a small area.
• Collection of LANs with the same geographical area, for instance a city.
• The area covered by the network is connected using a wired network, like data cables.
• MAN often acts as a high speed network (although not as fast as LAN) to allow
sharing of regional resources.
Wide Area Network
• A network that covers a large geographical area
comprising a region, a country, a continent or even the
whole world.
• WAN includes the technologies to transmit data over
long distances and among different LANs and MANs.
• Communication links are provided by public carriers
like telephone networks, network providers, cable
systems, satellites etc.
• They generally have a higher bit error rate.
• Typically, they have low data transfer rate and high
propagation delay, i.e., they have low communication
speed.
Example:
 Interconnection of Networks:
Internetwork
• Internet is a collection of networks or network of networks.
• Various networks such as LAN and WAN connected through suitable
hardware and software to work in a seamless manner.
• The basic difference between WAN and Internet is that WAN is owned by a
single organization while Internet is not so.

2/19/2026 Introdction 27
 Network Types: Switching
• Switch connects at least 2 links together.
• Switch forwards data from one network to another.
• Types
• Circuit switched network
• Packet switched network
Network Types: Switching
Circuit Switched network

Switch does not have storing capability; it only forwards

Network Types: Switching: Packet
Switched network

Router is used for both storing and forwarding as the packet is an

independent entity
 Accessing Internet
• Using telephone networks
• Dial-up Services – 56 Kbps
• DSL Service - 128k to 8Mbps
• Using Cable Network - 512k to 20Mbps
• Using Wireless Networks - 5Mbps to 20Mbps
• Direct Connection to the Internet
Questions!!!