Chapter 01
Introduction
Chapter 01: Outline
1.1 Data Communications
1.2 Networks
1.3 Network Types
1.4 Internet History
1.5 Standards and Administration
1.2
1-1 DATA COMMUNICATIONS
Sharing information: Local or Remote
The term telecommunication 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 are the exchange of data between two
devices via some form of transmission medium (wired/wireless).
Fundamental characteristics of a data communication system
Delivery
Accuracy
Timeliness
Jitter
1.3
Figure 1.1 Components of data communication
Message:- Information (data) to be communicated
Sender:- Device that sends the message
Receiver:- Device that receives the message
Transmission medium:- Physical path by which a message travels
from sender to receiver
Protocol:- Set of rules that govern data communications
1.4
Data Representation
Text - Represented as a bit pattern (Unicode, ASCII)
Numbers - Represented by bit patterns. Number is directly
converted to a binary number
Images - An image is composed of a matrix of pixels. Each
pixel is assigned a bit pattern.
Audio - Captured (e.g. by a microphone) and then converted
into digital signal.
Video - Composed of multiple frames; each frame is one
image.
1.5
Figure 1.2 Data flow (simplex, half-duplex, and full-duplex)
1.6
1-2 NETWORKS
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.
A link can be a cable, air, optical fiber, or any medium which can
transport a signal carrying information.
1.7
Network Criteria
Performance – Depends on number of factors such as
number of users, type of transmission medium,
Hardware/Software efficiency.
Often evaluated by Throughput and Delay.
Reliability – How reliable is the network and it is measured
by frequency of failure, time taken to recover from a failure
and network’s robustness.
Security – Prevent data from unauthorized access, misuse
or forgery. It should provide Confidentiality, Integrity and
Availability.
1.8
Figure 1.3 Types of connections: point-to-point and multipoint
1.9
Network topology
Logical topology
Defines how the data flows in the network.
Physical topology
Represents the placement of various nodes.
There are four basic topologies.
1. Mesh topology
2. Star topology
3. Bus topology
4. Ring topology
1.10
Figure 1.4 A fully connected mesh topology (five devices)
Every device has a dedicated point-to-point link to every other
device.
n (n – 1) / 2 links
Advantage
- eliminating the traffic problems
- robust
- privacy or security
Disadvantage
- expensive
(cabling & hardware)
1.11
Figure 1.5 A star topology connecting four stations
Each device has a dedicated point-to-point link only to a central
controller (Hub/Switch).
If one device wants to send data to another, it sends the data to
the controller, which then relays the data to the other connected
device.
Used in local-area networks (LANs)
Advantage
- less expensive
- easy to install and reconfigure
- if one link fails,
only that link is affected
Disadvantage
- If the hub goes down,
the whole system is dead
1.12
Figure 1.6 A bus topology connecting three stations
One long cable acts as a backbone to link all the devices in a network.
Nodes are connected to the bus cable by drop lines and taps.
Advantage
- less cabling
- ease of installation
Disadvantage
- a fault or break in the bus cable stops all transmission
- degradation in quality as signal travel along the backbone.
- adding new devices may require modification of the backbone.
1.13
Figure 1.7 A ring topology connecting six stations
Each device is linked to only its immediate neighbors.
Signal is passed along the ring in one direction, from device to device,
until it reaches its destination.
Repeater regenerates the signals and passes them along.
If one device does not receive a signal within a specified period, it can
issue an alarm.
Advantage
- adding/deleting a device is easy
- ease of installation
Disadvantage
- a break in the ring can disable
the entire network
1.14
1-3 NETWORK TYPES
We categorize networks using few criteria such as size,
geographical coverage and ownership.
Local Area Network (LAN)
Privately owned and connects some hosts in a single office,
building, or campus.
Today, most LANs use a smart connecting switch.
1.15
Wide Area Network (WAN)
WAN extends the communication over a large geographical
area.
LAN is normally limited in size whereas WAN has a wider
geographical span.
WAN is normally created and run by communication
companies and leased by an organization
Examples of WANs today
1. Point to Point WAN 2. Switched WAN
1.16
Internetwork
Two or more networks are connected
1.17
Switching
Forward data from a network to another network
Internet is a switched network
Two most common types of switched networks
1. Circuit-Switched network 2. Packet-switched network
A dedicated connection, called a circuit, is If packets arrive at one router when the high
always available between the two end capacity line is already working at its full
systems capacity, the packets are stored and forwarded
in the order they arrived.
1.18
1-4 THE INTERNET
Internet is composed of thousands of interconnected networks
Backbones and provider networks are also called Internet Service
Providers (ISPs). The backbones are often referred to as international
ISPs; the provider networks are often referred to as national or
regional ISPs.
1.19
Accessing the Internet
Using Telephone Network
- Dial up service
- Digital Subscriber Line (DSL) service
Using Cable Network
Using Wireless Network
Direct Connection to the Internet
1.20
Internet History
Before 1960, communication networks were suitable for constant-rate
communication.
Theory of packet switching for bursty traffic was presented by Leonard
Kleinrock in 1961 at MIT.
Computers from different manufacturers were unable to communicate
with one another.
The Advanced Research Projects Agency (ARPA) was interested in
finding a way to connect computers from different manufacturers.
Cerf and Kahn devised the idea of a device called a gateway to serve
as the intermediary hardware to transfer data from one network to
another.
TCP/IP protocol suite paved the way for creation of today’s Internet.
The invention of WWW, the use of multimedia, and peer-to-peer
communication helps the growth of the Internet.
1.21
1-5 STANDARDS AND ADMINISTRATION
Internet Standards
An Internet standard is a thoroughly tested specification.
A specification begins as an Internet draft.
A draft may be published as a Request for Comment (RFC).
RFCs go through maturity levels and are categorized according to their
requirement level (Required / Recommended / Elective / Limited Use /
Not Recommended)
1.22
Figure 1.17 Internet Administration
Internet Society (ISOC) – Promotes research and activities
Internet Architecture Board (IAB) - Technical advisor to the ISOC
Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF) - Forum of working groups
responsible for operational problems
Internet Research Task Force (IRTF) - Forum of working groups focusing on
long-term research topics
1.23