Data Communication
Communication is defined as a process in which more than one computer
transfers information, instructions to each other and for sharing resources. Or in
other words, communication is a process or act in which we can send or receive
data. A network of computers is defined as an interconnected collection of
autonomous computers. Autonomous means no computer can start, stop or
control another computer.
Components of Data Communication
A communication system is made up of the following components:
1. Message: A message is a piece of information that is to be transmitted from
one person to another. It could be a text file, an audio file, a video file, etc.
2. Sender: It is simply a device that sends data messages. It can be a computer,
mobile, telephone, laptop, video camera, or workstation, etc.
3. Receiver: It is a device that receives messages. It can be a computer,
telephone mobile, workstation, etc.
4. Transmission Medium / Communication Channels: Communication
channels are the medium that connect two or more workstations. Workstations
can be connected by either wired media or wireless media.
5. Set of rules (Protocol): When someone sends the data (The sender), it should
be understandable to the receiver also otherwise it is meaningless. For
example, SAAD sends a message to admin. If FIZZA writes in Hindi and
LAIBA cannot understand Hindi, it is a meaningless conversation.
Therefore, there are some set of rules (protocols) that is followed by
every computer connected to the internet and they are:
• TCP(Transmission Control Protocol): It is responsible for
dividing messages into packets on the source computer and
reassembling the received packet at the destination or recipient
computer. It also makes sure that the packets have the information
about the source of the message data, the destination of the message
data, the sequence in which the message data should be re-
assembled, and checks if the message has been sent correctly to the
specific destination.
• IP(Internet Protocol): Do You ever wonder how computer
determines which packet belongs to which device. What happens if
the message you sent to your friend is received by your father? Scary
Right. Well! IP is responsible for handling the address of the
destination computer so that each packet is sent to its proper
destination.
Type of data communication
As we know that data communication is communication in which we
can send or receive data from one device to another. The data
communication is divided into three types:
1. Simplex Communication: It is one-way communication or we can
say that unidirectional communication in which one device only
receives and another device only sends data and devices uses their
entire capacity in transmission. For example, IoT, entering data
using a keyboard, listing music using a speaker, etc.
2. Half Duplex communication: It is a two-way communication, or
we can say that it is a bidirectional communication in which both the
devices can send and receive data but not at the same time. When
one device is sending data then another device is only receiving and
vice-versa. For example, walkie-talkie.
3. Full-duplex communication: It is a two-way communication or we
can say that it is a bidirectional communication in which both the
devices can send and receive data at the same time. For example,
mobile phones, landlines, etc.