Chapter 1

Introduction to Data Communication

Prepared by-
Shyla Afroge & S. M. Mahedy Hasan
Assistant Professor, Dept. of CSE
RUET, Rajshahi-6204, Bangladesh
 Data Communication
❖Telecommunication means communication at a distance.

❖ Data communications are the exchange of data between two devices via some form of transmission medium

such as a wire cable or wireless cable.

❖For data communications to occur, the communication devices must be a part of communication system and

made up of a combination of hardware and software.

8/31/2023 Introduction to Data Communication 2

 Effectiveness of Data Communication
It depends on four fundamental characteristics:-

Delivery

Accuracy

Timelines

Jitter

8/31/2023 Introduction to Data Communication 3

 ❖ The system must deliver data to the correct destination.
Delivery
❖ Data must be received by the intended device or user and only by that device or user.

8/31/2023 Introduction to Data Communication 4

Accuracy ❖ The system must deliver the data accurately.

8/31/2023 Introduction to Data Communication 5

Timelines ❖ The system must deliver data in a timely manner.

❖ For example, while sending videos, you need to send the packets in an orderly manner. If we

have 3 consecutive data frame of 10s, 20s and 30s then we need to send first packet of 10s then

20s and lastly 30s.

8/31/2023 Introduction to Data Communication 6

 ❖ Jitter refers to the variation in the packet arrival time.

❖ It is the uneven delay in the delivery of audio or video packets.

Jitter
❖ For example, video packets are sent every 3MS. If some of the packets arrive with 3MS delay

and others with 4MS delay, an uneven quality in the video is the result.

8/31/2023 Introduction to Data Communication 7

 Components of Data Communication
It has five components:-

Protocol Protocol
Rule : 1 Rule : 1
Rule : 2 Rule : 2
Rule: 3 Rule: 3
Message

Sender Receiver
Transmission Medium

8/31/2023 Introduction to Data Communication 8

 ❖ The message is the information or data to be communicated.
Message
❖ Popular forms of information include text, numbers, pictures, audio, and video.

8/31/2023 Introduction to Data Communication 9

 ❖ The sender is the device that sends the data message.
Sender
❖ It can be a computer, workstation, telephone handset, video camera, and so on.

8/31/2023 Introduction to Data Communication 10

 ❖ The receiver is the device that receives the message.
Receiver
❖ It can be a computer, workstation, telephone handset, television, and so on.

8/31/2023 Introduction to Data Communication 11

 ❖ The transmission medium is the physical path by which a message travels from sender to
Transmission
receiver.
Medium

❖ Some examples of transmission media include twisted-pair wire, coaxial cable, fiber-optic

cable, and radio waves.

8/31/2023 Introduction to Data Communication 12

 ❖ A protocol is a set of rules that govern data communications.

Protocol ❖ It represents an agreement between the communicating devices.

❖ Without a protocol, two devices may be connected but not communicating, just as a person

speaking French cannot be understood by a person who speaks only Japanese.

8/31/2023 Introduction to Data Communication 13

 Data Representation

❖Text: In data communications, text is represented as a bit pattern, a sequence of bits (0’s or 1’s). 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. the number is directly converted to a binary

number to simplify mathematical operations.

❖Images: Images are also represented by bit patterns. An image is composed of matrix of pixels.

❖Audio

❖Video
8/31/2023 Introduction to Data Communication 14
 Data Flow

❖The way in which data are transmitted is called data flow. Data flow are of three types:-

Simplex

Half Duplex

Full Duplex

8/31/2023 Introduction to Data Communication 15

 ❖ In simplex mode, the communication is unidirectional, as on a one-way street.

❖ Only one of the two devices on a link can transmit; the other can only receive.
Simplex
❖ Example: Keyboards and traditional monitors are examples of simplex devices.

❖ The simplex mode can use the entire capacity of the channel to send data in one direction.

8/31/2023 Introduction to Data Communication 16

 ❖In half-duplex mode, each station can both transmit and receive, but not at the same time.
Half
Duplex ❖When one device is sending, the other can only receive, and vice versa.

❖Example: Walkie-talkies and CB (citizens band) radios are both half-duplex systems.

8/31/2023 Introduction to Data Communication 17

 ❖In full duplex mode, both stations can transmit and receive simultaneously.
Full
Duplex
❖Example: Communication in a mobile phone network.

8/31/2023 Introduction to Data Communication 18

 Data Flow

8/31/2023 Introduction to Data Communication 19

 Networks
❖A network is a set of devices connected by communication links.

❖Most networks use distributed processing, in which a task is divided among multiple computers.

Characteristics of Good Network:-

1. Performance

2. Reliability

3. Security

8/31/2023 Introduction to Data Communication 20

 ❖ Performance can be measured in many ways, including transit time, throughput, delay and response
time.

❖ Transit time is the amount of time required for a message to travel from one device to another.

❖ Response time is the elapsed time between an inquiry and a response.

❖ The performance of a network depends on a number of factors-

Performance
1. number of users

2. the type of transmission medium

3. the capabilities of the connected hardware

4. The efficiency of the software

8/31/2023 Introduction to Data Communication 21

 ❖Network reliability is measured by the frequency of failure, the time it takes a link to recover
Reliability
from a failure.

8/31/2023 Introduction to Data Communication 22

 ❖Network security issues include protecting data from unauthorized access, protecting data from
Security
damage and development, and implementing policies and procedures for recovery from

breaches and data losses.

8/31/2023 Introduction to Data Communication 23

 Types of Connection
A network is two or more devices connected through links. A link is a communications pathway that transfers data from

one device to another. There are two possible types of connections-

❖ Point to Point Connection

• A point-to-point connection provides a dedicated link between two devices.

• The entire capacity of the link is reserved for transmission between those two devices.

• Example: When you change television channels by infrared remote control, you are establishing a point-to-point

connection between the remote control and the television's control system.

8/31/2023 Introduction to Data Communication 24

 Types of Connection
❖Multi point

• A multipoint (also called multidrop) connection is one in which more than two specific devices share a

single link.

• In a multipoint environment, the capacity of the channel is shared, either spatially or temporally.

• If several devices can use the link simultaneously, it is a spatially shared connection.

• If users must take turns, it is a timeshared connection. Example: Ethernet line, token ring network.

8/31/2023 Introduction to Data Communication 25

 Types of Connection

8/31/2023 Introduction to Data Communication 26

 Physical Topology
❖Physical topology refers to the way in which a network is laid out physically.

❖ One or more devices connect to a link; two or more links form a topology.

❖The topology of a network is the geometric representation of the relationship of all the links and linking
devices (usually called nodes) to one another.

❖There are four basic topologies possible-

1. Mesh

2. Star

3. Ring

4. Bus

8/31/2023 Introduction to Data Communication 27

 ❖In a mesh topology, every device has a dedicated point-to-point link to every other device.

❖The term dedicated means that the link carries traffic only between the two devices it connects.

❖In a fully connected mesh network, it requires n(n-1)/2 physical links. where, n is the number of
nodes.

Mesh

8/31/2023 Introduction to Data Communication 28

 ❖ Advantages of Mesh Topology:-

1) It uses dedicated links.

2) Mesh topology is more robust.

3) It provides better privacy and security.

4) Point to point link makes fault identification and isolation very easy.

Mesh ❖ Disadvantages of Mesh Topology:-

1) Every device must be connected to every other device, installation and reconnection are difficult.

2) The sheer bulk of the wiring can be greater than the available space (in walls, ceilings, or floors) can
accommodate.

3) The hardware required to connect each link (I/O ports and cable) can be prohibitively expensive.

❖ Example:- Telephone regional office.

8/31/2023 Introduction to Data Communication 29
 ❖In a star topology, each device has a dedicated point-to-point link only to a central controller,
usually called a hub.

❖The devices are not directly linked to one another.

❖The controller acts as an exchange: 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.

❖ It requires ‘n’ links.

Star

8/31/2023 Introduction to Data Communication 30

 ❖Advantages of Star Topology:-

1) Star topology is less expensive.

2) It is easy to install and reconfigure.

3) Star topology is robust. If one link fails, only that link is affected. All
other links remain active. This factor also lends itself to easy fault identification and
Star
isolation.

❖Disadvantages of Star Topology:-

1) Star topology is the dependency of the whole topology on one single point, the hub. If the hub
goes down, the whole system is dead.

❖Example:- Local Area Network (LAN) – It is Limited a particular geographic area.

8/31/2023 Introduction to Data Communication 31

 ❖A bus topology uses multipoint connection.

❖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.

❖A drop line is a connection where tap is the connector between the device and the main cable. It
Bus
requires one long cable and n-drop lines.

8/31/2023 Introduction to Data Communication 32

 ❖Advantages of Bus Topology:-

1) It includes ease of installation.

2) Bus uses less cabling than mesh or star topologies.

❖Disadvantages of Bus Topology:-

Bus
1) It includes difficult reconnection and fault isolation.

2) It is difficult to add new devices to the network.

3) A fault or break in the bus cable stops all transmission.

❖Example:- Ethernet Local Area Network (E-LAN).

8/31/2023 Introduction to Data Communication 33

 ❖In a ring topology, each device has a dedicated point-to-point connection with only the two
devices on either side of it.

❖Each device in the ring incorporates a repeater.

❖When a device receives a signal intended for another device, its repeater regenerates the bits and
Ring passes them.

8/31/2023 Introduction to Data Communication 34

 ❖Advantages of Ring:-

1) A ring is relatively easy to install and reconfigure. To add or delete a device requires
changing only two connections.

2) In addition, fault isolation is simplified. Generally in a ring, a signal is circulating at all times.
If one device does not receive a signal within a specified period, it can issue an alarm. The
Bus
alarm alerts the network operator to the problem and its location.

❖Disadvantages of Ring:-

1) A break in the ring can disable the entire network. This weakness can be solved by using a
dual ring or a switch capable of closing off the break.

❖Example:- Token Ring network.

8/31/2023 Introduction to Data Communication 35

 ❖A network can be hybrid. For example, we can have a main star topology with
each branch connecting several stations in a bus topology.

Hybrid

8/31/2023 Introduction to Data Communication 36

 Categories of Networks

❖A computer network is a group of computers linked to each other that enables the computer to
communicate with another computer and share their resources, data, and applications.

❖A computer network can be categorized by their size.

❖A computer network is mainly of four types:-

• LAN(Local Area Network)

• PAN(Personal Area Network)

• MAN(Metropolitan Area Network)

• WAN(Wide Area Network)

8/31/2023 Introduction to Data Communication 37

 • Local Area Network is a group of computers connected to each other in a small area such as building,
office.

• LAN is used for connecting two or more personal computers through a communication medium such as
twisted pair, coaxial cable, etc.

• It is less costly as it is built with inexpensive hardware such as hubs, network adapters, and ethernet
cables.

• The data is transferred at an extremely faster rate in Local Area Network.

LAN
• Local Area Network provides higher security.

8/31/2023 Introduction to Data Communication 38

 ✓ Personal Area Network is a network arranged within an individual person, typically within a
range of 10 meters.

✓ Personal Area Network is used for connecting the computer devices of personal use is known as
Personal Area Network.

✓ Personal computer devices that are used to develop the personal area network are the laptop,
mobile phones, media player and play stations.
PAN

8/31/2023 Introduction to Data Communication 39

 There are two types of personal area network:-

1. Wireless Personal Area Network: Wireless Personal Area Network is developed by simply
PAN
using wireless technologies such as Wi-Fi, Bluetooth. It is a low range network.

2. Wired Personal Area Network: Wired Personal Area Network is created by using the USB.

8/31/2023 Introduction to Data Communication 40

 ❖A metropolitan area network is a network that covers a larger geographic area by
interconnecting a different LAN to form a larger network.

❖Government agencies use MAN to connect to the citizens and private industries.
MAN
❖In MAN, various LANs are connected to each other through a telephone exchange line.

❖The most widely used protocols in MAN are RS-232, Frame Relay, ATM, ISDN, OC-3,
ADSL, etc.

❖It has a higher range than Local Area Network(LAN).

8/31/2023 Introduction to Data Communication 41

 ❖Uses Of Metropolitan Area Network:

✓ MAN is used in communication between the banks in a city.

MAN ✓ It can be used in an Airline Reservation.

✓ It can be used in a college within a city.

✓ It can also be used for communication in the military.

8/31/2023 Introduction to Data Communication 42

MAN

8/31/2023 Introduction to Data Communication 43

 ❖A Wide Area Network is a network that extends over a large geographical area
such as states or countries.

❖A Wide Area Network is quite bigger network than the LAN.

WAN ❖A Wide Area Network is not limited to a single location, but it spans over a
large geographical area through a telephone line, fiber-optic cable or satellite
links.

❖The internet is one of the biggest WAN in the world.

8/31/2023 Introduction to Data Communication 44

WAN

8/31/2023 Introduction to Data Communication 45

 Internetworks

❖A network is a group of connected communicating devices such as computers.

❖An internet is two or more networks that can communicate with each other.

❖An Internet is a collaboration of more than thousands of interconnected networks.

❖Internet is a worldwide, publicly accessible computer network of interconnected computer networks

(internetwork) that transmit data using the standard Internet Protocol (IP).

❖Largest Internetwork in the world is Internet.

8/31/2023 Introduction to Data Communication 46

 Internetworks

❖An intranet is a private network that is contained within an enterprise. Typical intranet for a business
organization consists of many interlinked local area networks (LAN) and use any Wide Area Network
(WAN) technology for network connectivity.

❖The main purpose of an intranet is to share company information and computing resources among
employees.

❖Intranet is a private Internetwork, which is usually created and maintained by a private organization.

❖ The content available inside Intranet are intended only for the members of that organization (usually
employees of a company).

❖An extranet can be viewed as part of a company's intranet that is extended to users outside the company
like suppliers, vendors, partners, customers, or other business associates.
8/31/2023 Introduction to Data Communication 47
 Internetworks

8/31/2023 Introduction to Data Communication 48

 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.

✓ Syntax: The term syntax refers to the structure or format of the data, meaning the order in which they are

presented. For example, a simple protocol might expect the first 8 bits of data to be the address of the sender,

the second 8 bits to be the address of the receiver, and the rest of the stream to be the message itself.

✓ Semantics: The word semantics refers to the meaning of each section of bits.

✓ Timing: The term timing refers to two characteristics: when data should be sent and how fast they can be sent.
8/31/2023 Introduction to Data Communication 49
 Thank You ☺

8/31/2023 Introduction to Data Communication 50