Chapter 2: Data Transmission
IGCSE Computer Science – Class 10 Notes
1. Types & Methods of Data Transmission
Data is broken into packets: Before transmission, large data is split into small packets
(typically 64 KiB each), making transmission manageable.
Packet Structure:
Each packet has a header (with sender/receiver IP addresses, sequence number), a
payload (actual data), and a trailer (error checking and end mark).
Packet Switching:
o Packets can travel different routes to the des na on, reassembled using
sequence numbers.
o Routers read packet headers and direct each packet efficiently.
o Advantages: Efficient use of network, can avoid failed paths, easy to scale.
o Drawbacks: Packets may arrive out of order, loss possible, delay in reordering.
Data Transmission Modes:
o Serial: One bit transmi ed at a me (good for long distances).
o Parallel: Mul ple bits at once over separate wires (good for short distances,
but risk of ‘skewing’).
o Simplex: One-way only (e.g., computer to printer).
o Half-duplex: Both direc ons, but not at the same me (e.g., walkie-talkies).
o Full-duplex: Simultaneous both-way transmission (e.g., broadband).
Universal Serial Bus (USB):
o Standard serial transmission protocol.
o Supports half- and full-duplex modes.
o USB cables have wires for power and data; device drivers automa cally load
when new devices are connected.
o Latest USB-C offers faster speeds, reversible connectors.
2. Methods of Error Detec on
Why needed: Transmission can cause data corrup on/loss due to interference,
switching errors, or hardware faults.
Parity Checks:
o Even parity: Total 1-bits in each byte should be even; Odd parity: should be
odd.
o Used to detect single-bit errors, but cannot iden fy which bit is wrong or if
two bits are flipped.
o Parity blocks: Both horizontal and ver cal parity can locate and some mes
correct errors.
Checksum:
o Calculated value from a data block using an agreed algorithm.
o Sent along with the data; receiver recalculates and compares.
o Mismatch signals data error.
Echo Check:
o Data is sent, then immediately sent back to sender.
o Original and received data are compared.
o Not very reliable, as errors may occur in the return transmission.
Check Digit:
o Addi onal digit calculated from others in a code (e.g., ISBN, barcodes) to
catch data entry errors.
o Detects digit errors, transposi ons, omissions.
ARQ (Automa c Repeat Request):
o Involves posi ve/nega ve acknowledgements and meouts.
o If error detected or no reply within set me, data is re-sent.
o Used in reliable data transmission systems like mobile networks.
3. Encryp on
Purpose: Prevents unauthorized reading of data during transmission by making
intercepted data unreadable (ciphertext).
Symmetric Encryp on:
o Same key used for both encryp on and decryp on.
o Simple to implement but risky as key must be shared securely.
Asymmetric Encryp on:
o Uses two mathema cally related keys: a public key (shared with everyone)
and a private key (kept secret).
o Data encrypted with the public key can only be decrypted with the
corresponding private key (and vice versa).
o More secure than symmetric encryp on for data sharing.
Public & Private Keys:
o Public key: Used to encrypt data, distributed openly.
o Private key: Used to decrypt, kept only by the intended recipient/user.
Key Terms
Packet, Payload, Header, Trailer, Router, Node: Building blocks of network data
transmission.
Serial vs. Parallel: Bit-by-bit vs. mul -bit transmission.
Simplex/Half-Duplex/Full-Duplex: Direc onality of data transmission.
Parity, Checksum, Echo Check, Check Digit, ARQ: Error detec on techniques.
Symmetric & Asymmetric Encryp on, Ciphertext, Key: Methods for keeping data
confiden al during transmission.