PRE LIM PERIOD

DATA FLOW
• Data flow is the flow of data between two points.
• Two devices communicate with each other by sending and
receiving data.

The data can flow between the two devices in the following ways.

1. Simplex
2. Half Duplex
3. Full Duplex

1. Simplex:
Data flows in only one direction on the data communication
line (medium). Examples are radio and television broadcasts.

Figure: Simplex mode of communication

• In Simplex, communication is unidirectional

• Only one of the devices sends the data and the other one
only receives the data.
Example: in the above diagram: a cpu send data while a
monitor only receives data.

1. Half-Duplex
 Data flows in both directions but only one direction at a
time on the data communication line.
For example, a conversation on walkie-talkies is a half-
duplex data flow.
Each person takes turns talking. If both talk at once -
nothing occurs!

Figure: Half Duplex Mode of Communication

• In half duplex both the stations can transmit as well as
receive but not at the same time.
• When one device is sending other can only receive and
vice-versa (as shown in figure above.)
Example: A walkie-talkie.

2. Full Duplex

Data flows in both directions simultaneously.

Modems are configured to flow data in both directions.
Bi-directional both directions simultaneously!
 Figure: Full Duplex Mode of Communication
• In Full duplex mode, both stations can transmit and receive
at the same time.
Example: mobile phones

COMPUTER NETWORK

Computer Networks are used for data communications

Definition:

A computer network can be defined as a collection of nodes. A

node can be any device capable of transmitting or receiving data.
The communicating nodes have to be connected by
communication links.

A Compute network should ensure

Reliability of the data communication process
Security of the data
Performance by achieving higher throughput and smaller
delay times

Categories of Network

Networks are categorized on the basis of their size. The three

basic categories of computer networks are:

A. Local Area Networks (LAN) is usually limited to a few

kilometers of area. It may be privately owned and could be a
network inside an office on one of the floor of a building or a LAN
could be a network consisting of the computers in a entire
building.
 B. Wide Area Network (WAN) is made of all the networks in a
(geographically) large area. The network in the entire state of
Maharashtra could be a WAN

C. Metropolitan Area Network (MAN) is of size between LAN &

WAN. It is larger than LAN but smaller than WAN. It may comprise
the entire network in a city

PROTOCOL

• A Protocol is one of the components of a data

communications system. Without protocol communication
cannot occur. The sending device cannot just send the data
and expect the receiving device to receive and further
interpret it correctly.
• When the sender sends a message it may consist of text,
number, images, etc. which are converted into bits and
grouped into blocks to be transmitted and often certain
additional information called control information is also
added to help the receiver interpret the data.
• For successful communication to occur, the sender and
receiver must agree upon certain rules called protocol.
• A Protocol is defined as a set of rules that governs data
communications.
• A protocol defines what is to be communicated, how it is to
be communicated and when it is to be communicated.

Elements of a Protocol

There are three key elements of a protocol:

A. Syntax
• It means the structure or format of the data.
• It is the arrangement of data in a particular order.
B. Semantics
 • It tells the meaning of each section of bits and indicates the
interpretation of each section.
• It also tells what action/decision is to be taken based on the
interpretation.

C. Timing
• It tells the sender about the readiness of the receiver to
receive the data
• It tells the sender at what rate the data should be sent to the
receiver to avoid overwhelming the receiver.

STANDARDS IN NETWORKING

• Standards are necessary in networking to ensure interconnectivity

and interoperability between various networking hardware and
software components.
• Without standards we would have proprietary products creating
isolated islands of users which cannot interconnect.

Concept of Standard

• Standards provide guidelines to product manufacturers and

vendors to ensure national and international interconnectivity.
• Data communications standards are classified into two categories:

1. De facto Standard

• These are the standards that have been traditionally used

and mean by fact or by convention
• These standards are not approved by any organized body but
are adopted by widespread use.

2. De jure standard
 • It means by law or by regulation.
• These standards are legislated and approved by an body that
is officially recognized.

Modems
A modem (MOdulator/DEModulator) is a device that enables a
computer to transmit data over, for example, telephone or cable
lines. Computer information is stored digitally, whereas
information transmitted over telephone lines is transmitted in the
form of analog waves.

How fast the modem can transmit and receive data?

At slow rates, modems are measured in terms of baud rates

The slowest rate is 300 baud
At higher speeds, modems are measured in terms of bits per
second (bps)
The fastest modems run at 57,600 bps
The faster the transmission rate, the faster you can send and
receive data
For example, if the device sending data to your computer is
sending it at 2,400 bps, you must receive it at 2,400 bps

About Voice/Data
 Many modems support a switch to change between voice and
data modes
In data mode, the modem acts like a regular modem
In voice mode, the modem acts like a regular telephone
Modems that support a voice/data switch have a built-in
loudspeaker and microphone for voice communication

Auto-answer modem

An auto-answer modem enables your computer to receive calls

in your absence.

Data Compression modem

Some modems perform data compression, which enables them

to send data at faster rates
However, the modem at the receiving end must be able to
decompress the data using the same compression technique.

Fax Capability modem

Most modern modems are fax modems, which means that they
can send and receive faxes.

Digital Connection

The connection between the modem and terminal/computer is a

digital connection.
A basic connection consists of a Transmit Data (TXD) line, a
Receive Data (RXD) line and many hardware handshaking control
lines.

The control lines determine whose turn it is to talk (modem or

terminal), if the terminal/computer is turned on, if the modem is
turned on, if there is a connection to another modem, etc.
Analog Connection

The connection between the modem and the outside world (the
phone line) is an analog connection.
The voice channel has a bandwidth of 0-4 kHz but only 300 -
3400 Hz is usable for data communications.
The modem converts digital information into tones (frequencies)
for transmitting through the phone lines. The tones are in the 300-
3400 Hz Voice Band.

Types of Modems

External Modem
–External modems sit next to the computer and connect to
the serial port using a straight-through serial cable.

Internal Modem
–An internal modems is a plug-in circuit board that sits inside
the computer. It incorporates the serial port on-board.
–They are less expensive than external modems because they
do not require a case, power supply and serial cable.

Telecommunications

Telephones and networking work hand in hand.

 The common goal is to join distantly located Local Area Networks
into Metropolitan and Wide Area Networks (MANs and WANs).
Talking to someone on the phone uses voice channels.
We use voice channels for modem communications to connect
to the Internet.
Due to the bandwidth limits on voice channels, the data transfer
rate is relatively slow.

Voice Channels

Voice Channel: Dial-up connection through a modem using

standard telephone lines.
Typical voice channel communication rates are: 300, 1200, 2400,
9600, 14.4k, 19.2k, 28.8k, 33.6k and 56 kbps (bits per second).

Data Channels

Data channels are dedicated lines for communicating digitized

voice and data.
At the end of 1996, there was a major milestone when more
data was communicated in North America's telecommunications
system than voice.
Data Channels are special communications channels provided by
"common carriers" such as Telus, Sprint, Bell Canada, AT&T, etc.
for transferring digital data.
Data Channels are also called "Leased Lines".
They are "directly" connected: you don't have to dial a
connection number.
The connections are up and running 24 hours per day.
They appear to work as if there were a wire running directly
between the source and the destination.
Typical transfer rates for data channels are: 56 k, 128k, 1.544 M,
2.08 M, 45M and 155 Mbps.

Common carriers charge for data connections by:

 –The amount of data transferred (megabytes per month)
–The transfer rate (bits per second)
–The amount of use (time per month)

Activity 2.1

1. What is MODEM?
2. Differentiate Local Area Network from Wide Area Network
3. What is half-Duplex?
4. Differentiate internal MODEM to external MODEM.