CHAPTER 11 – DATA COMMUNICATION

Data communication terminologies

Communication:
Communication is an act of sending or receiving data. Between two or more networked or connected
devices.
a) Sender – It is just a machine that transmits data messages. It could be a workstation, desktop computer,
laptop, mobile phone, or another device.
b) Receiver – Device that receives messages is referred to as a receiver. It could be a workstation, a mobile
phone, a computer, etc.
c) Communication Media – The means, channels, or methods used to transport messages from the sender
to the receiver are referred to as communication medium.
d) Protocols – A protocol is a set of rules for exchanging data. Each step and process of communication
between two or more computers has a set of rules that apply to it. For networks to transport data
successfully, they must abide by certain guidelines.
e) Bandwidth – The data transfer rate of a computer network, measured in bits per second, is called
bandwidth (Bps).
f) Data Transfer Rate (DTR) – The amount of digital data transferred from one location to another in a
predetermined amount of time is known as the data transfer rate (DTR). The speed at which a certain
amount of data moves from one location to another is referred to as the data transfer rate.

Types of data communication

1. Simplex Communication: 
 It is one-way communication or unidirectional communication in which one device only receives
and another device only sends data.
 Device uses their entire capacity in transmission.
 Example: entering data using a keyboard, listing music using a speaker
2. Half Duplex communication: 
 It is a two-way communication or 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.
 Example: walkie-talkie. 
3. Full-duplex communication: 
 It is a two-way communication or bidirectional communication in which both the devices can
send and receive data at the same time.
 Example: mobile phones, landline.

Switching Techniques
Multiple routes from the sender to the receiver are possible in big networks. The best path for data
transfer will be selected by the switching technique. The systems are connected using a switching
mechanism to provide one-to-one communication.

There are basically two types of switching

1. Circuit Switching – Two telephones linked via a circuit switched method. Circuit Switching Long-distance
communication has long been accomplished using the circuit switching approach.
2. Packet Switching – Small data packets are sent between different networks using packet switching.
These data “packets” or “chunks” enable quicker, more effective data transport. When a user transfers a
file over a network, it frequently travels in smaller data packets rather than all at once.
 Circuit Switching Packet Switching

In-circuit switching has there are 3 phases: 

i) Connection Establishment. 
In Packet switching directly data transfer takes place.
ii) Data Transfer. 
iii) Connection Released.

In-circuit switching, each data unit knows the In Packet switching, each data unit just knows the final
entire path address which is provided by the destination address intermediate path is decided by the
source. routers.

In-Circuit switching, data is processed at the In Packet switching, data is processed at all intermediate
source system only nodes including the source system.

Circuit switching is more reliable. Packet switching is less reliable.

Less wastage of resources as compared to Circuit

Wastage of resources is more in Circuit Switching
Switching

It is not a store and forward technique. It is a store and forward technique.

Transmission of the data is done not only by the source

Transmission of the data is done by the source.
but also by the intermediate routers.

Transmission media
A route that may transport data from a sender to a receiver is referred to as the transmission medium.
There are two types of transmission media.
1. Guided Media
The signals are transferred using guided media, which is similar to a physical medium. Data is transmitted
using guided media through a fixed-path network of cables.
a) Twisted pair cable – Two insulated copper wires are wrapped around one another to form the Twisted
Pairs cable. Twisted pair cable is also known as Ethernet cable.
Advantages of Ethernet Cable
– Cost – Effective
– Easy to install and Maintain
Disadvantages of Ethernet Cable
– Installation is expensive
– Very difficult to manage for long distance
b) Co-axial cable – Coaxial cable is a form of copper cable that is specifically designed with a metal shield
and other signal-blocking components. It is largely utilised by cable TV providers.
Advantages of Co-axial cable
– Co-axial cable has greater data transmission quality than twisted pair cable.
– Easy to install and very durable
Disadvantages of Co-axial cable
– Coaxial cables are expensive
– If single cable failure then all the network can take down
c) Fiber – optical cable – Large volumes of data are transmitted quickly and efficiently over fibre optic lines.
Fiber optic cables are less clumsy, lighter, more flexible, and able to carry more data than conventional
copper wires.
Advantages of Fiber – optical cable
– High speed data transmission
– Data are more secure in fiber optical cable
Disadvantages of Fiber – optical cable
– The cost of fiber optical cable is higher than the copper wire
– Installation is also more expensive as compare to other wire
2. Unguided Media
The electromagnetic waves are transmitted via an unguided transmission without the help of any physical
medium.
a) Radio waves – In the electromagnetic spectrum, radio waves have the longest wavelengths. These
waves, which fall under the category of electromagnetic radiation, range in frequency from 300 GHz to 3
kHz,
Advantages of Radio waves
– Radio waves are transmitted easily through air.
– Radio waves can be reflect and change their direction but data will not distroy
Disadvantage of Radio waves
– Radio waves have low frequency so it can’t transmit a lot of data at one time
– Rain, thunderstorms, and other meteorological factors can affect these signals.
b) Micro waves – Microwaves signal are used in satellite communication. This signal can transmit the data
for long distance. A high frequency radio signal can be sent over the air in a straight line using a microwave.
Advantages of Microwaves
– Microwaves signal can receive any where
– Higher data transfer rates and bandwidth is more as compare to other medium
Disadvantages of Microwaves
– Rain, thunderstorms, and other meteorological factors can affect these signals.
– It is not a secure method of communication
c) Infrared waves – A method of sending a signal over a distance with light is infrared. Infrared uses a light
frequency that is higher than visible light in the red end of the light spectrum.
Advantages of Infrared waves:
It is a very high speed transmission.
It has a large bandwidth.
It is very cheap.
It can be simple to create.
It provides a wireless connection between two systems.
There is no license needed to facilitate it.
Disadvantages of Infrared Waves:
Infrared frequencies are affected by hard objects smoke dust sunlight fog extra. h since it
doesn't work through walls. 
Infrared waves at high power can damage Eyes

Network Protocols
Transmission Control Protocol (TCP) –
 For communication via a network, TCP is a well-known communication protocol.
 Any communication is split up into a number of packets that are transferred from the source to the
destination, where they are reassembled.
 TCP is used for organizing data in a way that ensures the secure transmission between the server
and client.
 It guarantees the integrity of data sent over the network, regardless of the amount.
Internet Protocol (IP) – 
 Internet Protocol is the procedure or method used to transport data from one computer to another
over the internet (IP).
 A host, or a computer connected to the internet, is identified by at least one IP address that makes
it unique from other computers in the network

Point-to-Point Protocol – 
 The TCP/IP protocol, also known as the Point-to-Point Protocol
 Used to connect one computer system to another computer (PPP). Computers utilise the PPP
protocol to communicate across landlines and the Internet.
 A PPP connection is established when two systems are physically connected by a phone line.

HyperText Transfer Protocol (HTTP) –

 The HTTP protocol is used for internet-based resource transfers between client devices and servers.
 The resources needed to load a web page are requested by client devices, and in response, the
servers provide the requested resources to the client devices.

File Transfer Protocol (FTP) – 

 A method for downloading, uploading, and transferring files between computers and over the
internet is the file transfer protocol.
 The FTP functions give client access to file servers through the File Transfer Protocol (FTP)
 FTP enables the transfer of files between computers or via a cloud.

Simple mail transport Protocol (SMTP) – 

 SMTP can be used to send and distribute outgoing email.
 It’s easy to set up and reliable to use the SMTP protocol.
 Either communications arrive at their intended recipients or an error notice alerts them to the
problem.

Post office Protocol (POP) – 

 POP3 is a method for receiving incoming emails.
 Post Office Protocol 3 is a common method of acquiring email that receives and holds email for a
person until they pick it up (POP3).

Telnet – 
 Telnet is the main internet protocol used to connect to remote machines.
 It makes it possible to link TCP/IP networks to distant machines.

Internet Relay Chat (IRC) – 

 Internet Relay Chat (IRC) is a network of Internet servers that use a specific protocol through which
individuals can hold real-time online conversations via PCs and other devices.
 The IRC server is used to transmit the message

Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) – 

 It enables voice to be transported over a packet switched network as opposed to a public switched
telephone network.
 VOIP software enables making phone calls over a standard internet connection.
 Today, ATA, IP phones, and computer-to-computer VoIP services are the three main categories that
are regularly used.