2.

1 Types and methods of data transmission CAMBRIDG

E IGCSE
(0478/0984)

Packet switching
2.1 Types and methods of data transmission | Packet switching CAMBRIDGE IGCSE (0478/0984)

Packet switching

Packet switching can be thought of as a five-step process.

Packets may
Each packet can
Each packet is Routers are arrive out of
A data take its own
assigned a responsible for order. Once the
transmission is route to the
sequence controlling the final packet
broken down destination
number before route each arrives, they
into packets. based on
being sent. packet takes. are reordered
congestion.
correctly.
2.1 Types and methods of data transmission | Packet switching CAMBRIDGE IGCSE (0478/0984)

Packet switching

1 2 3 4

Source

Destination
2.1 Types and methods of data transmission | Packet switching CAMBRIDGE IGCSE (0478/0984)

Advantages of packet switching

No need to tie up a single communication channel

Easy to overcome busy or faulty lines by re-routing packets

Relatively easy to expand package usage

Possible to achieve a high data transmission rate

2.1 Types and methods of data transmission | Packet switching CAMBRIDGE IGCSE (0478/0984)

Disadvantages of packet switching

Packet can become lost en route and need to be re-sent

Real-time streaming is more prone to errors

Delays at the destination while packets are re-ordered

2.1 Types and methods of data transmission | Packet switching CAMBRIDGE IGCSE (0478/0984)

Packet switching

• Packet switching is a five-stage process:

1. Data is broken down into packets.
2. Each packet is assigned a sequence number.
3. Each packet can take its own route based on congestion.
4. Routers are responsible for controlling the route each packet takes.
5. Packets may arrive out of order. Once the final packet arrives, they are reordered.
2.1 Types and methods of data transmission | Packet switching CAMBRIDGE IGCSE (0478/0984)
-1 -1
Packet switching 4
It is possible for packets to get lost
because they keep bouncing around
5 from router to router without ever
-1 reaching their destination.
-1
To prevent this from happening, we
add a hop or time to live field into
7 6
the header of a packet.
3
The time to live field is reduced by
Source -1 one every time it leaves a router.

-1 Once the time to live field reaches

zero, the packet is deleted when it
2
reaches the next router.
1 Eventually, the receiving computer
-1 will send a request to re-send any
missing packets.

0 Destination