Transmission of Data:

• It can be defined as the movement of data from one device to another in the form of bits.

• To transfer data, some form of medium is required e.g. fiber optics, etc.

• Data can be transferred over a short distance i.e. from computer to printer or over long distance i.e. overseas call
via phones.

• Three major factors are required to be considered for the transfer of data:

1. Data transfer direction (one way or two way).

2. Transmission method i.e. no. of bits to be transmitted in one time.

3. Synchronization method.

Types of Data Transmission:

• There are two types of data transmission:

1. Serial

2. Parallel

Serial Data Transmission:

• In serial communication systems, there is a single wire over which data bits are transferred one by one.

• It is known as serial transmission because bits need to be organized before they are sent over the channel.

• This way the receiver can receive and arrange data in order and consider it to be errorless.

• This data transmission is best utilized when communication needs to be done over long distances.

• The data transmission speed in serial communication systems is slower compared to parallel communication
systems.

• In serial data transmission, there is no issue of synchronization.

Example:
• An example of serial data transmission is the transfer of bits from the computer to the modem for transmission
over the phone.
Parallel Data Transmission:
• In parallel communication systems, there are multiple lines of wires and data is transmitted simultaneously over
these parallel wires.

• This data transmission method can be best utilized over short distances.

• If used over a long distance the synchronization issue can occur i.e. the bit can become skewed.

• It is used usually for internal communication in computer systems.

• It is faster as compared to serial data transmission.

Example:
• An example of parallel data transmission is ribbon wire that is used to transfer data from the computer to the
printer.

Modes of Data Transmission:

• There are three modes of data transmission:

1. Simplex

2. Duplex

3. Half-Duplex

Simplex Data Transmission:

• In this mode, data is transmitted in one direction only i.e. sender to receiver.

Example:
• Transfer of data from computer to printer.

Duplex Data Transmission:

• In this mode, data is transmitted in both directions simultaneously.
Example:
• Broadband phone connection.

Half-Duplex Data Transmission:

• In this mode, data is transmitted in both directions but not simultaneously i.e. not at the same time.

Example:
• A phone conversation.

Error Detection & Correction in Data Transmission:

• In data transmission, during the transfer of data, noise and other impairments are introduced; the methods used
for the detection of these is known as error detection.

• Error detection helps in data’s reliable delivery across channels.

• It also helps in reducing the undetected error probability i.e. the transfer of incorrect frames.

• Some kind of algorithm is applied before the transmission of data to produce an error-detection code that is
usually sent over the channel with the data.

• The receiver applies the same algorithm and generates error code from the received data then compares it with
the error code generated at the sender’s end.

• If both codes are the same then it means the data received is error free.

• Otherwise, the received data is considered incorrect and the receiver acts accordingly.

How Parity Bit Are Used For Error Detection:

• Data transfer also encounters noise and impairments that alter the digital signal.

• E.g. data sent 1001 can be received as 1101.

• To detect this type of error, the parity bit can be used.

• Parity bit system can be even or odd and it is the introduction of one additional bit at the start or end of the
bitstream to transmitted.
• In even parity system, the number of occurrences of 1s needs to be even and decide whether parity bit should be 0
or 1.

• However, in an odd parity system, the number of occurrences of 1s need to be odd and decide the value of the
parity bit.
Example:
Consider, the data to be transmitted in 1001001 and uses an odd parity system, so the parity bit will be 0 since the
number of occurrences of 1s is already odd,

• Now suppose this data with the parity bit is transferred, and the receiver knows that the parity system used is odd.

• The received data block has encountered noise and altered to,

• In this case, the parity bit will help the receiver detect an error since it no longer corresponds to the odd number of
occurrences of 1s.

• The parity bit only helps in detecting 50% of the errors.

• However, in parity detection, there is a shortcoming that it cannot detect the error if more than 1 bit has been
altered, e.g.

• In this case, no error will be detected.

Integrated Circuit (IC):

• In the initial time, data was sent in serial form i.e. one bit at a time over a single channel.

• With the advent of technology, Integrated Circuit (IC) introduced and allowed multiple devices on a single silicon
chip.

• Because of it, the parallel transmission of data came into existence.

• Conventionally, it uses the transfer of a byte (8-bit) simultaneously making the transfer of data faster.

• The standard parallel interface uses a 36-wire heavy cable that was also expensive.

• Today, many ICs make use of serial and parallel data transmission.

Example:
• Multiplexer or ‘MUX’ is an example of an IC that utilizes both serial and parallel interface.

• It is a combinational logic circuit.

• It is used to switch multiple input signal lines to a single output line using a control signal.

• It works as a multiple position rotatory switch i.e. very fast.

• The input lines are also known as channels.

• It can be digital using logic gates or analogous using transistors, relays or MOSFET.

Universal Serial Bus (USB):

• It uses an asynchronous method for data transmission.

• It has been widely used today for the transfer of data from the computer to multiple devices.

• USB cable typically consists of four-wire shielded cable; two used for data transfer and the other two used for
power and earth.

• USB is detected automatically by the computer system.

• The device is then recognized and the required driver is installed automatically.

• Around 127 devices can be connected to a single USB port using a USB hub