CSC 123: Data Communications

CSC123: DATA
COMMUNICATIONS
INTRODUCTION
1 Tutor: Eric M. Ayienga
ayienga@uonbi.ac.ke
LEARNING OUTCOMES
1. Describe the components of a data communications system.
2. Identify and define roles and features of various data transmission
protocols.

CSC 123: Data Communications

3. Explain the role of information codes and signals
4. Discuss the various reliability and coding techniques.
5. Describe the various types of transmission modes.
6. Explain modulation and describe its applications.
7. Describe the features and functions of multiplexing.
8. Identify key considerations in selecting various transmission media
in networks.
9. Discuss the applications of Access and Interconnection
Technologies.
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COURSE ADMINISTRATION
🞆 Pre-requisites:
⚫ Digital Electronics.

CSC 123: Data Communications

🞆 Assessment:
⚫ CAT 1: 20%.
⚫ CAT 2: 30%.
⚫ Exam: 50%.
🞆 Delivery:
⚫ Lectures and tutorials.
⚫ Case Studies.
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COURSE CONTENT
1. Overview Of Data Communications:
⚫ Introduction.
⚫ The Essence Of Data Communications.

CSC 123: Data Communications

⚫ The Conceptual Pieces of A Communication System.
⚫ The Subtopics Of Data Communications.
2. Protocol Architectures:
⚫ The Need for a Protocol Architecture.
⚫ The OSI Model.
⚫ The TCP/IP Protocol Architecture.
⚫ Standardization within a Protocol Architecture.
3. Information Sources and Signals:
⚫ Introduction.
⚫ Information Sources.
⚫ Signals Encoding Techniques. 4
⚫ Line Coding.
CONTENT
4. Reliability and Channel Coding:
⚫ Introduction.
⚫ The Three Main Sources of Transmission Errors.

CSC 123: Data Communications

⚫ Effect of Transmission Errors on Data.
⚫ Strategies For Handling Channel Errors.
⚫ Block And Convolutional Error Codes.
⚫ Hamming Distance.
⚫ The Trade-off Between Error Detection and Overhead.
⚫ Error Correction With Row And Column (RAC) Parity.
⚫ The 16-Bit Checksum Used In The Internet.
⚫ Cyclic Redundancy Codes (CRCs).
⚫ Automatic Repeat reQuest (ARQ) Mechanisms.
5. Transmission Modes:
⚫ Introduction. 5
⚫ A Taxonomy of Transmission Modes.
CONTENT
⚫ Transmission Order: Bits And Bytes.
⚫ Timing of Serial Transmission.
⚫ Asynchronous Transmission.

CSC 123: Data Communications

⚫ Synchronous Transmission.
⚫ Bytes, Blocks, And Frames.
⚫ Isochronous Transmission.
⚫ Simplex, Half-Duplex, and Full-Duplex Transmission.
⚫ DCE and DTE Equipment.
6. Modulation:
⚫ Introduction.
⚫ Carriers, Frequency, and Propagation.
⚫ Analog Modulation Schemes.
⚫ Digital Modulation Schemes.
7. Multiplexing And Demultiplexing (Channelization):
⚫ Introduction.
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⚫ The Concept of Multiplexing.
CONTENT
⚫ Types of Multiplexing.
⚫ Inverse Multiplexing.
8. Transmission Media:

CSC 123: Data Communications

⚫ Introduction.
⚫ A Taxonomy by Forms Of Energy.
⚫ Guided And Unguided Transmission.
⚫ Tradeoffs Among Media Types.
⚫ Measuring Transmission Media.
⚫ The Effect of Noise on Communication.
⚫ The Significance of Channel Capacity.
9. Access and Interconnection Technologies:
⚫ Introduction.
⚫ Internet Access Technology: Upstream and Downstream.
⚫ Narrowband And Broadband Access Technologies.   7
REFERENCES
🞆 Core Texts
⚫ Jerry FitzGerald, Alan Dennis, Alexandra Durcikova, Business Data
Communications and Networking, 13th Edition. 2017, John Wiley &

CSC 123: Data Communications

Sons, Inc.
🞆 Chapter 1 – Chapter 5.
⚫ Cory Beard and William Stallings, Wireless Communication Networks
and Systems, 2016, Pearson Higher Education, Inc.
🞆 Chapters 2, 4, 7 & 10.
⚫ Douglas Comer, Computer Networks and Internets, 5th Edition, New
Jersey, Prentice Hall, 2009.
🞆 Chapter 5 – Chapter 12.
⚫ Behrouz A. Forouzan, Data Communications and Networking,
McGraw Hill, 4th Edition, 2007.
🞆 Chapter 3 – Chapter 10, Chapter 17.
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REFERENCES
🞆 References Texts:
⚫ Fred Halsal - Data Communications, Computer Networks and Open Systems,
5th Edition, 2005, Addison Wesley.

CSC 123: Data Communications

🞆 Chapter 1 – Chapter 2.
⚫ William Stallings, Data and Computer Communications, 8th Edition, Prentice
Hall international, Inc. 2007.
🞆 Chapter 3 – Chapter 9.
⚫ Andrew S. Tanenbaum – Computer Networks, 5th Edition, 2011, Prentice Hall
international, Inc.
🞆 Chapter 1 – Chapter 2.
⚫ Trade Journals:
🞆 Networks, Connexion etc.
⚫ Academic Journals:
🞆 IEEE Communications i.e. review articles and research articles.
⚫ Standards literature.
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