LO=2

Determine user needs

Mode of transmission
 The term transmission mode defines the direction of
data flow between two linked devices.
 The manner or way in which data is transmitted from
one place to another is called Data Transmission
Mode.
 There are three ways for transmitting data from one
location to another. These are:
1 Simplex mode
2 Half-Duplex mode
3 Full-Duplex mode
 Simplex Mode
 The most basic form of data or information
transmission is called simplex. This means that
data is sent in one direction only, from sender to
receiver. Examples of simplex transmission are
radio and television. With simplex transmission,
problems encountered during the transmission are
not detected and corrected.
 In simplex transmission mode, the communication
between sender and receiver occurs in only one direction.
 The sender can only send the data, and the
receiver can only receive the data. The receiver
cannot reply to the sender.
 Half duplex mode

 In Half-duplex mode, the communication can take place in

both directions, but only in one direction at a time. In this
mode, data is sent and received alternatively.
 In half-duplex mode, at a time only one end transmits data
while other end receives.
 In addition, it is possible to perform error detection and
request the sender to re-transmit information.
 The Internet browsing is an example of half duplex. When
we issue a request to download a web document, then that
document is downloaded and displayed before we issue
another request.
 Example 2, walkie-talkies, the speakers at both ends can
speak, but they have to speak one by one.They cannot
speak simultaneously.
 Full duplex mode

 In Full-duplex mode, the communication can take

place in both directions simultaneously, i.e. at the
same time on the same channel. It is the fastest
directional mode of communication. Example of
this mode is conversation of the persons through
telephone.
 Key Differences of the Three Transmission Modes

• In simplex mode, the signal is sent in one direction. In half duplex mode,
the signal is sent in both directions, but one at a time. In full duplex
mode, the signal is sent in both directions at the same time.
• In simplex mode, only one device can transmit the signal. In half duplex
mode, both devices can transmit the signal, but one at a time. In full
duplex mode, both devices can transmit the signal at the same time.
• Full duplex performs better than half duplex, and half duplex in turn
performs better than simplex.
• Simplex: The keyboard sends the command to the monitor. The monitor
cannot reply to the keyboard.
• Half duplex: Using a walkie-talkie, both speakers can communicate, but
they have to take turns.
• Full duplex: Using a telephone, both speakers can communicate at the
same time.
• The full duplex transmission mode offers the best performance among
the three, on account of the fact that it maximizes the amount of
bandwidth available.
 Parallel vs. serial transmission
• There are two types of data transmission modes. These
are:
1. Parallel Transmission
2. Serial Transmission
Serial Transmission
 In serial data transmission, bits of data flow in sequential
order through single communication line. Serial
transmission is typically slower than parallel transmission,
because data is sent sequentially in a bit-by-bit fashion.
 Serial mouse uses serial transmission mode in computer.
 In this type of transmission a single link is used to
transmit data bits and only one bit is transferred at a time.
• n Serial Transmission, data-bit flows from one
computer to another computer in bi-direction. In
this transmission, one bit flows at one clock
pulse. In Serial Transmission, 8 bits are
transferred at a time having a start and stop bit.
 Parallel Transmission

 In parallel transmission, bits of data flow concurrently

through separate communication lines.
 Inside the computer binary data flows from one unit
to another using parallel mode. If the computer uses
32-bits internal structure, all the 32-bits of data are
transferred simultaneously on 32-lane connections.
 Similarly, parallel transmission is commonly used to
transfer data from computer to printer. The printer is
connected to the parallel port of computer and
parallel cable that has many wires is used to connect
the printer to computer. It is very fast data
transmission mode
 In this transmission, data bits are transmitted
simultaneously through multiple links, which are
placed parallel to each other. Contrary to serial
transmission where only one bit is transmitted at
a time, eight bits of data can be transmitted
simultaneously in parallel transmission.
 Synchronous & Asynchronous Transmissions
 In synchronous transmission, large volumes of
information can be transmitted at a time.
 In this type of transmission, data is transmitted
block-by-block or word-byword simultaneously.
Each block may contain several bytes of data.
 In synchronous transmission, a special
communication device known as synchronized
clock’ is required to schedule the transmission of
information. This special communication device
or equipment is expensive.
 This transmission is the full duplex type.
 Asynchronous Transmission
• In asynchronous transmission, data is transmitted
one byte at a ‘time’. This type of transmission is
most commonly used by microcomputers. The
data is transmitted character-by-character as the
user types it on a keyboard.
 Data transfer methods

 In a complex system where a number of senders,

receivers and many ways to move the data between
two communicating parties where the transmission
system is made of a number of nodes
interconnected with a transmission medium,
 Switching is process to forward packets coming in
from one port to a port leading towards the
destination. When data comes on a port it is called
ingress, and when data leaves a port or goes out it is
called egress. A communication system may include
number of switches and nodes. At broad level
 Circuit Switching
 When two nodes communicate with each other over a
dedicated communication path, it is called circuit switching.
 There 'is a need of pre-specified route from which data will
travels and no other data is permitted. In circuit switching,
to transfer the data, circuit must be established so that the
data transfer can take place.
 This channel remained open and in use throughout the
whole call and could not be used by any other data or
phone calls.
 There are three phases in circuit switching:
1Establish
2Transfer
3Disconnect
 Circuit switching was designed for voice applications.
 Telephone is the best suitable example of circuit switching. Before
a user can make a call, a virtual path between caller and callee is
established over the network.
Advantages
• Circuit is dedicated to the call – no interference, no sharing
• Guaranteed the full bandwidth for the duration of the call
• Guaranteed Quality of Service
Disadvantages
• Inefficient – the equipment may be unused for a lot of the call, if
no data is being sent, the dedicated line still remains open
• Takes a relatively long time to set up the circuit
• During a crisis or disaster, the network may become unstable or
unavailable.
 NB:It was primarily developed for voice traffic rather than data
traffic
 Packet Switching
 Shortcomings of message switching gave birth to an
idea of packet switching.
 The entire message is broken down into smaller chunks
called packets. The switching information is added in the
header of each packet and transmitted independently.
• Packet switching enhances line efficiency as packets
from multiple applications can be multiplexed over the
carrier.
• The internet uses packet switching technique. Packet
switching enables the user to differentiate data streams
based on priorities. Packets are stored and forwarded
according to their priority to provide quality of service.
 Advantages of packet switching
• Security
• Bandwidth used to full potential
• Devices of different speeds can communicate
• Not affected by line failure (rediverts signal)
• Availability – do not have to wait for a direct connection to
become available
Disadvantages
• Under heavy use there can be a delay
• Data packets can get lost or become corrupted
• Protocols are needed for a reliable transfer
• Not so good for some types data streams e.g real-time
video streams can lose frames due to the way packets
arrive out of sequence.
The open system Interconnection (OSI) reference model

• The OSI reference model represents the seven

layers of the process by which data is
packaged and transmitted from a sending
application through the physical wires to the
receiving application.