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Introduction on Data
Communications
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Content

 Data and Information

 What is Data Communication?
 Components of Data Communication
 Data Flow
 Transmission media
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Data and Information
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What is Data Communication?

 Data Communication is a process of exchanging data between two devices via some forms
of transmission medium.
 For data Communications to occur , the communicating devices must be part of a
communicating system made of a combination of hardware and software.
 The effectiveness of data communication system depends on four fundamental
characteristics :-
 Delivery
 Accuracy
 Timeliness
 Jitter
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Components of Data Communication

 Data communication system has five key elements/ components.

1. Message
2. Sender
3. Receiver
4. Medium
5. Protocol
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Data Flow

 Two devices communicate with each other by sending and receiving data.
 The data can flow between the two devices in the following ways.

1. Simplex
2. Half Duplex
3. Full Duplex
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1. Simplex

• Communication is unidirectional.

• Only one of the devices sends the data and the other
one only receives the data.

• Example: a CPU send data while a monitor only

receives data.
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2. Half Duplex

• Both the stations can transmit as well as receive but

not at the same time.

• When one device is sending other can only receive

and vice-versa.

• Example: A walkie-talkie.
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3. Full Duplex

• Both stations can transmit and receive at the same

time.

• Example: mobile phones

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Transmission media

 A transmission medium is a
way which transmits the data
from one place to another.

 Usually use the different types

of wires and waves to transmit
the data.
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Guided Media

Twisted Pair Cable Coaxial Cable Fiber Optic Cable

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Unguided Media

Infrared

Radio Wave