Data Communications

Lecture-01
 Lecture Overview

 What is Data communication?

 Data communication system.
 Types of Data communication.
 Importance of Data communication
 Fundamental characteristics of a data communication system
 Components of a data Communication system
 Networks & distributed processing
 What is Data Communication?

 The word data refers to facts, concepts and instructions.

 In context of computer information systems data are represented by binary information
units(or bits) produced and consumed in the form of 0’s and 1’s.
 Data Communication is the exchange of data (in the form of 0’s and 1’s) between
devices via some form of transmission medium(such as a wire cable). Local and remote
data communication. For data communication to occur the communicating devices
must be a part of a communication system made up of a combination of hardware &
software.
Data Communication
 Data communication system.

For Data Communication to occur, communicating devices must be a

part of a system made up of some specific kind of hardware and software.
This system is known as

“DATA COMMUNICATION SYSTEM”

 Transmission Media

Medium Speed Cost

Twisted Wire 300bps-10Mbps Low
Microwave 256Kbps-100Mbps Low
Coaxial Cable 56Kbps-200Mbps Low
Fiber Optic Cable 500Kbps-10Gbps High
 Types of Data communication.

 Data flow (simplex, half-duplex, and full-duplex)

Simplex
Half-duplex
Duplex
 Importance of Data communication

 Entertainment
 Business
 Education & research
 Space missions
 PC revolution
 Telecommunications
 Fundamental characteristics of a data
communication system

The effectiveness of a data communication system depends on

three fundamental characteristics:
 Delivery
 Accuracy
 Timeliness
 Fundamental characteristics of a data
communication system

1. Delivery: The system must deliver data to the correct

destination.
2. Accuracy:
 Data delivered accurately.
 Altered data which left uncorrected are unusable.
3. Timelines:
The system must deliver data in timely manner without delay
(real-time).
Components of a data Communication
system
 Components of a data Communication
system

1. Message: data.
2. Sender: The device that send the message.
3. Receiver: The device that receive the message.
4. Transmission Medium: The physical path between sender and receiver,
the message travel.
5. Protocol: Protocol is a set of rules that governs data communication. It
represents an agreement between the communicating devices.
Without a protocol, two devices may be connected but not
communicating.
 Networks

 A network is a set of devices(often referred to as nodes) connected by media links.

 A node can be a computer, printer or any other device capable of sending and/or
receiving data generated by other nodes on the network.
 The links connecting the devices are often called communication channels.
 Distributed Processing

 In distributed processing a task is divided among multiple computers.

 Instead of a single large machine being responsible for all aspects of a process, each
separate computer handles a subset.

Advantages of distributed processing:

 Security/Encapsulation e.g. ATM
 Distributed databases e.g. World Wide Web
 Faster Problem solving e.g. Encryption Codes
 Security through redundancy e.g. space programs
 Collaborative processing e.g. Games in a multi-user environment
HAVE A NICE DAY!!!