DATA COMUNICATION AND COMPUTER

NETWORKS

Lecture 1

• Introduction
• Data Communication
• Data Communication Components
• Networks: Distributed Processing
Network Criteria
Applications
 INTRODUCTION
The term telecommunication means communication at a
distance.

The word data refers to information presented in

whatever form is agreed upon by the parties creating and
using the data.

Data communications are the exchange of data between

two devices via some form of transmission medium such
as a wire cable.
 INTRODUCTION
DATA & INFORMATION

Data refers to the raw facts that are collected while information
refers to processed data that enables us to take decisions.

Ex. When result of a particular test is declared it contains data

of all students, when you find the marks you have scored you
have the information that lets you know whether you have
passed or failed.

The word data refers to any information which is presented in a

form that is agreed and accepted upon by is creators and users.
 INTRODUCTION
Data is collection of raw facts which is processed to deduce information. There may be
different forms in which data may be represented. Some of the forms of data used in
communications are as follows:

1. Text
Text includes combination of alphabets in small case as well as upper case.
It is stored as a pattern of bits. Prevalent encoding system : ASCII, Unicode

2. Numbers
Numbers include combination of digits from 0 to 9.
It is stored as a pattern of bits. Prevalent encoding system : ASCII, Unicode

3. Images
A Pixel is the smallest element of an image. To put it in simple terms, a picture
or image is a matrix of pixel elements.

The pixels are represented in the form of bits.

 DATA COMMUNICATION
 Data Communication is a process of exchanging data or
information .In case of computer networks this exchange is
done
between two devices over a transmission medium.

 This process involves a communication system which is

made up of hardware and software.

 The hardware part involves the sender and receiver

devices and the intermediate devices through which the
data passes.

 The software part involves certain rules which specify what

is to be communicated, how it is to be communicated and
when. It is also called as a Protocol.
DATA COMMUNICATION-CHARACTERISTICS
1.3.1 Characteristics of Data Communication

The effectiveness of any data communications system depends upon

the following four fundamental characteristics:

1. Delivery: The data should be delivered to the correct destination and

correct user.

2. Accuracy: The communication system should deliver the data

accurately, without introducing any errors. The data may get corrupted
during transmission affecting the accuracy of the delivered data.

3. Timeliness: Audio and Video data has to be delivered in a timely

manner without any delay; such a data delivery is called real time
transmission of data.

4. Jitter: It is the variation in the packet arrival time. Uneven Jitter may
affect the timeliness of data being transmitted.
 DATA COMMUNICATION COMPONENTS
A data communication system has 5 components:

- Message: info (data) to be communicated

- Sender: device that sends the data message

- Receiver: device that receives the message

- Medium: transmission medium (physical path) by which a message travels from the
transmitter to the receiver

- Protocol: set of rules that governs data communications

 NETWORKS
A network is a set of devices (often referred to as nodes)
connected by communication 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. A link can be a cable, air,
optical fiber, or any medium which can transport a signal
carrying information.
 NETWORKS:DISTRIBUTED PROCESSING

Most networks use distributed processing, in

which a task is divided among multiple
computers.

Instead of one single large machine being

responsible for all aspects of a process, separate
computers (usually a personal computer or
workstation) handle a subset.
 NETWORKS:DISTRIBUTED PROCESSING
Advantages of distributed processing include the
following
 Security/encapsulation
 Distributed databases
 Faster problem solving
 Security through redundancy
 Collaborative processing
 NETWORKS CRITERIA
To be considered efficient and effective, a network must meet a number of
criteria. The most important of these are:
• Performance
—Can be measured in many ways
transit time: amount of time required for a message to travel from one
device to another
response time: time elapsed between an inquiry and a
response
- Number of users
- Type of transmission medium
- Hardware capabilities and software efficiency
• Reliability
A measure of frequency of failure and the time needed
to recover, network robustness
• Security
—Protecting of data from unauthorized users
 NETWORK APPLICATIONS

 Marketing and sales

 Financial services

 Manufacturing

 Electronic messaging

 Directory services

 Information services

 Electronic data interchange (EDI)

 Teleconferencing

 Cellular telephone

 Cable television
 PROTOCOLS

A protocol is synonymous with rule. It consists of a set of

rules that govern data communications. It determines
what is communicated, how it is communicated and when
it is communicated. The key elements of a protocol are
syntax, semantics and timing
Elements of a Protocol

 Syntax
 Structure or format of the data
 Indicates how to read the bits - field delineation
 Semantics
 Interprets the meaning of the bits
 Knows which fields define what action
 Timing
 When data should be sent and what
 Speed at which data should be sent or speed at which it is being
received.
Standards
• Standards are essential in creating and maintaining an
open and competitive market for equipment manufacturers

• Required to guarantee national and international

interoperability of data and telecommunications
technology and processes

• Categories of data communications standards

—De facto:
• Standards that have not been approved by an organizational body
but have been adopted through widespread use, eg. model TCP/IP)
—De jure:
• Those that have been legislated by an official recognized body, eg.
OSI model
 Standards organizations
 Standards creation committees
 — ISO (International Organization for Standardization)
 — ITU-T (International Telecommunications Union – Telecommunications
 Standards)
 • Initially known as CCITT (Consultative Committee for International
 Telegraphy and Telephony)
 — ANSI (American National Standards Institute)
 — IEEE (Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers)
 — EIA (Electronic Industries Association
 • Forums
 — Made up of representatives from interested corporations to speed
 acceptance and use of new technologies in the telecom industry

 • Regulatory Agencies
 — Governmental agencies: to protect public interest by regulating radio,
 TV and wire/cable communications
 Internet standards

 An Internet standard is a thoroughly tested

 specification used by those who work with the
 Internet
 • A specification begins with an Internet draft
 —Working document with no official status and a 6-
 month lifetime
 —Upon recommendation from the Internet authorities a
 draft may be published as a Request for Comment
 (RFC)