William Stallings Data and Computer Communications 7th Edition

Chapter 1 Data Communications and Networks Overview

A Communications Model
Source
generates data to be transmitted e.g. Telephones, PCs

Transmitter
Converts data into transmittable signals e.g. a modem takes a digital bit steam from an attached device such as a a PC and transforms that bit stream in an analog signal that can be handled by the telephone network.

Transmission System
Carries data A single transmission line or a complex network

Receiver
Converts received signal into data which can be handled by te destination device e.g. a modem receives incoming analog signals and converts them into a digital steam to be consumed by a PC

Destination
Takes incoming data

Communications Tasks
Transmission system utilization Interfacing Signal generation Synchronization Exchange management Error detection and correction Flow control Addressing Routing Recovery Message formatting Security Network management

Communications Tasks
Transmission system utilization
Efficient use of transmission facilities shared among communicating devices Various multiplexing techniques used

Interfacing
The device-transmission system interaction

Signal generation
Generate a signal which is capable of
1. Being propagated through the transmission system 2. Can be interpreted at the receiver

Synchronization
The signal must be able to know that start, end and the duration of the signal

Communications Tasks
Exchange management
Dialing the number of the destination Ringing the called phone Completing the connection by lifting the receiver Simplex/Half duplex/Full duplex communication? Receiver busy Receiver not ready?

Error detection and correction

What if data is corrupted?

Flow control
The receiver does not overwhelm the recerver

Addressing Te source and destination addresses

Communications Tasks
Routing
Which path to follow from source to destination

Recovery
Recover from failure, e.g. a file transfer is interrupted due to some fault.

Message formatting
The binary code for characters?

Security
Message integrity and security

Network management
Configure the system Monitor thee system React to failures Planning for future gwowth

Simplified Communications Model - Diagram

Simplified Data Communications Model

Networking
Point to point communication not usually practical
Devices are too far apart Large set of devices would need impractical number of connections

Solution is a communications network

Wide Area Network (WAN) Local Area Network (LAN)

Wide Area Networks

Large geographical area Crossing public rights of way Rely in part on common carrier circuits Alternative technologies
Circuit switching Packet switching Frame relay Asynchronous Transfer Mode (ATM)

Circuit Switching
Dedicated communications path established for the duration of the conversation e.g. telephone network

Packet Switching
Data sent out of sequence Small chunks (packets) of data at a time Packets passed from node to node between source and destination Used for terminal to computer and computer to computer communications

Frame Relay
Packet switching systems have large overheads to compensate for errors Modern systems are more reliable Errors can be caught in end system Most overhead for error control is stripped out

Asynchronous Transfer Mode

ATM Evolution of frame relay Little overhead for error control Fixed packet (called cell) length Anything from 10Mbps to Gbps Constant data rate using packet switching technique

Local Area Networks

Smaller scope
Building or small campus

Usually owned by same organization as attached devices Data rates much higher Usually broadcast systems Now some switched systems and ATM are being introduced

LAN Configurations
Switched
Switched Ethernet
May be single or multiple switches

ATM LAN Fibre Channel

Wireless
Mobility Ease of installation

Metropolitan Area Networks

MAN Middle ground between LAN and WAN Private or public network High speed Large area

Networking Configuration

Further Reading
Stallings, W. [2003] Data and Computer Communications (7th edition), Prentice Hall, Upper Saddle River NJ, chapter 1 Web site for Stallings book
http://williamstallings.com/DCC7e.html