Data communication

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"Data transfer" redirects here. For sharing data between different programs or schemas,
see Data exchange.
"Digital communication" redirects here. For the sociological aspects, see Computer-
mediated communication.
Data transmission and data reception (or, more broadly, data
communication or digital communications) is the transfer and reception
of data (a digital bitstream or a digitized analog signal[1]) over a point-to-point or point-to-
multipoint communication channel. Examples of such channels are copper wires, optical
fibers, wireless communication channels, storage media and computer buses. The data
are represented as an electromagnetic signal, such as an electrical
voltage, radiowave, microwave, or infrared signal.
Analog or analogue transmission is a transmission method of conveying voice, data,
image, signal or video information using a continuous signal which varies in amplitude,
phase, or some other property in proportion to that of a variable. The messages are
either represented by a sequence of pulses by means of a line
code (baseband transmission), or by a limited set of continuously varying waveforms
(passband transmission), using a digital modulation method. The passband modulation
and corresponding demodulation (also known as detection) is carried out
by modem equipment. According to the most common definition of digital signal, both
baseband and passband signals representing bit-streams are considered as digital
transmission, while an alternative definition only considers the baseband signal as
digital, and passband transmission of digital data as a form of digital-to-analog
conversion.
Data transmitted may be digital messages originating from a data source, for example a
computer or a keyboard. It may also be an analog signal such as a phone call or a video
signal, digitized into a bit-stream, for example, using pulse-code modulation (PCM) or
more advanced source coding (analog-to-digital conversion and data compression)
schemes. This source coding and decoding is carried out by codec equipment.

Contents

 1Distinction between related subjects

 2Protocol layers and sub-topics
 3Applications and history
 4Serial and parallel transmission
 5Communication channels
 6Asynchronous and synchronous data transmission
 7See also
 8References
Distinction between related subjects[edit]
Courses and textbooks in the field of data transmission[1] as well as digital transmission[2]
[3]
 and digital communications[4][5] have similar content.
Digital transmission or data transmission traditionally belongs
to telecommunications and electrical engineering. Basic principles of data transmission
may also be covered within the computer science or computer engineering topic of data
communications, which also includes computer networking applications and networking
protocols, for example routing, switching and inter-process communication. Although
the Transmission Control Protocol (TCP) involves transmission, TCP and other
transport layer protocols are covered in computer networking but not discussed in a
textbook or course about data transmission.
The term tele transmission involves the analog as well as digital communication. In
most textbooks, the term analog transmission only refers to the transmission of an
analog message signal (without digitization) by means of an analog signal, either as a
non-modulated baseband signal, or as a passband signal using an analog modulation
method such as AM or FM. It may also include analog-over-analog pulse
modulatated baseband signals such as pulse-width modulation. In a few books within
the computer networking tradition, "analog transmission" also refers to passband
transmission of bit-streams using digital modulation methods such
as FSK, PSK and ASK. Note that these methods are covered in textbooks named digital
transmission or data transmission, for example.[1]
The theoretical aspects of data transmission are covered by information
theory and coding theory.

Protocol layers and sub-topics[edit]

OSI model
by layer

show

7.  Application layer

show

6.  Presentation layer

show
 5.  Session layer

show

4.  Transport layer

show

3.  Network layer

show

2.  Data link layer

show

1.  Physical layer

 v
 t
 e

Courses and textbooks in the field of data transmission typically deal with the
following OSI model protocol layers and topics:

 Layer 1, the physical layer:

o Channel coding including
 Digital modulation schemes
 Line coding schemes
 Forward error correction (FEC) codes
o Bit synchronization
o Multiplexing
o Equalization
o Channel models
 Layer 2, the data link layer:
o Channel access schemes, media access control (MAC)
o Packet mode communication and Frame synchronization
o Error detection and automatic repeat request (ARQ)
 o Flow control
 Layer 6, the presentation layer:
o Source coding (digitization and data compression), and information theory.
o Cryptography (may occur at any layer)
It is also common to deal with the cross-layer design of those three layers. [6]

Applications and history[edit]

Data (mainly but not exclusively informational) has been sent via non-electronic
(e.g. optical, acoustic, mechanical) means since the advent of communication. Analog
signal data has been sent electronically since the advent of the telephone. However, the
first data electromagnetic transmission applications in modern time
were telegraphy (1809) and teletypewriters (1906), which are both digital signals. The
fundamental theoretical work in data transmission and information theory by Harry
Nyquist, Ralph Hartley, Claude Shannon and others during the early 20th century, was
done with these applications in mind.
Data transmission is utilized in computers in computer buses and for communication
with peripheral equipment via parallel ports and serial ports such as RS-
232 (1969), FireWire (1995) and USB (1996). The principles of data transmission are
also utilized in storage media for Error detection and correction since 1951.
Data transmission is utilized in computer networking equipment such
as modems (1940), local area networks (LAN) adapters (1964), repeaters, repeater
hubs, microwave links, wireless network access points (1997), etc.
In telephone networks, digital communication is utilized for transferring many phone
calls over the same copper cable or fiber cable by means of pulse-code
modulation (PCM), i.e. sampling and digitization, in combination with Time division
multiplexing (TDM) (1962). Telephone exchanges have become digital and software
controlled, facilitating many value added services. For example, the first AXE telephone
exchange was presented in 1976. Since the late 1980s, digital communication to the
end user has been possible using Integrated Services Digital Network (ISDN) services.
Since the end of the 1990s, broadband access techniques such as ADSL, Cable
modems, fiber-to-the-building (FTTB) and fiber-to-the-home (FTTH) have become
widespread to small offices and homes. The current tendency is to replace traditional
telecommunication services by packet mode communication such as IP
telephony and IPTV.
Transmitting analog signals digitally allows for greater signal processing capability. The
ability to process a communications signal means that errors caused by random
processes can be detected and corrected. Digital signals can also be sampled instead
of continuously monitored. The multiplexing of multiple digital signals is much simpler to
the multiplexing of analog signals.
Because of all these advantages, and because recent advances
in wideband communication channels and solid-state electronics have allowed scientists
to fully realize these advantages, digital communications has grown quickly. Digital
communications is quickly edging out analog communication because of the vast
demand to transmit computer data and the ability of digital communications to do so.
The digital revolution has also resulted in many digital telecommunication applications
where the principles of data transmission are applied. Examples are second-
generation (1991) and later cellular telephony, video conferencing, digital
TV (1998), digital radio (1999), telemetry, etc.
Data transmission, digital transmission or digital communications is the physical transfer
of data (a digital bit stream or a digitized analog signal[1]) over a point-to-point or point-
to-multipoint communication channel. Examples of such channels are copper wires,
optical fibers, wireless communication channels, storage media and computer buses.
The data are represented as an electromagnetic signal, such as an electrical voltage,
radiowave, microwave, or infrared signal.
While analog transmission is the transfer of a continuously varying analog signal over
an analog channel, digital communications is the transfer of discrete messages over a
digital or an analog channel. The messages are either represented by a sequence of
pulses by means of a line code (baseband transmission), or by a limited set of
continuously varying wave forms (passband transmission), using a digital modulation
method. The passband modulation and corresponding demodulation (also known as
detection) is carried out by modem equipment. According to the most common definition
of digital signal, both baseband and passband signals representing bit-streams are
considered as digital transmission, while an alternative definition only considers the
baseband signal as digital, and passband transmission of digital data as a form of
digital-to-analog conversion.
Data transmitted may be digital messages originating from a data source, for example a
computer or a keyboard. It may also be an analog signal such as a phone call or a video
signal, digitized into a bit-stream for example using pulse-code modulation (PCM) or
more advanced source coding (analog-to-digital conversion and data compression)
schemes. This source coding and decoding is carried out by codec equipment.

Serial and parallel transmission[edit]

In telecommunications, serial transmission is the sequential transmission of signal
elements of a group representing a character or other entity of data. Digital serial
transmissions are bits sent over a single wire, frequency or optical path sequentially.
Because it requires less signal processing and less chances for error than parallel
transmission, the transfer rate of each individual path may be faster. This can be used
over longer distances as a check digit or parity bit can be sent along it easily.
In telecommunications, parallel transmission is the simultaneous transmission of
the signal elements of a character or other entity of data. In digital communications,
parallel transmission is the simultaneous transmission of related signal elements over
two or more separate paths. Multiple electrical wires are used which can transmit
multiple bits simultaneously, which allows for higher data transfer rates than can be
achieved with serial transmission. This method is used internally within the computer,
for example the internal buses, and sometimes externally for such things as printers,
The major issue with this is "skewing" because the wires in parallel data transmission
have slightly different properties (not intentionally) so some bits may arrive before
others, which may corrupt the message. A parity bit can help to reduce this. However,
electrical wire parallel data transmission is therefore less reliable for long distances
because corrupt transmissions are far more likely.

Communication channels[edit]
Main article: Communication channel
Some communications channel types include:

 Data transmission circuit

 Full-duplex
 Half-duplex
 Multi-drop:
o Bus network
o Mesh network
o Ring network
o Star network
o Wireless network
 Point-to-point
 Simplex

Asynchronous and synchronous data transmission[edit]

Main article: Comparison of synchronous and asynchronous signalling
Asynchronous serial communication uses start and stop bits to signify the beginning
and end of transmission.[7] This method of transmission is used when data are sent
intermittently as opposed to in a solid stream.
Synchronous transmission synchronizes transmission speeds at both the receiving and
sending end of the transmission using clock signals. The clock may be a separate
signal or embedded in the data. A continual stream of data is then sent between the two
nodes. Due to there being no start and stop bits the data transfer rate is more efficient.

See also[edit]
 Computer networking
 Communication
 Information theory
 Internetworking
 Media (communication)
 Network security
 Node-to-node data transfer
 Packet switching
 Signal processing
 Telecommunication
 Transmission (disambiguation)