Module 1 – Data Communication and Networking

Introduction:

This module serves as an introduction to the characteristics of data communication, protocols,

standards and networking.

Module Learning Outcomes:

In this module, you should be able to:

1. Identify the characteristics of data communication;

2. describe networks and internet;
3. identify protocols and standards.

I. Pre – Assessment:
Direction. Write TRUE if the statement is correct and FALSE if it is wrong. Write your answers in
a separate sheet of paper.
_______ 1. Sharing of information is “Data Communication”.

_______2. “Data” refers to facts, concepts and / or instructions.

_______3. “Data Communication” is “Exchange of data between two/more devices via a

transmission medium.
_______4. Message: It is the Information (data) to be communicated (shared) with others.
_______5. Sender: The device that sends the message.
_______6. Receiver: The device that receives the message.
_______7. Medium: Physical path by which a message travels from sender to receiver.
_______8. Protocol: A set of rules that governs the data communication.
_______9. Communication can be simplex, Half-duplex, or full-duplex.
_______10. Simplex: communication is unidirectional.
 II. Lesson Map:

The map above illustrates the basic components of data communication and networking.

III. Core Content:

Engage: In your own understanding, explain the essence of data communication.

Explore:

Data Communication

 Sharing of information is “Data Communication”

 Sharing can be local (face to face)
 Remote (over a distance)
 “Data” refers to facts, concepts and / or instructions
 In the context of computers, data represented in the form of 0‟s and 1‟s
  “Data Communication” is “Exchange of data between two/more devices via a transmission
medium.

Characteristics of Data Communication

Delivery: system must deliver data to correct destination

 Accuracy: Accurate data should be delivered

 Timeliness: Data delivered late are useless

Components of Data Communication

 Message: It is the Information (data) to be communicated (shared) with others

 Sender: The device that sends the message
 Receiver: The device that receives the message
 Medium: Physical path by which a message travels from sender to receiver
 Protocol: A set of rules that governs the data communication
Direction of Data Flow

Communication can be simplex, Half-duplex, or full-duplex.

 Simplex: communication is unidirectional

 Half-duplex: bi-directional but not at the same time

 Full-duplex: bi-directional and simultaneously.

Networks & Distributed processing

 Interconnection of Intelligent devices are called a ”computer network‟

 In “distributed processing” a task is divided and submitted among multiple computers using
network
 Network Criteria: to design an effective and efficient network the most important criteria are
 “Performance” depends on
No of users: large no of users may slow down the response time due to heavy traffic
Type of transmission medium: defines the speed at which the data can travel (speed
of light is the upper bound)
Hardware: A high-speed computer with greater storage provides better performance
Software: efficient mechanisms to transform raw data into transmittable signal, to
route the signals, to ensure error-free delivery etc.
 Reliability depends on
Frequency of failure: all networks fail occasionally
Recovery time: how long does it takes to restore the service
Catastrophe: networks should be protected from fire, earthquake, theft, etc.
 Security depends on
Unauthorized access should be prevented
Should be protected from viruses, spywares, adwares, malwares etc.

Physical Structure

It refers to the way two or more devices are attached to a link

 Point-to-Point: provides a dedicated link between two devices. i.e. entire capacity of the link
is reserved for transmission between those two devices.
  Multi-point: In this configuration more than two devices share the same link
If several devices can use the link simultaneously then called “spatially shared
connection”
If devices take turns then it is a time-shared connection (temporally)

Topology

Topology of a network is the geometric representation of the links and nodes of a physical network.

Mesh Topology

 Every device has a dedicated point-to- point link to every other device
 A fully connected mesh network has n(n-1)/2 links
 Every device required to have at least n-1 I/O ports
 Eliminates traffic problem as links are not shared
 It is robust as breaking one link couldn't defunct the network completely
 Privacy/security is maintained
 Installation and reconfiguration is difficult due to complicated connections
 Expensive in terms of cost and space
 Not Difficult to add/remove a devCiocme
 Star Topology

 Each computer has a point-point link only to a central controller called the HUB
 HUB acts as an exchange to send data from one device to another
 Less expensive than mesh
 It is robust as one link failure causes that device to go out of the network and it does not affect
others
 Easy fault finding
 when one device sending data to another device, all other devices have to be idle
 however, a switch in place of hub can eliminate this problem
 Bus Topology

 Multi-point
 One long cable acts as a backbone to link all the devices
 There is a limit on the no of drop lines (tapes) as in each tape some energy is lost
 Installation is easy
 It uses less cabling than star or mesh
 difficult reconnection and fault finding
 Adding new device may require modification/replacement of the backbone otherwise the
performance will be degraded
 Fault in bus stops all transmission, the damaged area reflects signal back in the direction of origin,
creating noise in both directions

Ring Topology

 Point-to-point
 Each device is linked only to its immediate neighbours
 To add or remove a device requires moving two connections only
 Each device in the ring incorporates a repeater to regenerate a signal before passing to neighbour.
 Easy to install and reconfiguration
 Maximum ring length and no of devices are fixed
 failure of one device causes network failure if not bypassed
 unidirectional data traffic
 Category of networks

The networks may be categorized according to its size, ownership, distance it covers and its
physical architecture.

Local Area Network(LAN)

 LAN is a privately owned networks within a single building or campus

 Size is restricted? (10m-1KM)
 Common LAN topologies are bus, ring, star
 Speed is high (100Mbps – 1 Gbps)
 These are designed to share resources (hardware/software) between personal computers or
workstations
 the size is restricted as the H/w will not work correctly over wires that exceed the bound as electrical
signal becomes weaker over distance due to resistance.
 Also the delay increases as the distance, but LANs are designed for specific delays?
Metropolitan Area Network(MAN)

 MAN is designed to extend over an entire city

 It may be either private(cable TV, Bank ATMs), or public (Telephone)
 May be a single network like cable TV or may be a means of connecting a number of LANs into a
larger network so that the resources may be shared
 It forms the basic long distance connection in a large network & technologies that provide high
speed digital access to individual homes & business
 Also sometimes called the access network, as it provides access to various services, say cable TV,
Internet etc.

Wide Area Network(WAN)

 WAN provides long distance transmission of data, voice, image, and video information over large
geographical areas that may comprise a country, a continent or even the whole world
 It utilizes public, leased or private communication devices
 The end systems are connected to subnets, which are intelligent entities and contains
communication channels and routers
 A WAN wholly owned by a single company is called an
 „enterprise network „
 speed is less than LANs

A metropolitan area network based on cable TV

 The Internet

 It is a specific world wide network (i.e. A network of networks) that interconnects millions of
computing devices throughout the world
 Computing devices include
o PCs, UNIX based workstations, servers(?)
o PDAs, TVs, Mobile computers, automobiles, Toaters, …
 End systems are connected either directly by „communication links‟ or indirectly by intermediate
switching devices called “switches/Routers"
 Communication links include
o Coaxial cable, copper wire, fiber optics, radio spectrum
 Different communication links can transmit data at different speeds. The link transmission rate is
called „bandwidth‟
 Switches/Routers receives a chunk of information (called a packet) and forwards it towards
destination

Internet Today
 It is difficult to give an accurate representation of the Internet as it is continuously changing
 It is represented in form of hierarchy of Service providers
o International Service Providers
 That connect nations together
o National Service Providers
 Are backbone networks created and maintained by specialized companies like
SprintLink, PSINet, etc
 These networks are connected by complex switching stations called Network Access
Points (NAPs)
 Regional Service Providers
o Are smaller ISPs that are connected to one or more NSPs
 Local Service Providers
o Provide direct service to end users, may be connected to regional ISPs or directly to NSPs
 Services provided by Internet

 The www including browsing & internet commence

 E-mail including attachment
 Instant messages
 Peer-to-peer file sharing
 VOIP
 Online Games
 Tele Conferencing
 Video-on-demand
 Remote Login (SSH client, Telnet) etc…
 Remote file transfer
 Protocol

 What is a Protocol?
 What does a protocol do?
 How would you recognize a protocol if you met one?

A Human Analogy

What you do when you want to ask someone for the time of day?

 First you offer a greeting (Hi )

 The typical response to a Hi is a returned Hi
 This response is an indication that you can proceed and
ask for the time
 And the conversation continues

 But what happens when a different response comes to

the initial “Hi” like
o Don’t bother me! OR
o I don’t speak English OR
o Some unprintable reply! OR
o No response at all !!!
 Then human protocol would be not to ask for the time of
day
 In our human protocol, there are specific messages we send, and specific actions we take in
response to the received reply messages
 If people run different protocols! Say
o If one person has manners and other does not
o If one understands concept of time other does not
 Then protocols do not interoperate and no useful work can be accomplished.
 The same is true in networking – It takes two (or more) communicating entities running the same
protocol in order to accomplish a task
 But the exception is that the entities exchanging messages and taking action are Hardware and/or
Software components of some device
 A Network Protocol

 Visiting a Web site

 Type in the URL in Web browser
 First your computer will send a connection request message to the Web Server
 Web Server will respond by returning a connection reply message
 Your computer then sends the name of the web page
 Finally the server returns the page to you.

Defining A Protocol

A Protocol defines the format and the order of messages exchanged between two or more
communicating entities, as well as the actions taken on the transmission and/or receipt of a
message of other event.

. . . J. F. Kurose

 A protocol defines what is communicated, How it is communicated, when it is communicated

 The key elements of a protocol are
o Syntax: refers to structure or format of data, i.e. the order in which they are presented
Example: a date

Day Month Year

o Semantics: refers to structure meaning of each section

o Timing: refers to two characteristics. i. When data should be sent. ii. How fast they can be
sent
 Depends on link availability, and speed of receiver

Standards

 The standard provides a model for development that

makes it possible for a product to work regardless of the
individual manufacturer
o Example: A steering wheel of a car from one make
may not feet into other make
  Standards are essential in creating and maintaining an open and competitive market and
guarantees international inter-operability
 Two categories of standards
o De Facto: that have just happened without any formal plan
o De Jure: are formal, legal standards adopted by some authorized or officially recognized
body

Standards Organizations

 Standards Creation Committees

o International Standards Organization (ISO)
o International Telecommunications Union-Telecommunication standards (ITU-T)
o American National Standards Institute (ANSI)
o Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE)
o Electronic Industries Association (EIA)
 Forums
o The forums work with universities and users to test, evaluate and the conclusion is presented
to standard bodies to standardize new technologies
 Regulatory Agencies
o Govt. agencies responsible for protecting the public interest.
 Internet Standards
o Internet draft is a working document with no official status and a 6 month life time.
o If recommended by IETF then a draft may be published as a Request for Comment (RFC)

Explain:

1. How many ‘physical structures’ do you see in the text above? Pick one and describe it in your own
words.
2. How can standard organization help in the development of products by a manufacturer?
Extend:

Direction: Draw an illustration on how protocol works on human analogy.

Evaluate:

Direction: Multiple choices: Circle the correct answer.

1. It is the Information (data) to be communicated (shared) with others.

A. Message B. Receiver
C. Sender D. Medium

2. The device that sends the message.

 A. Sender B. Receiver
C. Message D. Medium

3. The device that receives the message.

A. Receiver B. Sender
C. Message D. Medium

4. Physical path by which a message travels from sender to receiver.

A. Medium B. Sender
C. Message D. Receiver

5. A set of rules that governs the data communication.

A. Protocol B. Sender
C. Message D. Receiver

6. International Standards Organization (ISO)

A. Standards Creation Committees B. Regulatory Agencies

C. Forums D. Internet Standards

7. International Telecommunications Union-Telecommunication standards (ITU-T)

A. Standards Creation Committees B. Regulatory Agencies

C. Forums D. Internet Standards

8. The forums work with universities and users to test, evaluate and the conclusion is presented to
standard bodies to standardize new technologies

A. Forums B. Regulatory Agencies

C. Standards Creation Committees D. Internet Standards

9. Govt. agencies responsible for protecting the public interest.

 A. Regulatory Agencies B. Forums
C. Standards Creation Committees D. Internet Standards

10. Internet draft is a working document with no official status and a 6 month life time.

A. Internet Standards B. Forums

C. Standards Creation Committees D. Regulatory Agencies

IV. Post - Assessment:

Direction. Write TRUE if the statement is correct and FALSE if it is wrong. Write your answers in a
separate sheet of paper.

_______ 1. Sharing of information is “Data Communication”.

_______2. “Data” refers to facts, concepts and / or instructions.

_______3. “Data Communication” is “Exchange of data between two/more devices via a transmission
medium.

_______4. Message: It is the Information (data) to be communicated (shared) with others.

_______5. Sender: The device that sends the message.

_______6. Receiver: The device that receives the message.

_______7. Medium: Physical path by which a message travels from sender to receiver.

_______8. Protocol: A set of rules that governs the data communication.

_______9. Communication can be simplex, Half-duplex, or full-duplex.

_______10. Simplex: communication is unidirectional.

V. Topic Summary:

Characteristics of Data Communication

 Delivery: system must deliver data to correct destination

 Accuracy: Accurate data should be delivered
 Timeliness: Data delivered late are useless

 It is a specific worldwide network (i.e. A network of networks) that interconnects millions of

computing devices throughout the world.

 A Protocol defines the format and the order of messages exchanged between two or more
communicating entities, as well as the actions taken on the transmission and/or receipt of a
message of other event.

VI. Reference

 Behrouz A Forouzan "Data Communications and Networking".