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Error Detection in Computer Networks

Errors can occur during data transmission when bits are corrupted by noise. To detect errors, error detection codes like parity checks, checksums, and cyclic redundancy checks are added to digital messages. Parity checks involve adding an extra bit to determine if there is an odd or even number of 1s. Checksums divide data into segments, calculate the sum, and send it to the receiver to validate. Cyclic redundancy checks append redundant bits so the data is divisible by a predetermined number without remainder at the receiver.

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56 views

Error Detection in Computer Networks

Errors can occur during data transmission when bits are corrupted by noise. To detect errors, error detection codes like parity checks, checksums, and cyclic redundancy checks are added to digital messages. Parity checks involve adding an extra bit to determine if there is an odd or even number of 1s. Checksums divide data into segments, calculate the sum, and send it to the receiver to validate. Cyclic redundancy checks append redundant bits so the data is divisible by a predetermined number without remainder at the receiver.

Uploaded by

mehala
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Error Detection in Computer Networks

Error is a condition when the receiver’s information does not match the sender’s
information. During transmission, digital signals suffer from noise that can introduce errors in
the binary bits traveling from sender to receiver. That means a 0 bit may change to 1 or a 1
bit may change to 0.

Data (Implemented either at the Data link layer or Transport Layer of the OSI Model) may
get scrambled by noise or get corrupted whenever a message is transmitted. To prevent such
errors, error-detection codes are added as extra data to digital messages. This helps in
detecting any errors that may have occurred during message transmission.

Types of Errors
Single-Bit Error

A single-bit error refers to a type of data transmission error that occurs when one bit (i.e., a
single binary digit) of a transmitted data unit is altered during transmission, resulting in an
incorrect or corrupted data unit.

Single-Bit Error

Multiple-Bit Error

A multiple-bit error is an error type that arises when more than one bit in a data transmission
is affected. Although multiple-bit errors are relatively rare when compared to single-bit
errors, they can still occur, particularly in high-noise or high-interference digital
environments.
Multiple-Bit Error

Burst Error

When several consecutive bits are flipped mistakenly in digital transmission, it creates a burst
error. This error causes a sequence of consecutive incorrect values.

Burst Error

To detect errors, a common technique is to introduce redundancy bits that provide additional
information. Various techniques for error detection include::

1. Simple Parity Check


2. Two-dimensional Parity Check
3. Checksum
4. Cyclic Redundancy Check (CRC)
Error Detection Methods
Simple Parity Check

Simple-bit parity is a simple error detection method that involves adding an extra bit to
a data transmission. It works as:

 1 is added to the block if it contains an odd number of 1’s, and


 0 is added if it contains an even number of 1’s

This scheme makes the total number of 1’s even, that is why it is called even parity
checking.

Disadvantages

 Single Parity check is not able to detect even no. of bit error.
 For example, the Data to be transmitted is 101010. Codeword transmitted to the receiver is
1010101 (we have used even parity).
Let’s assume that during transmission, two of the bits of code word flipped to 1111101.
On receiving the code word, the receiver finds the no. of ones to be even and hence no
error, which is a wrong assumption.

Two-dimensional Parity Check

Two-dimensional Parity check bits are calculated for each row, which is equivalent to a
simple parity check bit. Parity check bits are also calculated for all columns, then both are
sent along with the data. At the receiving end, these are compared with the parity bits
calculated on the received data.
Checksum

Checksum error detection is a method used to identify errors in transmitted data. The process
involves dividing the data into equally sized segments and using a 1’s complement to
calculate the sum of these segments. The calculated sum is then sent along with the data to
the receiver. At the receiver’s end, the same process is repeated and if all zeroes are obtained
in the sum, it means that the data is correct.

Checksum – Operation at Sender’s Side

 Firstly, the data is divided into k segments each of m bits.


 On the sender’s end, the segments are added using 1’s complement arithmetic to get the
sum. The sum is complemented to get the checksum.
 The checksum segment is sent along with the data segments.

Checksum – Operation at Receiver’s Side

 At the receiver’s end, all received segments are added using 1’s complement arithmetic to
get the sum. The sum is complemented.
 If the result is zero, the received data is accepted; otherwise discarded.
Disadvantages

 If one or more bits of a segment are damaged and the corresponding bit or bits of opposite
value in a second segment are also damaged.

Cyclic Redundancy Check (CRC)

 Unlike the checksum scheme, which is based on addition, CRC is based on binary division.
 In CRC, a sequence of redundant bits, called cyclic redundancy check bits, are appended to
the end of the data unit so that the resulting data unit becomes exactly divisible by a second,
predetermined binary number.
 At the destination, the incoming data unit is divided by the same number. If at this step
there is no remainder, the data unit is assumed to be correct and is therefore accepted.
 A remainder indicates that the data unit has been damaged in transit and therefore must be
rejected.

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