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9.1. Communication - Advanced

computer go crrrbumbam

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18 views5 pages

9.1. Communication - Advanced

computer go crrrbumbam

Uploaded by

andreidatgamer
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© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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AQA Computer Science A-Level

4.9.1 Communication
Advanced Notes

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Specification:

4.9.1.1 Communication methods:


Define serial and parallel transmission methods and discuss the
advantages of serial over parallel transmission.
Define and compare synchronous and asynchronous data transmission.
Describe the purpose of start and stop bits in asynchronous data
transmission.

4.9.1.2 Communication basics:


Define:
● baud rate
● bit rate
● bandwidth
● latency
● protocol
Differentiate between baud rate and bit rate.
Understand the relationship between bit rate and bandwidth.

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Communication basics

Before understanding different methods of communication, it helps to understand some


key concepts​ in communication.

Symbol
A symbol is a ​particular pattern of bits​ represented by a signal. For example, a symbol of
four bits might be ​1101​.

Baud rate
A communication system’s Baud rate is the ​number of signal changes​ in the medium ​per
second​. 1 Baud (or 1Bd) is equal to 1 symbol change per second.

Bit rate
A communication medium’s bit rate refers to the ​number of bits that are transmitted​ over
the medium ​per second​. This is often measured in ​bits per second​ (bps).

Therefore, a communication system’s bit rate is equal to its Baud rate ​multiplied by the
number of bits per signal​ in the communication medium.

Bit rate = Baud rate × № of bits per signal

A communication medium’s​ bit rate​ will be ​higher than its Baud rate​ if there is ​more than
one bit​ sent per signal.

Bandwidth
Bandwidth, expressed in ​Hertz​, relates to the ​range of frequencies​ that a communication
medium is capable of transmitting. There is a ​direct relationship ​between bandwidth and
bit rate. Higher bandwidth results in a ​higher bit rate​.

Latency
Latency in a communication medium, often measured in ​milliseconds​, is the ​difference in
time between an action being initiated and its effect being noticed​. For example, if you
press the “​R​
” key on your keyboard and the letter R appears on screen 26ms later, the
latency in the link between your keyboard and the application you are using is 26ms.
Latency usually ​increases ​with distance.

Protocol
A protocol is a ​set of rules​ relating to communication between devices. International
organisations decide upon and publish protocols which allow devices made by ​different
manufacturers​ in ​opposite ends of the world​ to communicate seamlessly.

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Serial and parallel data transmission

Computers can transmit data between their different components in two ways: serially or in
parallel.

Serial data transmission


In serial data transmission, data is sent ​one bit at a time​ over one communication line (this
is usually a ​metal wire​, but could also be an ​optical fibre ​or a ​wireless channel​).

Serial data transmission is frequently used for transmitting data over ​medium to long
distances​ (computationally speaking), such as from wired peripherals like ​mice ​and
keyboards ​to your computer.

Parallel data transmission


Parallel data transmission uses ​numerous parallel communication lines​ in order to send
multiple bits​ between components in a computer ​simultaneously​.

The more lines that a parallel communication medium uses, the more data can be
transferred simultaneously.

Each of the communication lines that forms part of a


parallel communication medium will have ​slightly
different electrical properties​, meaning that the time
taken for one bit to be transferred will ​differ slightly​ from
line to line. This means that bits sent together may not
be received together, a problem referred to as ​skew​.

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Skew is worst over long distances and, in extreme cases, can lead to bits from different
pulses ​overlapping​, causing ​corruption ​of data. Furthermore, parallel communication
mediums are ​more expensive​ than their serial counterparts because of their use of
multiple lines. For these reasons, parallel data transmission is most often used ​over short
distances​, such as ​between parts of the processor ​and ​within RAM​.

Another issue, referred to as ​crosstalk​, can occur with parallel data transmission. When
communication lines are ​tightly packed​, signals from one line can “leak” into another,
another cause of ​data corruption​.

The advantages of serial over parallel


Serial data transmission ​doesn’t suffer from skew or crosstalk​ making it a ​more reliable
communication method​, especially over ​long distances​. Serial communication mediums,
which use ​just one line​, are ​cheaper ​to install than parallel mediums which use more than
one line.

Synchronous and asynchronous data transmission

Synchronous transmission
When data is transmitted using synchronous transmission, a
clock signal​ (which is shared by both the sender and the
receiver) is used to time when signals are sent. Synchronous
data transmission is used within the busses of a computer’s
processor in the ​fetch-execute cycle​.

The signals, which are sent at ​regular intervals​, will be


received ​in the same order​ that they were sent. This makes
synchronous data transmission suitable for transmitting
information in ​real-time systems​.

Asynchronous transmission
In asynchronous data transmission, the
requirement for a shared clock signal ​is done
away with​ by using ​start and stop bits​ to
indicate the ​duration of a transmission​.

The start bit can be ​either a ​0​or a ​1​and the


stop bit is ​always the opposite​ of the start bit.

The sender and receiver must use ​the same Baud rate​ and need only synchronise their
clocks ​for the duration of data transmission​.

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