METHODS OF DATA TRANSMISSION

WHAT IS DATA TRANSMISSION?

Data transmission is the transfer of data from one digital device to another. This transfer
occurs via point-to-point data streams or channels. These channels may previously have been
in the form of copper wires but are now much more likely to be part of a wireless network.

As we know, data transmission methods can refer to both analog and digital data but in this
guide, we will be focusing on digital modulation. This modulation technique focuses on the
encoding and decoding of digital signals via two main methods parallel and serial
transmission.

The effectiveness of data transmission relies heavily on the amplitude and transmission speed
of the carrier channel. The amount of data transferred within a given time period is the data
transfer rate, which specifies whether or not a network can be used for tasks that require
complex, data-intensive applications.

Network congestion, latency, server health, and insufficient infrastructure can bring data
transmission rates to a sub-par level, affecting overall business performance. High-speed data
transfer rates are essential to processing complex tasks like online streaming and large file
transfers.

IMPORTANCE OF CONTENT DELIVERY NETWORKS IN DATA TRANSMISSION

High-quality delivery of websites and applications to as many locations around the world as
possible requires the infrastructure and expertise to achieve delivery with low latency, high
performance reliability, and high-speed data transmission.

Professional content delivery networks offer a variety of benefits, including seamless and
secure distribution of content to end users, no matter their location. Content delivery
networks, such as CDNetworks, reduce the load to a business’ central server by using a
complex system of nodes strategically located around the world to deliver content through a
more efficient network resource utilization.

A higher data rate conversion improves user experience and increases reliability. Bottlenecks
—an indication that the amount of data funneled into a network resource is too much for it to
handle—are avoided through the use of smart routing, using adaptive measures to find the
best and most successful pathways in case of network congestion.

For more information on CDNs read our latest Guide: How Content Delivery Networks
Work

FASTER DATA TRANSFER

FTP and HTTP are common methods of file transfer. FTP can be used to transfer files or
access online software archives, for example. HTTP is the protocol used to indicate how
messages are not only defined, but also transmitted. It also determines what actions web
browsers and servers take to respond to a variety of commands.
HTTP requests are identified as a stateless protocol, meaning they have no information
regarding previous requests. ISPs offer finite levels of bandwidth for both sending and
receiving data communications, which can cause excessive slowdowns a business just cannot
afford.

A content delivery network like CDNetworks provides data transfer that is 100X faster than
both FTP and HTTP methods, whether transferring a massive media file or multiple smaller
files.

TRANSFER RATES

High data transfer rates are essential for any business. To determine how fast data is
transferred from one network location to another, the data are measured using the transfer
rate in bits per second (bps). Bandwidth refers to the maximum amount of data that can be
transferred within a given amount of time. One of the most promising innovations
implemented by content network services is Tbps (Terabits Per Second), which was
unimaginable up until the early part of the decade, and can lead to almost real-time
communication between devices.

CDNetworks offers a 50 Tbps bandwidth capacity to ensure high-quality data transfer

for media delivery and other large capacity content. CDNetworks transmits and merges data
using multiple paths to increase the speed of data transmission.

BIG DATA

Because of the rise in mobile usage, social media, and a variety of sensors, the amount of data
used annually has expanded by as much as 40 percent year over year, according to industry
researchers.

More than ever, high-speed data transmission infrastructure is needed by businesses in every
industry to handle the ever-increasing volume of content transferred from one point to the
next.

WHY THE TRANSMISSION OF DATA IS SO IMPORTANT FOR BUSINESSES

Businesses are bombarded with large volumes of data every day, with increasing complexity.

Content delivery networks have implemented new and improved technologies to increase
data transmission rates with protocols in place to protect the original quality of the data.

 Proprietary protocols can assess bandwidth and improving efficiency for rapid
retransmission and fast recovery technology.
 Through global load balancing, content delivery services like CDNetworks can access the
closest entry and exit points for source and destination using 1000+ PoPs (Points of
Presence), the access point from one place to the internet.
 Multi-path transfer is used to transmit and merge data, which significantly improves
speed.
 Data encryption and origin IP masking protect data from both known and emerging
threats.
Data Transmission mode defines the direction of the flow of information between two
communication devices. It is also called Data Communication or Directional Mode. It
specifies the direction of the flow of information from one place to another in a computer
network.
In the Open System Interconnection(OSI) Layer Model, the Physical Layer is dedicated to
data transmission in the network. It mainly decides the direction of data in which the data
needs to travel to reach the receiver system or node.
The data transmission modes can be characterized in the following three types based on
the direction of exchange of information:

1. Simplex
2. Half-Duplex
3. Full Duplex
The data transmission modes can be characterized in the following two types based on
the number of bits sent simultaneously in the network:

1. Serial
2. Parallel
The data transmission modes can be characterized in the following two types based on
the synchronization between the transmitter and the receiver:

1. Synchronous
2. Asynchronous
3. According to the Direction of Exchange of Information:
1. Simplex
4. Simplex is the data transmission mode in which the data can flow only in one
direction, i.e., the communication is unidirectional. In this mode, a sender can
only send data but can not receive it. Similarly, a receiver can only receive data but
can not send it.
This transmission mode is not so popular because we cannot perform two-way
communication between the sender and receiver in this mode. It is mainly used in the
business field as in sales that do not require any corresponding reply. It is similar to a one-
way street.

For Example, Radio and TV transmission, keyboard, mouse, etc.

Following are the advantages of using a Simplex transmission mode:

1. It utilizes the full capacity of the communication channel during data transmission.
2. It has the least or no data traffic issues as data flows only in one direction.
Following are the disadvantages of using a Simplex transmission mode:

1. It is unidirectional in nature having no inter-communication between devices.

2. There is no mechanism for information to be transmitted back to the sender(No
mechanism for acknowledgement).

2. Half-Duplex
Half-Duplex is the data transmission mode in which the data can flow in both
directions but in one direction at a time. It is also referred to as Semi-Duplex. In other
words, each station can both transmit and receive the data but not at the same time. When
one device is sending the other can only receive and vice-versa.

In this type of transmission mode, the entire capacity of the channel can be utilized for each
direction. Transmission lines can carry data in both directions, but the data can be sent only
in one direction at a time.
This type of data transmission mode can be used in cases where there is no need for
communication in both directions at the same time. It can be used for error detection when
the sender does not send or the receiver does not receive the data properly. In such cases,
the data needs to be transmitted again by the receiver.

For Example, Walkie-Talkie, Internet Browsers, etc.

Following are the advantages of using a half-duplex transmission mode:

1. It facilitates the optimum use of the communication channel.

2. It provides two-way communication.
Following are the disadvantages of using a half-duplex transmission mode:

1. The two-way communication cannot be established simultaneously at the same time.

2. Delay in transmission may occur as only one-way communication can be possible at
a time.

3. Full-Duplex
Full-Duplex is the data transmission mode in which the data can flow in both
directions at the same time. It is bi-directional in nature. It is two-way communication
in which both the stations can transmit and receive the data simultaneously.

Full-Duplex mode has double bandwidth as compared to the half-duplex. The capacity of
the channel is divided between the two directions of communication. This mode is used
when communication in both directions is required simultaneously.

For Example, a Telephone Network, in which both the persons can talk and listen to each
other simultaneously.

Following are the advantages of using a full-duplex transmission mode:

 1. The two-way communication can be carried out simultaneously in both directions.
2. It is the fastest mode of communication between devices.
Following are the disadvantages of using a half-duplex transmission mode:

1. The capacity of the communication channel is divided into two parts. Also, no
dedicated path exists for data transfer.
2. It has improper channel bandwidth utilization as there exist two separate paths for
two communicating devices.
According to the synchronization between the transmitter and the receiver:

1. Synchronous
The Synchronous transmission mode is a mode of communication in which the bits are
sent one after another without any start/stop bits or gaps between them. Actually, both
the sender and receiver are paced by the same system clock. In this way, synchronization is
achieved.

In a Synchronous mode of data transmission, bytes are transmitted as blocks in a

continuous stream of bits. Since there is no start and stop bits in the message block. It is the
responsibility of the receiver to group the bits correctly. The receiver counts the bits as they
arrive and groups them in eight bits unit. The receiver continuously receives the
information at the same rate that the transmitter has sent it. It also listens to the messages
even if no bits are transmitted.

In synchronous mode, the bits are sent successively with no separation between each
character, so it becomes necessary to insert some synchronization elements with the
message, this is called "Character-Level Synchronization".

For Example, if there are two bytes of data, say(10001101, 11001011) then it will be
transmitted in the synchronous mode as follows:
For Example, communication in CPU, RAM, etc.

Following are the advantages of using a Synchronous transmission mode:

1. Transmission speed is fast as there is no gap between the data bits.

Following are the disadvantages of using a Synchronous transmission mode:

1. It is very expensive.

2. Asynchronous
The Asynchronous transmission mode is a mode of communication in which a start
and the stop bit is introduced in the message during transmission. The start and stop
bits ensure that the data is transmitted correctly from the sender to the receiver.

Generally, the start bit is '0' and the end bit is '1'.Asynchronous here means 'asynchronous
at the byte level', but the bits are still synchronized. The time duration between each
character is the same and synchronized.

In an asynchronous mode of communication, data bits can be sent at any point in time. The
messages are sent at irregular intervals and only one data byte can be sent at a time. This
type of transmission mode is best suited for short-distance data transfer.

For Example, if there are two bytes of data, say(10001101, 11001011) then it will be
transmitted in the asynchronous mode as follows:

For Example, Data input from a keyboard to the computer.

Following are the advantages of using an Asynchronous transmission mode:

 1. It is a cheap and effective mode of transmission.
2. Data transmission accuracy is high due to the presence of start and stop bits.
Following are the disadvantages of using an Asynchronous transmission mode:

1. The data transmission can be slower due to the gaps present between different
blocks of data.
According to the number of bits sent simultaneously in the network:

1. Serial
The Serial data transmission mode is a mode in which the data bits are sent serially
one after the other at a time over the transmission channel.

It needs a single transmission line for communication. The data bits are received in
synchronization with one another. So, there is a challenge of synchronizing the transmitter
and receiver.

In serial data transmission, the system takes several clock cycles to transmit the data
stream. In this mode, the data integrity is maintained, as it transmits the data bits in a
specific order, one after the other.

This type of transmission mode is best suited for long-distance data transfer, or the amount
of data being sent is relatively small.

For Example, Data transmission between two computers using serial ports.

Following are the advantages of using a serial transmission mode:

1. It can be used for long-distance data transmission as it is reliable.

 2. The number of wires and complexity is less.
3. It is cost-effective.
Following are the disadvantages of using a serial transmission mode:

1. The Data transmission rate is slow due to a single transmission channel.

2. Parallel
The Parallel data transmission mode is a mode in which the data bits are sent
parallelly at a time. In other words, there is a transmission of n-bits at the same time
simultaneously.

Multiple transmission lines are used in such modes of transmission. So, multiple data bytes
can be transmitted in a single system clock. This mode of transmission is used when a large
amount of data has to be sent in a shorter duration of time. It is mostly used for short-
distance communication.

For n-bits, we need n-transmission lines. So, the complexity of the network increases but
the transmission speed is high. If two or more transmission lines are too close to each other,
then there may be a chance of interference in the data, degrading the signal quality.

For Example, Data transmission between computer and printer.

Following are the advantages of using a parallel transmission mode:

1. It is easy to program or implement.

2. Data transmission speed is high due to the n-transmission channel.
Following are the disadvantages of using a parallel transmission mode:

1. It requires more transmission channels, and hence cost-ineffective.

 2. Interference in data bits, likewise in video conferencing.
Hence, after learning the various transmission modes, we can conclude that some points
need to be considered when selecting a data transmission mode:

 Transmission Rate.
 The Distance that it covers.
 Cost and Ease of Installation.
 The resistance of environmental conditions.

There are two ways to transfer data between computers: Serial Transmission
and Parallel Transmission.

Serial Transmission
Data is sent bit by bit from one computer to another in two directions. Each bit
has a clock pulse rate. Eight bits are transmitted at a time, with a start and
stop bit known as a parity bit, which is 0 and 1, respectively. Data cables are
used when transmitting data over a longer distance. The data cable has D-
shaped 9 pin cable that connects the data in series.
Categories of Serial Transmission
Asynchronous transmission – an extra bit is added to each byte to alert the
receiver to the arrival of new data. 0 is used as a start bit, while 1 used as a
stop bit.
Synchronous transmission – no extra bit is added to each byte. Data is
transferred in batches, each of which contains multiple bytes.
Parallel Transmission
Several bits are transmitted simultaneously with one clock pulse rate. It
transmits quickly as it utilises several input and output lines for sending the
data.

It uses a 25-pin port with 17 signal lines and 8 ground lines. The 17 signal
lines are divided as

 4 lines – initiate handshaking

 5 lines – communicate and notify errors
 8 lines – transfer data
Applications
Serial transmission occurs between two computers, or from a computer to an
external device located far away.

Parallel transmission can take place within a computer system, through a

computer bus, or to an external device located nearby.
Examples
One example of serial mode transmission is a connection established
between a computer and a modem using the RS-232 protocol. An RS-232
cable can accommodate 25 wires, but only two of these wires are for data
transmission; the rest are designated for overhead control signaling. The two
data wires run using simple serial transmission in either direction.

In this example, a computer may be far from the modem, making parallel
transmission very expensive. With this in mind, speed of transmission is
considered less important when compared to the economic advantage of
serial transmission.

An example of parallel mode transmission is a connection established

between a computer and a printer. Most printers are within 6 meters (about
20 feet) from the transmitting computer, and the slight cost for extra wires is
offset by the added speed gained through parallel transmission of data.

Comparison between Serial and Parallel

Transmission
Basis for Comparison Serial Transmission Parallel Transm

Definition Data flows in 2 directions, bit by bit Data flows in m

Cost Economical Expensive

Number of bits transferred per clock pulse 1 bit 8 bits or 1 byte

Speed Slow Fast

Applications Used for long distance communication Used for short

Example Computer to computer Computer to p

Differences between Serial and Parallel

Transmission
 Serial transmission requires a single line to send data. Parallel
transmission requires multiple lines to send data.
 There are fewer errors and less noise in serial transmission, since the
transmission is done one bit at a time. There are more errors and noise
 in parallel transmission, since the transmission is done multiple bits at a
time.
 Serial transmission is slower since data flows through a single line;
conversely, parallel transmission is faster since data flows through
multiple lines.
 Serial transmission is ‘full duplex’ since the sender can send and receive
data at the same time. Parallel transmission is ‘half duplex’ since the data
can be sent or received at any given time.
 The cables used in serial transmission are thinner, longer, and more
economical compared to the cables used in parallel transmission.
 Serial transmission is reliable and straightforward. Parallel transmission
is unreliable and complicated.
Both serial and parallel transmissions have advantages and disadvantages.
Parallel transmission is used for shorter distances and provides greater
speed, while serial transmission is reliable for transferring data over longer
distances. Both serial and parallel transmissions are individually essential for
transferring data.