LESSON 9: DATA COMMUNICATION AND NETWORKS

Duration: 4 Hours

5.1 Introduction
Information society dominated by computers and communications is in front of us. In this society,
the strategic resource is knowledge and information, and the value of that resource will be
increased by the movement through the information pathway. A communication network is the
pathway that allows information, data, and knowledge to be spread. Thus, the mainstream of the
information age is communication. Computer users who work in this society need to know
technology incorporated into the communication networks. Although they use only applications
involved in the communication networks, they still need to know how the communication networks
work to improve their performance by using networks more efficiently and effectively. This
Chapter thus is very fundamental.
5.2 Objectives
By the end of this topic, you should be able to:

Upon completion of this lesson, you should be able to:

1. Explain computer based communication
2. Describe various types of network topologies
3. Explain types of computer networks
4. Apply networking skills in problem solving
Learning Outcome
The student is able to:
I can explain computer based communication
I can describe various types of network topologies
I can explain types of computer networks
I can apply networking skills in problem solving
Content
5.2.1 Basic Data communication concepts
Computer-based communication refers to the movement of data and information generated by
computers from one location to another via various types of communication lines. Computer based
communication systems often are called communication networks. The networks allow users to
collect data and information from and transmit these to powerful central computers or terminals.

Figure 5.1: Basic Element of Communication

The objectives of communication networks are:
To offer more timely interchange of information and data among users.
To reduce the effort and cost required to collect and transmit business data and information.
To support better performance of tasks and improved management control over an organization
especially with several remote locations.

Why Study Communications?

Information society dominated by computers and communications is in front of us. In this society,
the strategic resource is knowledge and information, and the value of that resource will be
increased by the movement through the information pathway. A communication network is the
pathway that allows information, data, and knowledge to be spread. Thus, the mainstream of the
information age is communication.
Communications involve many technologies. In addition, many new communication technologies
are being incorporated into the fabric of the information society as fast as people can learn how to
maintain and use the technologies. This may be the most important reason for users to study
communications.
Computer users who work in this society need to know technology incorporated into the
communication networks. Although they use only applications involved in the communication
networks, they still need to know how the communication networks work to improve their
performance by using networks more efficiently and effectively.

5.2.1.1 Generic Forms of Networks

A network can be defined simply as an interconnection of multiple teleprocessing devices. Three
basic approaches to network processing exist in modern communications systems.
i. Timesharing
The earliest approach is known as timesharing. Timesharing occurs in networks in which multiple
users gain access to a single host computer from their individual terminals. An example of
timesharing is the use of a central computer at a nationwide company's headquarters by a variety
of sales professionals dispersed around the nation.
ii. Distributed Processing
The next approach gaining popularity in computer networking systems was the distributed
processing method. This type of system involves the interconnection of minicomputers and
microcomputers throughout a business organization. Various types of resources are shared by the
interconnected terminals, while the individual computers retain control over their own processing.
iii. Client/Server Computing
The third approach to computer network processing, client/server computing, is currently
attracting the most interest among management information systems professionals. The popularity
of this approach is due to its ability to allow companies to selectively centralize and decentralize
certain key operations. Thus, users can view client/server computing as a cross between the
timesharing method (which emphasizes centralized computing) and distributed processing (which
emphasizes decentralized computing). In client/server computing, the various applications
available in the network are shared by several clients and one or more host computers (or servers).
Clients obtain access to the network by means of desktop computers. The server, which can be a
microcomputer, minicomputer, or mainframe, provides control for the entire network.

5.2.1.2 Importance of Networking

Networking of computers provides a communication link between the users, and provides access
to information. Networking of computers has several uses, described as follows:

i. Resource Sharing — in an organization, resources such as printers, fax machines and scanners
are generally not required by each person at all times. Moreover, for small organizations it may
not be feasible to provide such resources to each individual. Such resources can be made available
to different users of the organization on the network. It results in availability of the resource to
different users regardless of the physical location of the resource or the user, enhances optimal use
of the resource, leads to easy maintenance, and saves cost too (Figure 5.1).

Figure 5.1: A network of computers, printer and scanner

ii. Sharing of Information— In addition to the sharing of physical resources, networking

facilitates sharing of information. Information stored on networked computers located at same or
different physical locations, becomes accessible to the computers connected to the network.
iii. As a Communication Medium— Networking helps in sending and receiving of electronic-
mail (e-mail) messages from anywhere in the world. Data in the form of text, audio, video and
pictures can be sent via e-mail. This allows the users to communicate online in a faster and cost
effective manner. Video conferencing is another form of communication made possible via
networking. People in distant locations can hold a meeting, and they can hear and see each other
simultaneously.

iv. For Back-up and Support— Networked computers can be used to take back-up of critical
data. In situations where there is a requirement of always-on computer, another computer on the
network can take over in case of failure of one computer.

5.2.1.3 Components of Communication Network

There are many components for a communication network. The basic three components are a host
computer, a client, and a circuit. Besides these components, others include front-end processors,
teleprocessing software, input terminals, and specialists.

i. Host Computer (Server)

The host computer or server (a mainframe, minicomputer, or microcomputer) is the main unit in
the communication network. It stores data and programs that can be accessed by the clients. The
host computer is responsible for performing the data processing tasks of the network. After
processing has occurred, the data or information is routed back to a front-end processor. In
distributed processing or client-server computing, several host computers may be tied together by
the data communication network.
ii. Client
The client is a hardware device (a terminal or microcomputer) at the opposite end of a host
computer of a communication circuit. It usually provides end users with access to the data and
software on the server. The client is an input/output device.
The most widely used computer input/output devices for a communication network are the
terminals. There are several types of terminals in common use in business today. The most familiar
type of input/output terminal for most end users is the keyboard terminal.
iii. Circuit
The circuit is a communication channel that allows the data and information to move through the
pathway. It includes several types of lines, such as twisted wires, coaxial cables, and fiber optic
cables. It also contains wireless transmission circuits such as microwaves and satellites, and it is
becoming more popular.
iv. Front-End Processor
The front-end processor handles the incoming and outgoing communications exchanges between
the host computer and the peripheral terminals and other host computers both inside and outside
the network.
v. Teleprocessing Software
Besides the hardware mentioned previously in this chapter, the host and the front-end processor
must contain software in order for the network system to run effectively. Software may also be
located in the terminals and the cluster control units.
5.3 Communications Channels
 Data communications can be carried from one location to another through a variety of
communications channels. These communications media include telephone lines (twisted pairs),
coaxial cable, fiber-optic cable, microwave, and satellite. In general, there can be two ways of
connecting microcomputers with each other and with other equipment: guided and radiated media.
Guided Media: Refer to channels that allow the transmission of data and information through
a physical media such as a twisted pair wire, coaxial cable, or fiber optic cable.
Radiated media: Refer to those that transmit data and information through the air such as
microwave, or satellite.
The diameters and transmission capacities of the three kinds of cable are compared below:
i. Twisted Pair
The telephone lines used to carry most of the voice and data communications consist of a pair of
thin-diameter insulated copper wires (called twisted pairs). The wires are twisted around each other
to minimize interference from other twisted pairs in the cable. Twisted pairs have fewer
bandwidths than coaxial cable or optical fiber. They have been the standard communication
channels for voice, data and information, but are now diminishing because of more reliable media
such as coaxial cable, optical fibers, microwave, or satellite.

ii. Coaxial Cable

Coaxial cable can be used for telephone lines for transmission at a high frequency. Coaxial cable
consists of a single core of solid copper. A coaxial cable can handle 80 times as many telephone
transmissions as twisted pair media. Many computers in local area networks are linked by coaxial
cables. Because of its sturdiness, coaxial cable is often used for telephone lines that must be carried
under bodies of water. Because coaxial cables have very little distortion and are less prone to
interference, they have low error rates

iii. Fiber-Optic Cable

A fiber-optic cable consists of tubes of glass through which data are transmitted as pulses of light.
Although a fiber optic cable is diametrically smaller than a human hair, it has 26,000 times the
transmission capacity of twisted pair media. A major advantage of fiber-optic media is its high
level of security. These communications channels are not susceptible to electronic interference.
Therefore, they are a more reliable form of data transmission. Fiber-optic cables are also
significantly less expensive than coaxial cable. A disadvantage of fiber-optic channels is that they
cannot carry information over great distances.
5.3.1 Wireless Networking
Wireless technology, as the name suggests, is used to establish a wire-free connection or
communication between two or more devices. In contrast to the wired technology where
data is encoded as electric current and signals travel through wires, in wireless technology
data is encoded on electromagnetic waves that travel through air.
The wireless technology is used for broadcasting in radio and television communication, for
communication using mobile phones and pagers, for connecting components of computers
using Bluetooth technology, for Internet connection using Wi-Fi, Wireless LAN, PDA, and
in remote controls for television, doors etc.
Wireless network is a computer network connected wirelessly. The communication is done
through a wireless media like radio waves, infrared or Bluetooth.
The wireless networks have two main components—the wireless access points that include
the transmitter along with the area it can cover, and the wireless clients like mobile handsets,
laptops with Ethernet cards etc.
The access point receives data frames from the computers attached to it wirelessly, checks
the frames, and transmits them to their destination. The coverage area of a transmitter
depends on the output power of the transmitter, its location, and the frequency used to
transmit the data.
Higher frequencies require a clear line of sight as compared to lower frequencies.
The speed of wireless connection is determined by the distance of the wireless client device
from the access point, the obstruction-free path (walls, trees etc.), interference, and the
number of users using the network at a given time.
5.3.1.1 Types of Wireless Networks
Wireless networks can be divided into three categories based on their use:
i. Bluetooth technology to connect the different components of the computer in a room, a
small office or home.
ii. Wireless LAN is used to connect computers and devices wirelessly in a LAN, for
example, different computers or devices in an office or campus.
iii. Wireless WAN is used to connect wide area systems, for example access to Internet via
mobile devices like cell phone, PDAs and laptops.