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Edexcel Ict Chapter 4 Digital Communication

Chapter 4 discusses digital communication, focusing on factors affecting data transfer such as bandwidth, latency, interference, distance, and communication type. It explains different network types (LAN, WAN, PAN) and their requirements, as well as the impact of tethering on user experience. Additionally, it covers satellite communication, mobile broadband, infrared signals, and NFC, highlighting their characteristics, advantages, and disadvantages.

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113 views9 pages

Edexcel Ict Chapter 4 Digital Communication

Chapter 4 discusses digital communication, focusing on factors affecting data transfer such as bandwidth, latency, interference, distance, and communication type. It explains different network types (LAN, WAN, PAN) and their requirements, as well as the impact of tethering on user experience. Additionally, it covers satellite communication, mobile broadband, infrared signals, and NFC, highlighting their characteristics, advantages, and disadvantages.

Uploaded by

Aye Chan Lin
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Chapter 4 Digital Communication

Bandwidth: The number of bits that can be carried by a connection in one second.
Factors controlling the rate (speed & volume) of data transfer
 Bandwidth
*** The larger the bandwidth, the higher the data transfer rate, so it is
more beneficial to users.
 Latency
*** The larger the latency, the slower the data transfer rate, so it would
introduce lagging to user experience.
 Interference
*** Environmental signals coming out of home appliances such as
microwave oven and radios interfere with internet signals. This makes data
connection unstable and slower.
 Distance
***The longer the distance between devices, the slower the data transfer
rate.
 Type of communication
***It depends on the type of communication such as wired or wireless, wi-
fi or Bluetooth, broadband or satellite, etc.
1.Bandwidth….The larger the bandwidth, the higher the data transfer rate.
Notes: Since bandwidth is shared among the devices on a network, the larger the
number of devices on that network, the lower the bandwidth shared to each
device.
If a user is handling with lots of data or big files, larger bandwidth is more
desirable.eg., online gaming, streaming video online.
Streaming Downloading
Data is temporarily stored Data is permanently stored on storage
Require internet connection to Once it has been downloaded, users
playback no longer need internet connection.
Cannot be rewatched in the future Can be rewatched in the future
User can instantly playback as soon as User has to wait for the whole file to
there is data in the buffer without the be finished downloading.
need of the whole file to be
downloaded.
User experience depends on User experience is not concerned with
bandwidth or internet connection bandwidth or internet connection.

How does streaming work??


Ans: A few piece of data is filled up into a temporary storage space called “Buffer”.
While user is streaming a video, data is instantly sent to buffer. If data is streamed
at a faster rate than its fill-up speed, there is no more data to playback and buffer
is empty. So, lagging occurs.

Latency: The time taken to transfer data between devices.


Notes: Gamers carry out pinging test to check their internet connection between
server and their devices.
If latency is found to be long, it makes the users’ games irresponsive or bad user
experience.
To reduce latency, servers are built up at many countries.
Network : When two or more digital devices are connected together, a network is
formed.
Types of Network:
 LAN (local area network)
 WLAN (wireless local area network)
 WAN (wide area network)
 PAN (personal area network)
LAN: local area network is confined to a small geographical area such as a single
building or groups of buildings which are close to each other.
Eg., high school departmental network, a network used in a hospital or an office.
Network architecture: peer-to-peer network, client-server network.
Required hardware: hub/switch, Wireless access point (WAP), routers/gateways,
ethernet cable, Network interface card (NIC) etc.
WAN: Wide area network can cover over a wide geographical area. It is a global
network.
Eg., used by international businesses, international police agencies, health and
education organisations.
Required hardware: Router/gateways, modem, ground station, satellite, server,
etc.

PAN: Personal area network in which the devices near a user are connected,
especially the user’s personal devices such as user’s smartwatch and smartphone,
user’s smartphone and smart TV, etc.
Types of PAN: wired PAN and wireless PAN
Connection: Bluetooth, USB, HDMI, minijack, wi-fi, etc.

Tethering: Sharing a mobile broadband connection of a mobile phone with other


devices.

How to share hotspot connection (or make tethering): Changes happened to the first user (host)’s experience when
sharing hotspot connection to others:
1. Turn on mobile data
2. Enable “allow others to join” option in personal 1. Data will be consumed more quickly or cost for
hotspot setting internet usage gets higher.
3. Other user must enter the correct password and 2. Battery power goes flat quicker. The device heats up.
join the correct device’s hotspot connection 3. User experience gets slower as bandwidth is shared
among the users.
Satellite communication (work by radio or microwave)
Pros: -not affected by power shortage
-always available for a certain location if it is geostationary satellite
Cons: -cannot pass through solid materials such as walls of buildings.
-dependent on weather conditions and affected by bad weather such as
heavy rain or snow.
Uses: TV & radio broadcasting, GPS (geo-positioning system), phone,
military affairs
GPS: About 24 satellites are already launched into space for GPS function. Only 4
of them need to work together to locate position.

TV broadcasting & radio broadcasting:


DVB = Digital Video Broadcasting
i. DVB-S= Digital Video Broadcasting -Satellite
***Requirements: broadcasting tower, satellite, Antennae, STB (set-top
box) = decoder which converts digital to analogue, TV.

***characteristics: internationally accepted standard, clearer without


noise, micro (or radio waves).

ii. DVB-T= Digital Video Broadcasting- Terrestrial


***Requirements: broadcasting tower, Antennae, STB, TV
***Characteristics: the same as in the above one. Radio waves.
iii. DAB: Digital audio broadcasting for radio transmission
***requirements: transmission tower, antennae, radio (including
decoders)
***characteristics: clearer, also some text data is displayed on the radio
device such as time, name of transmission station, details about the
music being played.
Mobile Broadband Communication
Broadband = broader bandwidth
Eg., 3G,4G,5G (G = generation)
Notes: Newer generation of mobile communication has faster speed and larger
bandwidth.
Infrared signals
Uses: in remote controls for TV, air-conditioner and projector, etc.
Characteristics: weak signal with lower bandwidth and can cover over short range
Suitable usage: for small data transfer over short distance where transmitter and
receiver must be line of sight along a straight line.

NFC (Near Field Communication)


Type of communication: wireless and work by radio waves
Strengths:
1. Good for hygiene purpose as users do not have to touch the bank notes.
2. Portable due to its small size and light weight.
3. Faster payment can be done since users do not need to type in passwords
or PINs (Personal Identification Numbers) and also users do not need to
wait for the right change.
Weaknesses:
1. Can easily be stolen or lost.
2. Money will be deducted from the card or account without the user’s
awareness if there are invalid readers nearby.
3. Multiple payments will mistakenly be done due to system errors or user’s
fault.

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