Chap- 2

Communication Systems and Networking

 2.1 Communication System
Communication : Communication means exchange information .
The process by which information is exchanged from one end to
another end is called Communication.

Structure of Communication System:

Destination
Source
Source Output
Input Receiver
Information Transmitter Medium Destination
Transducer Transducer

Fig : Structure of Communication System

 Bandwidth
Bandwidth : Data Transmission speed is called Bandwidth. The
rate of data transfer from one computer to another is called
Bandwidth.
Unit : bps (Bit Per Second)

1 Nibble= 4 bit
1 byte = 8 bit or 1 Character
1 Kilobyte(KB) = 1024 B = 210 B
1 Megabyte(MB) = 1024 KB = 220B
1 Gigabyte(GB) = 1024 MB = 230 B
1 Terabyte (TB) = 1024 GB = 240 B
 Data Transmission Method
Data Transmission Method : Data transmission Method is a means of
transmitting digital or analogue data over a communication medium to one or
more devices.

Types of Data Transmission Method :

Data transmission Method

Parallel Data transmission Serial Data transmission

Asynchronous transmission Synchronous transmission Isochronous transmission

 Data Transmission Method
Parallel Data transmission: Parallel Data transmission is a system which is transmitted
parallelly in transmitter to receiver.

Advantages of Parallel Data Transmission :

1. Multiple bites of information are sent at the same time .
2. At identical clock speed ,parallel transfer is faster than serial transfer because of higher
number of data transfer.

Sender
Receiver

fig: Parallel Data transmission

 Data Transmission Method
Serial Data transmission: The system of transmitting bit after bit continuously between a
transmitter and a receiver is called Serial Data transmission. is a system which is
transmitted parallelly in transmitter to receiver.

Advantages of Parallel Data Transmission :

1. Only one line or path is needed for data transmission.
2. Transmission line can be spread far away in cheap costing.

Sender
Receiver

fig: Serial Data transmission

 Data Transmission Method
Q-1: What is Synchronization?
Ans: The System which is used as the coordinator of different bits at the time of sending
signals is known as synchronization.

Serial data transmissions are divided into three types depending on

synchronization. Such as:
i. Asynchronous Transmission
ii. Synchronous Transmission
iii. Isochronous Transmission
 Asynchronous Transmission
Asynchronous Transmission : The data transmission system in which the data is
transmitted character by character from the sender to a receiver is called Asynchronous
transmission. The word Asynchronous means not synchronous.

Characteristics:
1. Sender can send data at any time and the receiver can receive it.
2. For every character, a start and a stop bit have to be sent.
3. The time interval between each character transmission is not always equal.
4. Data transmission speed is slow.
5. Data transmission is less efficient.
6. Primary device storage is not necessary at the sender's station.
 Asynchronous Transmission

stop bit start bit

Sender 01101 1 10110110 0 01101 Receiver

Gaps between
data units
Fig: Asynchronous transmission
Uses of Asynchronous Transmission:
1.Keyboard to computer.
2.Punch-card reader to computer.
3. Computer to punch-card.
4. Computer to printer
5. Data is send for video game through joystick
 Synchronous Transmission
Synchronous Transmission : The data transmission system in which the data is first stored
in a primary storage device (RAM, Cache or CPU Memory) at the sending station, then the
data characters are divided into blocks (also called packets or frames) and transmitted one
block at a time is called synchronous transmission.

Characteristics :
1. There is no need of interval between characters during transmission.
2. Every set needs a header and trailer byte at the beginning and at the ending.
3. Transmission needs a primary storage.
4. Data transmission speed is higher speed.
 Synchronous Transmission

Direction of Data flow

Sender 10101010
10101010 10101010 10101010 Receiver
1 block/Frame = 80-132 byte

fig : Synchronous Transmission

Uses of Synchronous Transmission:

1.During data communication from one computer to another,
2.Data transfer from one place to another remote place,
3.Synchronous data transmission is widely used to transfer data from one computer to several
computers at the same time
 Isochronous Transmission
Isochronous transmission : Isochronous transmission method is a combination of
synchronous and asynchronous transmission method. It is capable of sending data when
needed with almost no interruption, in block form like synchronous transmission and
without storing the data in the primary storage device like asynchronous transmission.

This method is generally used for data transfer in real time applications. For example- live
TV broadcast, streaming video etc. In this type of transmission, a start signal is sent
before starting to send any data. Stop signal is sent when data sending is finished.
 Data Transmission Efficiency
Data transmission efficiency: Data transmission efficiency means the ratio of the
amount of real data and transmission data.
𝑅𝑒𝑎𝑙 𝑑𝑎𝑡𝑎
Transmission Efficiency ,  = 𝑇𝑜𝑡𝑎𝑙 𝑑𝑎𝑡𝑎 × 100%

Q. Calculate the efficiency of asynchronous and synchronous transmission.

Ans:
For Asynchronous Transmission :
Total data = 1 start bit + 1 Character + 1 stop bit
= (1+8+1) bit
= 10 bit
Real data = 8 bit
𝑅𝑒𝑎𝑙 𝑑𝑎𝑡𝑎
Now, Efficiency = 𝑇𝑜𝑡𝑎𝑙 𝑑𝑎𝑡𝑎 × 100%
8
= 10 × 100% = 80%
 Data Transmission Efficiency
For Synchronous Transmission :
Total data = 1 Header Byte + 1 Block + 2 Trailer byte
= (1+80+2) byte
= 83 byte
Real data = 80 byte
𝑅𝑒𝑎𝑙 𝑑𝑎𝑡𝑎
Now, Efficiency = × 100%
𝑇𝑜𝑡𝑎𝑙 𝑑𝑎𝑡𝑎
80
= 83 × 100% = 96.39%

So synchronous transmission more efficient than asynchronous transmission.

 Data Transmission Mode
Data Transmission Mode : Data flow direction at the time of data transmission in data
communication is known as data transmission mode.

Types:
1. Data transmission mode can be divided into three types based on the direction of data
transfer. Such as:
a. Simplex
b. Half-Duplex
c. Full-Duplex
2. Considering the number of receivers and capability of receiving data, data transmission
mode can be divided into the following three categories:
1. Unicast mode
2. Broadcast mode
3. Multicast mode
 based on the direction of data transfer
a.Simplex: One way data transmission is known as simplex mode. In this system, the end who sends data, can't receive
data and receiver end can't send data.
Sender Receiver
fig: Simplex
Example- PABX system, radio, tv, normal programs of tv are the examples of simplex mode.

b. Half-Duplex : In this system, data can be sent from both sides but not at the same time. Any end can only receive or
send data at a time, but sending and receiving can't be done at the same time.
Sender Receiver
fig: Half Duplex
Example: Communication through Walkie-Talkie
c. Full-Duplex: Full duplex can send and receive data at the same time. Any end can send data while receiving it.
Again, any end can receive data while sending it.
Sender Receiver
fig: Full Duplex

Example: Telephone, mobile phone and computer network communication.

 Considering the number of receivers and capability of receiving data, data transmission mode
1. Unicast mode: In this mode of transmission, a transmitter can transfer data to a single receiver.
Multiple receivers cannot receive data simultaneously. If data are transmitted from a node of network
(computer, printer or other devices), only one node of that network can receive data.
B

A D

Fig : Unicast
Example : Fax , Mobile , Telephone , Single SMS
 Considering the number of receivers and capability of receiving data, data transmission mode
2. Broadcast mode: In case of broadcast mode, if a node of a network (computer, printer or other
devices) transmits data, all the nodes of the network can receive those. For example, everyone with a
receiver can watch a broadcast from television broadcasting centre. All the receivers of the network can
receive data in this mode of transmission.
B

C
A D

Fig : Broadcast
Example : TV Bradcasting
 Considering the number of receivers and capability of receiving data, data transmission mode
3. Multicast mode: In multicast mode, only a group of nodes of a network can receive data transmitted
by another node. For example, in video conference, only the authorized persons or nodes can participate.

C
A D

Fig : Multicast

Example : Audio Conference, Video conference..

 Cable Media

1.Twisted Pair

2. Co-axial Cable and

3.Optical Fiber
 Co-axial Cable
Co-axial Cable : Co-axial cable is made of two conductors and an insulator. These cable are the first cable type used in
LAN (Local Area Network).
A co-axial cable has four parts:
1. Plastic jacket
2. Net of copper wire
3. Insulator
4. Central part of copper wire

Plastic jacket works as a shield and protects the central conductor from electromagneta interference (EMI). Insulator is
used to separate plastic jacket from inner conductor.
 Co-axial Cable
Co-axial cable can be divided into two types on the basis of structure:
1. Thinnet
2. Thicknet

Thinnet: Thinnet is light and flexible. This type of cable is cheap and can
easily be installed. It has a diameter of 0.25 inches.

Thicknet: Thicknet is heavy and cannot be bended easily because it is thicker

than thinnet. It can be installed securedly for connection from a building to
another building. It has a diameter of 0.4 inches.
 Twisted Pair Cable
Twisted Pair Cable : Two conductor copper wires are uniformly coiled to manufacture this
type of cable. Insulator is used for separating the coiled wires. Four pairs of wire are used to
make this cable, among them one is common white while the others are of different colours.
Each white colour cable has blue, pink, green and brown coloured cables with it . Twisted
pair cable is very popular. It is comparatively cheap and can be easily installed. The wires
are coiled and so they easily block EMI and protect cable from radiating radiofrequency
noise. Twisted pair cable is free from external pollution and so no difficulty takes place
during talking. It is used to transmit within a range of 100 metres.
 Twisted Pair Cable
Two types of twisted pair cable is used in LAN:
1. Shielded twisted pair (STP)
2. Unshielded twisted pair (UTP)

Shielded twisted pair(STP) cable: Four shielded twisted pair cables are covered with plastic
jackets separately. Each pair can be distinguished by colour code. This cable has a
bandwidth of 16 Mbps.

Unshielded twisted pair(UTP) cable: Transmission by unshielded twisted pair cable is not
possible in case the range exceeds 100 metres. This cable also ensures higher resistance
during data transmission. This cable has a bandwidth of 10 Mbps.
 Optical Fiber Cable
Optical Fiber Cable : A fiber optic cable is a cable that is made of silica, glass or
transparent plastic and can transmit data from source to destination by total internal
reflection of light. Fiber optic cable is the strongest medium in its class.

Structure of Fibre Optic Cable: For making the optical fibre, borosilicate glass, soda-lime
silica glass and soda-alumina silica glass (alumina-silicate) are used. The mentionable
characteristics of these glasses are-transparency, chemical stability, and uncomplicated
processing capability. Plastics are often used in the cladding of fibres.
 Optical Fiber Cable
Fibre optic cables have 3 parts. These are-

(i)Core: a dry-electric core whose width is mainly 8 to 100 micron. The innermost part of
the optical fiber cable is the core through which the light signal travels. It is made of silica
multicomponent glass or transparent plastic.

(ii) Cladding: The core optical fiber is covered by a cladding or Kevlar made of a material
that can reflect light. Its refractive index is less than that of the core. Due to the difference in
refractive index, the light signal can take a curved path through the fiber optic cable withs
total internal reflection.

(iii) Jacket: Acts as a covering. The plastic wrap over the cable is called Jacket. It gives
protection from abrasion, rust, water vapor.
 Optical Fiber Cable
Classification of Fibre Optic Cables:
1. Depending on the refraction of structural elements, fibre optic cables are divided into
two types. i. Step-index fibre
ii. Graded-index fibre

i. Step-index fibre: Refraction of the core of step-index fibres is the same everywhere.

ii. Graded-index fibre: Refraction of the core is much higher at the core of a graded-index
fibre and diminishes gradually towards its radius. Variation in the refraction of the core
causes variation in the direction of the light rays within the two types of fibres.
 Optical Fiber Cable
Depending on the diameter of the core, fibre optic cables are divided into two types:
i. Single-mode fiber.
ii. Multimode fiber
i. Single-mode fiber: The diameter of single-mode fiber optic fiber is about 150 microns.
The diameter of the fiber core can range from 8 to 100 microns. Single mode fiber optic
cables have only one optical signal transmission path at a time and are commonly used for
laser signaling. Single mode fiber optic cables are used in long distance data transmission.
This technology is cost effective due to the small diameter of the core.

ii. Multimode Fiber: Core size of multimode fiber is 62.5/125 microns. Multimode fiber
has multiple optical signal transmission paths simultaneously. Through these paths all the
signals can reach the destination simultaneously. This fiber is only used for short distances
and low speed. This technology is relatively simple and cost-effective as the diameter of the
core is large and LED (LED Light Emitting Diode) can be used in it.