UNIVERSITY OF MINES AND TECHNOLOGY

FACULTY OF ENGINEERING
COMPUTER SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT

COURSE NAME – DATA COMMUNICATION & NETWORKS

COURSE CODE – CY 164

LECTURER NAME – DR SYLVESTER AKPAH

M O B I L E - + 2 3 3 2 0 7 5 4 1 6 8 4 /2 4 4 2 2 0 3 6 1
EMAIL – [email protected]
 COURSE PRESENTATION
The course will be presented through a combination of:
 Weekly Lectures (i.e., face-to-face lectures/VLE);
 Tutorials;
 Student led Presentations; and
 Take Home Assignments
 COURSE OBJECTIVES
The objectives for this course are as follows:
 For students to understand the scientific principles and
concepts behind the design and organization of network
systems;
 For students to obtain hands-on experience in designing and
management of a computer network system;
 To introduce students to the fundamental types of computer
networks;
 To demonstrate the TCP/IP & OSI model merits & demerits;
and
 To know the role of various protocols in networking
 RECOMMENDED TEXTBOOKS & REFERENCES
The following textbooks have been recommended to ensure that students gain a
deeper understanding of the course:
 R a m o n n as ta se, “c o m p u te r n e tw o r k in g f o r b e g in n e r s ” , a m a z o n d ig ita l s e r v ic e s llc
- k d p p r in t u s, 2 0 1 8
 D o u g las co m er, “ c o m p u te r n e tw o r k s a n d in te r n e ts ” , 5 t h e d itio n , p r e n tic e h a ll,
2009.
 R u s s w h ite an d e th a n b a n k s , ” c o m p u te r n e tw o r k in g p r o b le m s a n d s o lu tio n s : a n
in n o v ativ e ap p r o a c h to b u ild in g r e s ilie n t, m o d e r n n e tw o r k s ” , 1 s t e d itio n ,
a d d is o n w esley p r o f e s s io n a l.
 Mic h ae l b . W h ite , “ c o m p u te r n e tw o r k in g : th e c o m p le te g u id e to u n d e r s ta n d in g
w ir e less tec h n o lo g y, n e tw o r k s e c u r ity, c o m p u te r a r c h ite c tu r e a n d c o m m u n ic a tio n s
s y s te m s ( in clu d in g c is c o , C C N A a n d C C E N T ) ” , c r e a te s p a c e in d e p e n d e n t
p u b lish in g p latf o r m , 2 0 1 8 .
 O liv ier b o n av en tu r e , “ c o m p u te r n e tw o r k in g : p r in c ip le s , p r o to c o ls , a n d p r a c tic e ” ,
th e s ay lo r f o u n d atio n , r e le a s e 0 . 2 5 , 2 0 11 .
 COURSE ASSESSMENT
Data communication and computer networks will be assessed as follows:
 Class Attendance – 10%
 Continuous Assessment (Quizzes, Assignments and Presentations) –
30%
 Final Examination – 60%
 LECTURE ONE

DATA COMMUNICATION AND NETWORKING CONCEPTS

Student learning outcomes

A fter going through this lecture, students should be able to:

 D escribe w hat data communication system is;

 U nderstand the elements that make up a data communication system;

 U nderstand the factors that affect data communication; and

 D escribe the characteristics of netw ork architectures: reliability, performance

and security.
 DATA COMMUNICATION
Data communication refers to the exchange of data or information between two or
more devices over a communication channel. The communication channel can be
wired or wireless, and can range from a simple cable connecting two devices to a
complex network connecting multiple devices.
Data communication can occur in various forms, such as text, voice, video, or any
other type of digital data. The communication process involves the encoding of
data by the sender, the transmission of the data through the communication
channel, and the decoding of the data by the receiver.
Data communication is essential for modern communication systems, including the
internet, telecommunication networks, and computer networks. It allows for
efficient and reliable exchange of information, facilitating communication and
collaboration among individuals, organizations, and machines.
 DATA COMMUNICATION CONT’D
T h e e ff e c tiv en ess o f a d a ta c o m m u n ic a tio n s s y s te m d e p e n d s o n f o u r f u n d a m e n ta l
c h a r a c te r istics :
 D e liv e r y - th e sy ste m m u s t d e liv e r d a ta to th e c o r r e c t d e s tin a tio n . D a ta m u s t b e
r e c e iv e d b y th e in te n d e d d e v ic e o r u s e r a n d o n ly b y th a t d e v ic e o r u s e r ;
 A c c u r a c y - th e sy ste m m u s t d e liv e r th e d a ta a c c u r a te ly. D a ta th a t h a v e b e e n a lte r e d in
tr a n s m issio n an d lef t u n c o r r e c te d a r e u n u s a b le ;
 Tim e lin ess - th e sy s te m m u s t d e liv e r d a ta in a tim e ly m a n n e r. D a ta d e liv e r e d la te a r e
u s e le s s . I n th e cas e o f v id e o a n d a u d io , tim e ly d e liv e r y m e a n s d e liv e r in g d a ta a s th e y
a r e p r o d u ced , in th e s a m e o r d e r th a t th e y a r e p r o d u c e d , a n d w ith o u t s ig n if ic a n t d e la y.
T h is k in d o f d eliv er y is c a lle d r e a l- tim e tr a n s m is s io n ; a n d
 J it t e r - jitter r ef e r s to th e v a r ia tio n in th e p a ck e t a r r iv a l tim e . I t is th e u n e v e n d e la y in
th e d e liv e r y o f au d io o r v id e o p a c k e ts . F o r e x a m p le , le t u s a s s u m e th a t v id e o p a c k e ts
a r e s e n t ev er y 3 D m s . I f s o m e o f th e p a c k e ts a r r iv e w ith 3 d - m s d e la y a n d o th e r s w ith
4 d - m s d elay, an u n ev e n q u a lity in th e v id e o is th e r e s u lt.
 QUALITY OF COMMUNICATION
T h e q u a l i t y o f d a t a c o m m u n i c a t i o n r e f e r s t o t h e l e v e l o f a c c u r a c y, r e l i a b i l i t y, a n d e ff i c i e n c y
with which data is transmitted and received over a communication channel. The following
a r e f a c t o r s t h a t c a n a ff e c t t h e q u a l i t y o f d a t a c o m m u n i c a t i o n :
 Bandwidth: bandwidth refers to the amount of data that can be transmitted over a
communication channel in a given amount of time. Higher bandwidth allows for faster and
m o r e e ff i c i e n t d a t a c o m m u n i c a t i o n .
 Latency: latency is the time delay between the transmission and receipt of data. High
latency can result in slow and unreliable data communication.
 E r ro r R a t e : t h e e r r o r r a t e i s t h e f r e q u e n c y o f e r r o r s t h a t o c c u r d u r i n g d a t a t r a n s m i s s i o n .
High error rates can result in data corruption and loss of information.
 Signal-to-Noise Ratio: signal-to-noise ratio refers to the amount of signal strength
compared to the amount of background noise in a communication channel. Higher signal-
to-noise ratios result in clearer and more reliable data communication.
 I n t e r f e re n c e : i n t e r f e r e n c e c a n o c c u r w h e n o t h e r s i g n a l s o r d e v i c e s i n t e r f e r e w i t h t h e
communication channel, resulting in data loss or corruption.
 QUALITY OF COMMUNICATION CONT’D
The se fa c t ors c an al so be cl a ssi fi ed as i nt ernal l y ge ne ra t e d or a ffe c t e d by e xt e rna l forc e s
Inte r nal factors - Int ernal fa ct ors t ha t i nt e rfe re wi t h ne t work c omm uni c a t i on a re
re l a t e d t o t he nat ure of t he me ssage i t se l f. Di ffe re nt t ype s of me ssa ge s ma y va ry i n
c om pl e xi t y and i mport anc e. Some of t he i nt ernal fa c t ors i nc l ude :
 T he si z e of t he message
 T he c ompl e xi t y of t he messa ge
 T he i mport ance of t he messa ge

Exte r nal factors - The ext e rna l fac tors a ffe c t i ng c om muni c a t i on a re re l a t e d t o t he
c om pl e xi t y of t he net work a nd t he numbe r of devi c e s a me ssa ge must pa ss t hrough on i t s
rout e t o i t s fi na l de st i nat i on. Some of t he e xt e rna l fa c t ors i nc l ude :
 T he qua l i t y of t he pat hwa y bet we en t he sende r a nd t he re c i pi e nt
 T he numbe r of ot he r me ssa ge s be i ng t ransmi t te d si mul t a ne ousl y on t he
c om muni c at i on net work
 T he a mount of t i me al l ot t ed for suc ce ssful c om m uni c a t i on
 ELEMENTS OF A DATA COMMUNICATION SYSTEM
A data communication system is referred to as a complex arrangement of hardware,
software, protocols, and procedures that work together to transmit data from source
to destination. A data communications system has five components, namely:
 Message - the message is the information (data) to be communicated. Popular
forms of information include text, numbers, pictures, audio, and video;
 Sender - the sender is the device that sends the data message. It can be a
computer, workstation, telephone handset, video camera, and so on;
 Receiver - the receiver is the device that receives the message. It can be a
computer, workstation, telephone handset, television, and so on;
 Transmission medium - the transmission medium is the physical path by which a
message travels from sender to receiver. Some examples of transmission media;
and
 Protocol - A protocol is a set of rules that govern data communications. It
represents an agreement between the communicating devices. Without a protocol,
two devices may be connected but not communicating, just as a person speaking
French cannot be understood by a person who speaks only Japanese.
 ELEMENTS OF A DATA COMMUNICATION SYSTEM CONT’D
A typical data communication system is shown in figure 1

Fig. 1 Elements of Data Communication System

 DATA REPRESENTATION TECHNIQUES
Information today comes in different forms such as text, numbers, images, audio, and
video.

 Te x t - I n d ata co m m u n ic a tio n s , te x t is r e p r e s e n te d a s a b it p a tte r n , a s e q u e n c e o f b its

( 0 ’s o r 1 ’s) .
 N u m b e r s - N u m b er s a r e a ls o r e p r e s e n te d b y b it p a tte r n s . H o w e v e r, a c o d e s u c h a s
A S C I I is n o t u sed to r e p r e s e n t n u m b e r s ; th e n u m b e r is d ir e c tly c o n v e r te d to a b in a r y
n u m b e r to s im p lif y m a th e m a tic a l o p e r a tio n s .

 I m a g e s - I m ag es a r e a ls o r e p r e s e n te d b y b it p a tte r n s . I n its s im p le s t f o r m , a n im a g e is
c o m p o s ed o f a m atr ix o f p ix e ls ( p ic tu r e e le m e n ts ) , w h e r e e a c h p ix e l is a s m a ll d o t.
 A u d io - A u d io r e f er s to th e r e c o r d in g o r b r o a d c a s tin g o f s o u n d o r m u s ic . A u d io is b y
n a tu r e d iff er e n t f r o m te x t, n u m b e r s , o r im a g e s . I t is c o n tin u o u s , n o t d is c r e te .
 Vid e o - Vid e o r ef e r s to th e r e c o r d in g o r b r o a d c a s tin g o f a p ic tu r e o r m o v ie . Vid e o c a n
e ith e r b e p r o d u ced a s a c o n tin u o u s e n tity ( e . g . , B y a T V c a m e r a ) , o r it c a n b e a
c o m b in atio n o f im a g e s , e a c h a d is c r e te e n tity, a r r a n g e d to c o n v e y th e id e a o f m o tio n .
 NETWORK COMPONENTS
Network components are the various hardware and software elements that
make up a computer network. These components work together to enable
communication and data transfer between devices connected to the network.
Two major categories of devices exist, namely:

 Devices which often originate messages that comprise our communication.

These include various types of computers (a PC and laptop icon are shown),
servers etc.

 Devices, used to direct and manage messages across the network, as well as
other common networking symbols. These include routers, switches,
repeaters etc.
 NETWORK INTERFACE CARDS
 A network interface card (NIC) is described as a hardware component that connects a
computer system to a network. It is also referred to as a network adapter or network
card. The NIC is responsible for enabling the computer to communicate with other
devices on the network by sending and receiving data packets.
 NICs come in different types and speeds. The most common types of NICs include
ethernet, wi-fi, and Bluetooth. Ethernet NICs are used for wired/cable connections
and can support different speeds, including 10mbps, 100mbps, and 1gbps. Wi-fi
NICs are used for wireless connections and support different standards, including
802.11n, 802.11ac, and 802.11ax.
 NICs have a unique identifier called a media access control (mac) address. This
address is used to identify the NIC on the network and is assigned by the
manufacturer. The MAC address is a 48-bit value that is typically written in
hexadecimal format.
 NICs can be configured using software to set parameters such as the IP address,
subnet mask, and default gateway. This configuration allows the computer to
communicate with other devices on the network.
 NETWORK INTERFACE CARDS CONT’D
Fig. 1.2 shows an image of different types of NICs which can be used in computer systems.

Fig. 1.2 Different Types of Network Interface Cards

 NETWORK DEVICES
Network devices are described as hardware components that facilitate the communication between devices in a computer
network. They are responsible for transmitting, receiving, and managing data across the network. These devices transfer data
in a fast, secure and correct way over same or different networks. Network devices may be inter-network or intra-network.
Described below are some examples of network devices:

Repeater – A repeater is a network device that is used to extend the reach of a network by regenerating and amplifying
network signals. It receives a weak or degraded signal from one network segment and retransmits the signal at a higher
power level to extend the reach of the network. Repeaters work at the physical layer of the OSI model and can be used to
extend the range of both wired and wireless networks.

Fig. 1.3 A 2-port Repeater Device

 NETWORK DEVICES CONT’D
Hub – A hub is basically a multiport repeater. A hub connects multiple wires coming from different branches, for
example, the connector in star topology which connects different stations. Hubs cannot filter data, so data packets are
sent to all connected devices. Also, they do not have the intelligence to find out the best path for data packets which
leads to inefficiencies and wastage. Fig. 1.4 shows an image of a 6-port hub.

Types of Hubs
 Active Hub - These are the hubs that have their own power supply and can clean, boost, and relay the signal along
with the network. It serves both as a repeater as well as a wiring center. These are used to extend the maximum
distance between nodes.
 Passive Hub - These are the hubs that collect wiring from nodes and power supply from the active hub. These hubs
relay signals onto the network without cleaning and boosting them and can’t be used to extend the distance between
nodes.

Fig. 1.4 A 6-Port Hub

 NETWORK DEVICES CONT’D

Switch - A switch is a network device that is used to connect multiple devices together within a network and
allows them to communicate with each other. It works at the data link layer (layer 2) of the OSI model and is
responsible for forwarding data packets between devices within the network.

Switches are commonly used in local area networks (LANs) to connect computers, printers, servers, and other
devices within the network. They provide a fast and efficient way for devices to communicate with each other, as
they can send data packets only to the intended recipient, reducing network congestion and improving
performance. Switches can also be used to segment a network into smaller, more manageable subnetworks,
improving security and reducing the scope of network issues. Fig. 1.5 shows an image of a 8-port hub.

Fig. 1.5 An 8-Port Switch

 NETWORK DEVICES CONT’D
Bridge: A bridge is a network device that connects two or more network segments together and
allows them to communicate with each other. It works at the data link layer (layer 2) of the OSI model
and is responsible for forwarding data packets between the network segments.

Bridges are commonly used in local area networks (LANs) to connect different segments of the
network and improve network performance. By dividing the network into smaller segments, bridges
can reduce network congestion and improve network speed. Bridges can also be used to segment the
network for security reasons, preventing traffic from one segment of the network from reaching other
segments.
Fig. 1.6 shows an image of a bridge.

Fig. 1.6 A 4-Port Bridge

 NETWORK DEVICES CONT’D
Gateway – A gateway is a network device that connects two or more different networks together and allows
them to communicate with each other. It works at the application layer (layer 7) of the OSI model and is
responsible for translating protocols and addressing schemes between different networks. Gateways are used to
connect networks that use different communication protocols, data formats, or architectures.

They provide a bridge between networks with different technologies, allowing devices on one network to
communicate with devices on another network. Gateways can also be used to connect networks with different
security policies, enabling secure communication between different parts of an organization or different
organizations.

Fig. 1.7 shows an image of a Gateway.

Fig. 1.7 A Gateway

 NETWORK DEVICES CONT’D

Router - A router is a network device that is used to connect two or more networks together and allows devices
on different networks to communicate with each other. It works at the network layer (layer 3) of the OSI model
and is responsible for forwarding data packets between networks. Routers use IP (Internet Protocol) addresses
to identify the networks and devices connected to them.

Routers are commonly used in wide area networks (WANs) and the internet to connect different networks
together. They provide a flexible and scalable way to connect networks of different sizes and technologies.
Routers can also be used to segment a network into smaller subnetworks, improving security and reducing the
scope of network issues. In addition to forwarding data packets, routers can also perform other functions, such
as filtering traffic based on various criteria, performing network address translation (NAT), and providing
virtual private network (VPN) connectivity. Fig. 1.8 shows an image of a Router.

Fig. 1.8 A Router

Lecture Questions
1) Differentiate between data & information.
2) What are the different forms in which data can be represented?
3) What are the characteristics of data communication?
4) What are the components of a data communication system?
5) What is meant by quality of communication?
6) Outline some internal and external factors that impact the quality of communication.
7) What is a network device
8) Briefly describe some network devices
9) What is a network interface card
10) What are network components
THANK YOU