What is a network

• An interconnected collection of
autonomous computers

1. Interconnected means capable of

exchanging information

2. Autonomous means that all computers are

independent.
 Why is it needed

1. For sharing resources like printers ,

scanners ,database etc.
2. Copies of files can be placed on
more than one system for
reliability.
3. It is cheaper
 Evolution
1. ARPANET , NSFNET ,INTERNET ,
INTERSPACE

• ARPANET [Advanced Research Projects Agency

Network]

1. Was developed in 1969 by U.S. department of defence

2. It connected the U.S. Defence with the computers in
different universities so that data and messages could be
exchanged.
3. Based on ARPANET a high capacity network called NSFnet
was created
 Evolution continued
• The National Science Foundation
Network (NSFNET) was a program of
coordinated, evolving projects
sponsored by the National Science
Foundation (NSF) from 1985 to 1995
to promote advanced research and
education networking in the United
States
 Evolution continued

• INTERNET
1. All the different networks large and small
were interconnected to form a worldwide
network called the INTERNET.
2. A device called GATEWAY is used to connect
the dissimilar networks to the internet
BACKBONE
3. A BACKBONE network is a central
interconnecting structure that connects one
or more networks
 Evolution continued

• INTERSPACE

– This is a vision of the future internet

– This is a client/server program that allows

multiple users to communicate online , with
real time audio , video and text chat in a
dynamic 3D environment
Components of Data Communication
System
• Data Communication System
Components :
There are mainly five components of
a data communication system:
• Sender :
It is a device that sends data message. The device could be in form
of a computer, mobile, telephone, laptop, video camera, or a
workstation, etc.

• Message :
This is most useful asset of a data communication system. The
message simply refers to data or piece of information which is to be
communicated. A message could be in any form, it may be in form of
a text file, an audio file, a video file, etc.
Receiver :
It is a device that receives message. Same as sender, receiver
can also be in form of a computer, telephone mobile,
workstation, etc.
Transmission Medium :
It is physical path by which data or message travels from sender
to receiver. Transmission medium could be guided (with wires)
or unguided (without wires), for example, twisted pair cable,
fiber optic cable, radio waves, microwaves, etc.
IP address: Numerical address that uniquely identifies a
computer.
Set of rules (Protocol) :
The protocol is a set of rules that govern data communication. If
two different devices are connected but there is no protocol
among them, there would not be any kind of communication
between those two devices. Thus the protocol is necessary for
data communication to take place.
A protocol is a formal description of digital message formats
and the rules for exchanging those messages in or between
computing systems and in telecommunications.
DATA TRANSMISSION TERMINOLOGIES

• CHANNEL
– The medium used to carry data or information from one point
to another
• BANDWIDTH
– Difference between the highest and the lowest frequencies of a
channel .
– High bandwidth channel – BROADBAND
– Low bandwidth channel - NARROWBAND
• DATA TRANSFER RATE
– Amount of data transferred per second by a channel
– Measured in units bits per second (bps)/BAUD , bytes per
second (Bps) , Mbps, Gbps, Tbps
– Bps bytes per second , KBps kilo bytes per second ,MBps
megabytes per second ,GBps giga bytes per second ,TBps tera
bytes per second
SWITCHING TECHNIQUES
(ways of sending data)
 SWITCHING TECHNIQUES
(ways of sending data)
1. Circuit switching

1. A complete physical copper

path(connection) between the sender and
the receiver is established
2. No other processes can use that link for the
period
3. Even if both are not communicating for a short
period the link is still not free for other
systems to communicate
Message switching (store and forward
technique)

– In this a temporary link is established for one

message transfer and then released.
– The message goes from the source to the
nearest switching office where it is stored in
the hard disk.
– The switching office looks for a free link to the
next switching office and forwards the data.
– This process is continued till the message
reaches the destination
 Packet switching
• Data is broken down into small packets of fixed
size.
• All the packets have the source and the
destination address and are numbered serially.
• Packets are send in any order in all the free lines
available to the switching office where it is stored
in the main memory.
• The receiving end may receive the packets in any
order . Based on their serial number they are
reassembled to form the whole message.
• If any packets are lost or damaged, a request is
sent to retransmit the same message.
Packet switching:  uses store and forward
concept to send messages  no physical
path is actually establishes  message is
divided into smaller parts, known as packets
and then sent forward  tight upper limit on
block size  Each data unit knows only the
final receiver’s address
 Difference between circuit and packet
switching

• CIRCUIT SWITCHING • PACKET SWITCHING

• Reserves the required • It acquires and releases

bandwidth in advance. bandwidth as per need.
• Complete copper path set
• Charges based on number
• Charging is based on distance
of bytes carried and the
and time
connect time
 TRANSMISSION MEDIA

• GUIDED MEDIA • UNGUIDED MEDIA

1. TWISTED PAIR CABLE 1. INFRARED

2. RADIO LINK
2. COAXIAL CABLE
3. MICROWAVE LINK
3. OPTICAL FIBRE
4. SATELLITE LINK
 TWISTED PAIR CABLE
• It consists of 2 • ADVANTAGES
1. Easy to install and
identical wires maintain.
wrapped together
in a double helix. 2. Physically flexible and is
inexpensive

• Twisting reduces • DISADVANTAGES

external and 1. It cannot carry signals over
a long distance without
internal using repeaters.
interference
(crosstalk) 2. It has low bandwidth hence
is a slow speed transmission
medium
 COAXIAL CABLE

Outer Insulator
Shield

Conductor
Wire Mesh

1. It has a solid wire core surrounded by wire shields and separated by a plastic
insulator.
2. The inner core carries the signal.
3. The outer shield provides the ground
4. There are two types THICKNET(upto 500 m) and THINNET(upto 185m) cables.
 COAXIAL CABLE
ADVANTAGES

1. Offers high bandwidth and hence can be used

for broadband transmission.

2. Can be used to transmit over a longer distance

without repeaters.

DISADVANTAGES

1. Expensive than twisted pair

2. Not compatible with twisted pair

 OPTICAL FIBRE

Shield

Cladding Core

PARTS OF AN OPTICAL FIBRE

1. The core is made of thin glass strands or plastic through which light travels
2. The cladding reflects the light back onto the core using the concept of total internal
reflection
3. Outer shield is the protective coating for the glass fibre
.
 WORKING OF OPTICAL FIBRE

1. Light beam travels from source to

destination. LED’s are used as light
sources

2. Data is modulated onto the beam using

frequency modulation

3. At the receiving end demodulation is

done and the signals are picked out
 OPTICAL FIBRE CONTINUED

• ADVANTAGES • DISADVANTAGES
1. It is not affected by 1. They are very fragile
electrical and causing installation
magnetic problems
interference 2. Connection losses are
2. It can be used for common problems
broadband 3. Costliest among all
transmission where the cables
several channels are
handled in parallel
 INFRARED MEDIA
1. The infrared light sends data through
the air .

2. It can propogate throughout the room

but cannot penetrate the walls.

3. Mainly used in Remote controls ,

automatic doors ,wireless devices etc.

4. Used for a smaller distance

 RADIO LINK

1. This uses radio frequencies (sine waves) to

transmit data

2. There is a transmitter which encodes the

message onto the sine wave and transmits it.

3. The receiver decodes the message thus

separating the sine wave and the message

4. Both the sender and the receiver use antennas

to radiate and capture the radio waves.
 RADIO LINK
• ADVANTAGES • DISADVANTAGES

1. Easy for 1. Very insecure means

communication in of communication
hilly areas where
cable can’t be laid 2. Susceptible to rains
thunder storms etc.
2. Cheaper than laying
cables, using
repeaters etc.
 MICROWAVE LINK

1. Very high radio frequency waves are called

microwaves.(MORE THAN 3 GHz)

2. Parabolic antennas are mounted on towers to

send and receive the modulated data.

3. The transmitter modulates the data onto the

microwave and sends it.
At the receiving end the wave is demodulated
and the data is received by the receiver.

4. Higher the antenna greater is the distance of

transmission
 SATELLITE LINK
1. The Earth station has a satellite dish(antenna)
and communication equipment to transmit and
receive data from satellites
2. The satellites accept the data amplifies them
and retransmits them to another part of the
earth in only one step.
3. The satellites have devices called transponders
that can receive and send multiple data.
 SATELLITE LINK
ADVANTAGES DISADVANTAGES
• Overcrowding of
1. Area of coverage available
is large bandwidths
2. Laying • Loss of data due
intercontinental to atmospheric
cables is disturbance
expensive . Hence
this is cheaper
• Transmission media.d
oc