Chapter 1

Introduction

1.1
 1-1 DATA COMMUNICATIONS
The term telecommunication means communication at a
distance.
The word data refers to information presented in
whatever form is agreed upon by the parties creating and
using the data.
Data communications are the exchange of data between
two devices via some form of transmission medium such
as a wire cable.
Topics discussed in this section:
Components
Data Representation
Data Flow

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 Characteristics:

 Delivery: deliver data to correct

destination
 Accuracy: System must deliver data
accurately
 Timelines: data should be reach in
time
 Jitter: refer to variation in packet
arrival time. Uneven delay in delivery
of audio or video packets.
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 Figure 1.1 Five components of data communication

1.4
 Data Representation

Text
Numbers
Image
Video
Audio

1.5
 Figure 1.2 Data flow (simplex, half-duplex, and full-duplex)

1.6
 1-2 NETWORKS

A network is a set of devices (often referred to as nodes)

connected by communication links. A node can be a
computer, printer, or any other device capable of sending
and/or receiving data generated by other nodes on the
network.

Topics discussed in this section:

Distributed Processing
Network Criteria:
•Perfomance,Reliability and Security
Physical Structures
Network Models
Categories of Networks
Interconnection of Networks: Internetwork
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 Figure 1.3 Types of connections: point-to-point and multipoint

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 Figure 1.4 Categories of topology

1.9
 Figure 1.5 A fully connected mesh topology (five devices)

N(N-1)/2 links

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 Advantages:
 Every device has a dedicated point to point
link to every other device.
 Dedicated- link carries traffic between two

devices only.
 Robustness: failure of one link does not fail

entire network.
 Security: every msg travel along dedicated

line.
Disadvantages:
 I/o ports

 Installation and reconnection are difficult

 Cabling cost is more

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 Figure 1.6 A star topology connecting four stations

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1.13
 Advantages:
 Less expensive than mesh topology
 Easy to install and reconfigure.
 Required less cables
Disadvantages:
 If hub goes down the whole system is dead.
 Cabling cost is more since cables must be pulled
from all computer to central hub

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 Figure 1.7 A bus topology connecting three stations

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  Used when network installation is small and simple.
 Cable is just one or more wires with no electronic
device.
 No amplify the signal. This makes passive topology.
 When one device send signal all device receive
signal but one with the address match the encoded
in the msg accept the information while other reject
the msg.
 A computer must wait until bus is free before it can
transmit.
 Proper termination at the both end of the cable.
 Since passive, electrical signal is free to travel
entire length of cable.

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 Requirements:
 Multipoint configuration.
 Signal strength is high so as to meet
the minimum signal strength
requirements of receiver.
 Signal to noise ratio should be
maintained.

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 Advantages:
 Easy to installation
 Backbone cable provide most efficient
path, connected to the nodes of various
lengths thus it require less cables.
 Easy to expand by joining two cables
 Repeater can be used to boost the signal.
Disadvantages:
 Difficult reconnection and fault isolation
 Fault in bus cable stops all transmission
 Heavy traffic slows down the bus speed.
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 Figure 1.8 A ring topology connecting six stations

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1.20
Token Passing
 Disadvantage:
 Failure of one pc can affect the whole
network
 Adding and removing the pc disturbs
the network activity

Advantage:
 When high performance and large
bandwidth is required.
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 Figure 1.9 A hybrid topology: a star backbone with three bus networks

1.23
 Figure 1.10 An isolated LAN connecting 12 computers to a hub in a closet

1.24
 Types of Computer Network
 Computer networks can be categories by
their size as well as their purpose.
 The size of a network can be expressed by
the geographic area.
 Some of the different networks based on size
are:
1. Local Area Network - LAN
2. Metropolitan Area Network - MAN
3. Wide Area Network - WAN

1.25
 Categories of Network
LAN:
 Covers an area few kms.
 Privately owned and links the devices in a
single office, building.

WAN:
 Provides long distance transmission of office,
building and video info.

MAN:
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 Local Area Network
 A local area network (LAN) is a
computer network that interconnects
computers within a limited area such as
a residence, school, laboratory,
university campus or office building.

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 Metropolitan Area Network
 A metropolitan area network (MAN) is a computer network
that interconnects with computer in a metropolitan area
like city.
 MAN is a larger than LAN but smaller than the area
covered by a WAN.
 It is also used to interconnection of several local area
network.

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 Wide Area Network
 A wide area network (WAN) is a computer
network that exists over a large-scale
geographical area.
 A WAN connects different networks, including
local area networks (LAN) and metropolitan
area networks (MAN).
 It may be located with in a state or a country
or it may be interconnected around the world.

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1.30
 Basis Of
LAN MAN WAN
Comparison
Full Name Local Area Network Metropolitan Area Wide Area Network
Network
Meaning A network that It covers relatively It spans large
connects a group of large region such locality & connects
computers in a as cities, towns countries together.
small geographical e.g. Internet
Ownership of area
Private Private or Public Private or Public
Network
Design and Easy Difficult (VPN)
Difficult
Maintenance
Propagation Delay Short Moderate Long

Speed High Moderate Low

Equipment Used NIC, Switch, Hub Modem, Router Microwave, Radio
Transmitter &
Range(Approximate 1 to 10 km 10 to 100 km Receiver
Beyond 100 km
ly)
Used for College, School, Small towns, City State, Country,
Hospital Continent

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 What is Internet?

Mobile Network
Network Components Global ISP

PC
Home
Network
server wireless Regional ISP
links

wireless Wired
laptop link

smartphone
router

Institutional
Network
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 Protocols:
Defines what is communicated, how it is
communicated, and when it is communicated.

Key elements:
 Syntax: refers to the structure or
format of data.
 Semantics: refers to meaning of each
section of bits.
 Timing: refers to two characteristics:
When data should be sent and how fast
they can be sent.
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