Working Principle of 

Digital Communication System

You can easily understand the working principle if you know the function of all the important blocks
of this digital communication system.

Source or Information Sender

The actual message in the physical form is sent from the source or sender. The message sent by the
sender is to be converted, transmitted, and delivered. In a communication system, there may be a
single sender or multiple senders. But we will learn about the concept of a single sender. It will help
for better understanding.

Input Transducer

Input Transducer is that which converts the physical form of the message into the electrical or
electronic signal. The microphone is a transducer that converts the voice into an electrical signal. The
camera is also an example of a transducer used in the digital communication system. Actually, the
transducer starts the communication. Without a transducer, a communication system cannot be
started.

Formatters

Formatter is an electronic circuit that changes the format of the electrical or electronic signal
produced by the transducer. There are mainly two forms of signal - analog signal and digital signal.
Most of the transducers generate analog signals. So the formatted is used to convert the analog
signals into digital signals. If the sender provides a digital signal such as a computer then there is no
need of a Formatter.

Source Encoder
A source encoder basically compresses the large-size data into small-size data. It tries to reduce the
number of bits as much as possible. This helps to secure the actual information and data. No one can
understand or read the data in the middle of the sender and receiver. Also, it helps to transmit a large
amount of data with a small bandwidth. That increases the efficiency, reliability, and speed of the
communication system as well as reduces the expenses and cost.

Channel Encoder

The channel encoder is used to avoid the error in the signal. During the transmission of the signal,
error may occur in the signal. So the channel encoder basically adds some redundant bits as the error-
correcting bits.

Modulator

The modulator works as the transmitter in analog communication. It makes ready the signal for
transmission over a long distance. It converts the digitally encoded signal into an analog signal if the
signal is to be transmitted through the radio wave. If the signal is to be transmitted through the light
then the modulator converts the electrical signal into light using an additional converter circuit. The
modulator also amplifies the signal.

Transmission Channel

A transmission channel is that through which the signal is transmitted over a long distance. The
transmission channel may be an electrical conductive line or maybe an optical fiber cable or space.
Electrical conductors or lines generally transmit the signal through electrical or electronic signals
whereas optical cables use light and space use radio waves.

Demodulator

The demodulator demodulates the received signal from the transmission channel. It converts the
other form of signals(such as light or radio waves) into electrical or electronic signals. It removes the
noise from the signal.
Channel Decoder

It decodes the signal by removing the error-correcting bits which are added by the channel encoder
before transmission.

Source Decoder
 
It fully decodes the signal and extracts the actual signal.

Deformatters

It changes the format of the signal means it converts the digital signal into analog signals if the
output transducer accepts the analog signal only. If the output device is digital then there is no
requirement of Deformatters.

Output Transducer
It converts the electrical into voice or picture or video formats. Speaker, Monitors, Television
are the examples.