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 (texts, numbers, images, audio and vidéo)
Data Flow

1.2
 Components

Figure 1.1 Five components of data communication

1.3
 Data Representation
Text
In data communications, text is represented as a bit pattern, a sequence of bits (0s
or
1s), Unicode, which uses 32 bits to represent a symbol or
character used in any language in the world. The American Standard Code for
Information
Interchange (ASCII),
Numbers
Numbers are also represented by bit patterns.
Images
Images are also represented by bit patterns. In its simplest form, an image is
composed
of a matrix of pixels (picture elements), where each pixel is a small dot. The size of
the
pixel depends on the resolution.
Audio
Audio refers to the recording or broadcasting of sound or music. Audio is by nature
different from text, numbers, or images.
Video
Video refers to the recording or broadcasting of a picture or movie.

1.4
 Data Flow

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

Network Criteria
Physical Structures
Network Models
Categories of Networks
Interconnection of Networks: Internetwork

1.6
 Network Criteria

Performance
Performance can be measured in many ways,
including transit time and response time.
Transit time is the amount of time required for
a message to travel from one device to
another. Response time is the elapsed time
between an inquiry and a response.

1.7
1.8
 Figure 1.3 Types of connections: point-to-point and multipoint

1.9
 Figure 1.4 Categories of topology

1.10
 Figure 1.5 A fully connected mesh topology (five devices)

1.11
 Figure 1.6 A star topology connecting four stations

1.12
 Figure 1.7 A bus topology connecting three stations

1.13
 Figure 1.8 A ring topology connecting six stations

1.14
 Figure 1.9 A hybrid topology: a star backbone with three bus networks

1.15
Local Area Networks

 Smaller scope
 Building or small campus
 Usually owned by same organization as
attached devices
 Data rates much higher
 Usually broadcast systems
 Now some switched systems and ATM are
being introduced
 Figure 1.10 An isolated LAN connecting 12 computers to a hub in a closet

1.17
Wide Area Networks

 Large geographical area

 Crossing public rights of way
 Rely in part on common carrier circuits
 Alternative technologies
 Circuit switching
 Packet switching
 Frame relay
 Asynchronous Transfer Mode (ATM)
 Figure 1.11 WANs: a switched WAN and a point-to-point WAN

1.19
Metropolitan Area Networks

 MAN
 Middle ground between LAN and WAN
 Private or public network
 High speed
 Large area
 Figure 1.12 A heterogeneous network made of four WANs and two LANs

1.21
 1-3 THE INTERNET

The Internet has revolutionized many aspects of our daily

lives. It has affected the way we do business as well as the
way we spend our leisure time. The Internet is a
communication system that has brought a wealth of
information to our fingertips and organized it for our use.

Topics discussed in this section:

A Brief History
The Internet Today (ISPs)

1.22
 Figure 1.13 Hierarchical organization of the Internet

1.24
 1-4 PROTOCOLS AND STANDARDS

In this section, we define two widely used terms: protocols

and standards. First, we define protocol, which is
synonymous with rule. Then we discuss standards, which
are agreed-upon rules.

Topics discussed in this section:

Protocols
Standards
Standards Organizations
Internet Standards

1.25
Protocol

 Set of conventions between two entities

involved in a communication
 Elements
 syntax : data format and signal levels
concerns the format of the data
blocks
 semantics : include control information for
coordination and error handling
 timing : speed matching and sequencing
Protocol Architecture

 Software structure that implements the

communication function
 Consists of a layered set of protocols
 Separate layers or protocols implemented
in separate modules
 Different applications have different
requirements at each layer