Chapter 2

The Physical Layer, Encoding

Schemes:
-Physical Transmission of Bits-

What To Do Against Attenuation,

Distortion and Noise?
A media adapted to the distance/bit
rate (we see it earlier)
Encoding schemes (we well see it
now)

CSC 3352 Computer

Communications

Chapter 2

Encoding Techniques
Encoding schemes deal with how to
transport bits over the physical media
We must deal and manage many issues to
well represent and interpret the bits:

Timing of bits (start and end, duration, Signal

levels)

Clocking ( Synchronizing transmitter and receive,

External clock, Sync mechanism based on signal)

Error detection, Signal interference and Noise

immunity

Cost and complexity

CSC 3352 Computer

Communications

Chapter 2

Encoding Techniques
Encoding techniques depend on the type of
data to transmit and the medium being used:

Digital data on digital signal (our focus in this brief

description...)

Analog data on digital signal

Digital data on analog signal

Analog data on analog signal

CSC 3352 Computer

Communications

Chapter 2

Digital Data, Digital Signal

Digital signal:

Discrete, discontinuous voltage pulses

Each pulse is a signal element

Binary data encoded into signal

elements

CSC 3352 Computer

Communications

Chapter 2

A Simple Encoding
Scheme
0 is Vo (some voltage)
1 is V1
Example : let us encode 10011101
Clock
Vo
V1
CSC 3352 Computer
Communications

Chapter 2

Problem?
Let us now try to encode two bytes
that come one 2 seconds after the
other: 10011101 and 00001101
What is the problem with this
encoding scheme?
What is the solution?
CSC 3352 Computer
Communications

Chapter 2

Bipolar Encoding (RZ

Signal)
+0.85V

HightV + NoV 1bit

1 is 0
0
LowV + NoV 0bit
0 is
-0.85V
Example : let us encode 01100010
Clock

CSC 3352 Computer

Communications

Chapter 2

Problem?
The problem with this encoding
scheme is that we have to return to
0 each time the transmission is done
which generates some complexity
and cost in implementing and
managing this technique
We should look for a better
technique We have 2 alternatives:
CSC 3352 Computer
Communications

Chapter 2

Alternative 1: Non-Return to
Zero
Two different voltages for 0 and 1 bits
Voltage constant during bit interval

no transition i.e. no return to zero voltage

e.g. Absence of voltage for zero, constant

positive voltage for one
More often, negative voltage for one
value and positive for the other
This is NRZ also known as Manchester
Encoding...
CSC 3352 Computer
Communications

Chapter 2

10

Alternative 1: NRZ-Manchester

Encoding
1 is
0 is

+0.85V

HightV + LowV 1bit

-0.85V

LowV + HighV 0bit

Example : let us encode 01100010

Clock

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Communications

Chapter 2

11

Alternative 2: Differential
Encoding
Data represented by changes
trends rather than levels of voltage
More reliable detection of
transition rather than level
In complex transmission layouts it
is easy to lose sense of polarity
CSC 3352 Computer
Communications

Chapter 2

12

Differential Manchester
Encoding
0 is
1 is

(Presence of transition)

(Abscence of transition)

A transition in the middle of the bit is required

anyway Example : let us encode 10011101

Clock

CSC 3352 Computer

Communications

Chapter 2

13