Data Communication Systems

and Networks

CSCI 465
Martin van Bommel
Lecture 1
 Data & Information
• What is data?
– Elements that can be represented by a finite set of
symbols, such as digits or alphabets
• What is information?
– a tangible, measurable thing
– a subjective construction
 What Is Communication?
• Symbolic
• Representational
– “The map is not the territory.”
– Communication is only as good as the
representation
• Examples
– spoken language, gestures, actions, icons
 Human Communication vs.
Data Communication
• Human communication is richer, less
predictable
– Words vary in meaning with context
– Many factors influence meaning and perception of
message
• Data communication is more precise
– Exact replication of information
– Computers do not interpret, they simply relay
 Telecommunication
• Uses electricity to transmit messages
• Speed of electricity dramatically extends reach
– Sound waves: ~670 mph
– Electricity: ~186,000 (speed of light)
• Bandwidth= information-carrying capacity of a
channel
 Data Communication
• Adding storage overcomes time constraints
• Store-and-forward communication
– E-mail
– voice mail
– facsimile
– file transfer
– WWW
 Information and Communication
• Companies depend on generation and
movement of information
• Communications technology fundamental
• Enables reshaping of corporations
– Communication technology driving change
– Allows geographical dispersal
• Becomes management nightmare
 Information Communication
• Voice communications - telephone
– PSTN and PBX
• Data communications - text and numbers
• Image communications - fax and beyond
• Video communications - videoconferencing
 Data Communications, Data
Networks, and the Internet

“The fundamental problem of communication is that of

reproducing at one point either exactly or approximately a
message selected at another point”

The Mathematical Theory of Communication

by Claude Shannon
 Changes in Networking Technology

• Emergence of high-speed LANs

– Centralized servers, distributed workgroups
– High-speed local backbones
• Corporate WAN needs
– Data intensive applications spread across wide
geographical areas
• Digital electronics
– Much higher bandwidth required for video/image
 Three Layer Model
for Enterprise Communication
• Applications
– Seen by end users
– Voice, email, IM, image, video, collaborations
• Enterprise services
– Design, maintenance, and support of apps
– Capacity management and QoS provisions
• Infrastructure
– Communication links, LANs, WANs, Internet access
 Convergence of Communication
Facilities - Benefits
• Efficiency
– Better use of existing resources
– Centralized capacity planning, asset management,
and policy management
• Effectiveness
– Flexibility, mobility, enhanced connectivity
– Rapid standardized service deployment
• Transformation
– Enterprise-wide adoption of global standards
Communications Model
 Communication Tasks
Transmission system utilization Addressing
Interfacing Routing
Signal generation Recovery
Synchronization Message formatting
Exchange management Security
Error detection and correction Network management
Flow control
Data Communications Model
 Transmission Lines

• The basic building block of any communications

facility is the transmission line.
• The business manager is concerned with a
facility providing the required capacity, with
acceptable reliability, at minimum cost.
• However, the use of compression, multiplexing,
load sharing, and other line features can
significantly affect the end choice
 Transmission Media

• Convert electronic signal to transmit over

some medium
– Twisted-pair, coaxial cable, optical fiber cable,
terrestrial and satellite microwave (wireless)
 Data Transmission
• Communication techniques
– analog vs digital, synchronous vs asynchronous
– modulation, flow control, interfaces
– error detection and correction
– Multiplexing and compression
 Networks
• LAN - Local Area Network
– single building or cluster of buildings
– ethernet, token ring, star, wireless
• WAN - Wide Area Network
– city-to-city, country-to-country
– telephone, ISDN, ATM, etc.
• Wireless Network
– radio, microwave, satellite
 Internet
• Internet evolved from ARPANET
• Developed to solve the dilemma of
communicating across arbitrary, multiple,
packet-switched network
• TCP/IP provides the foundation
Internet – Key Elements
Internet Architecture
Network Configuration