Chapter One: Introduction Data Communication and Computer Networks

Chapter One
Introduction Data Communication and

Computer Networks
Set by:- Fantaye.A 1

DATA & INFORMATION
• Data refers to the raw facts that are collected while
information refers to processed data that enables us to
take decisions.
• Ex. When result of a particular test is declared it
contains data of all students, when you find the marks
you have scored you have the information that lets
you know whether you have passed or failed.
• The word data refers to any information which is

presented in a form that is agreed and accepted upon by
is creators and users.
DATA COMMUNICATION
• Data Communication is a process of exchanging
data or information
• In case of computer networks this exchange is
done between two devices over a transmission
medium.
• This process involves a communication system which
is made up of hardware and software. The
hardware part involves the sender and receiver
devices and the intermediate devices through
which the data passes.
Components of Data Communication[1]
 The software part involves certain rules which
specify what is to be communicated, how it is to be
communicated and when.
 It is also called as a Protocol.
 The following sections describes the

fundamental characteristics that are important
for the effective working of data communication
process and is followed by the components that
make up a data communications system.
Characteristics of Data Communication
• The effectiveness of any data communications system
depends upon the following four fundamental
characteristics:
1. Delivery: The data should be delivered to
the correct destination and correct user.
2. Accuracy: The communication system should
deliver the data accurately, without introducing
any errors. The data may get corrupted during
transmission affecting the accuracy of the
delivered data.

3. Timeliness: Audio and Video data has to be
delivered in a timely manner without any delay;
such a data delivery is called real time transmission
of data.
4. Jitter: It is the variation in the packet arrival time.

Uneven Jitter may affect the timeliness of data being
transmitted.

Components of Data Communication
• A Data Communication system has five
components as shown in the diagram below:
Fig. Components of a Data Communication System

1. Message: Message is the information to be
communicated by the sender to the receiver.
2. Sender: The sender is any device that is
capable of sending the data (message).
3. Receiver: The receiver is a device that the sender
wants to communicate the data (message).
4. Transmission Medium: It is the path by which
the message travels from sender to receiver. It can
be wired or wireless and many subtypes in both.

5. Protocol: It is an agreed upon set or rules used
by the sender and receiver to communicate data.
• A protocol is a set of rules that governs data
communication.
• A Protocol is a necessity in data
communications without which the communicating
entities are like two persons trying to talk to each
other in a different language without know the
other language.

DATA REPRESENTATION
• Data is collection of raw facts which is
processed to deduce information.
• There may be different forms in which data may
be represented.
• Some of the forms of data used in communications
are as follows:

1. Text : Text includes combination of alphabets in
small case as well as upper case.
• It is stored as a pattern of bits. Prevalent encoding
system :
– ASCII, Unicode
2. Numbers: Numbers include combination of digits
from 0 to 9.
• It is stored as a pattern of bits. Prevalent encoding
system :
– ASCII, Unicode

3. Images: “An image is worth a thousand words” is a very
famous saying.
• In computers images are digitally stored. A Pixel is the
smallest element of an image.
• To put it in simple terms, a picture or image is a matrix of
pixel elements.
• The pixels are represented in the form of bits. Depending
upon the type of image (black n white or color) each
pixel would require different number of bits to represent the
value of a pixel.

• So the same 10 x 10 pixel image would now require
200 bits of memory to be stored.
• Commonly used Image formats : jpg, png, bmp, etc
4. Audio: Data can also be in the form of sound which

can be recorded and broadcasted. Example: What we
hear on the radio is a source of data or information.
Audio data is continuous, not discrete.
5. Video : Video refers to broadcasting of data in form

of picture or movie
DATA FLOW
• Two devices communicate with each other by
sending and receiving data.
• The data can flow between the two devices in the
following ways.
1. Simplex
2. Half Duplex
3. Full Duplex

Cont’d…
• Simplex
Figure: Simplex mode of communication

• In Simplex, communication is unidirectional
• Only one of the devices sends the data and the other
one only receives the data.
• Example: in the above diagram: a cpu send data
while a monitor only receives data.
Cont’d…
•Half Duplex
Figure: Half Duplex Mode of Communication

•In half duplex both the stations can transmit as well as receive but not at the
same time.
•When one device is sending other can only receive and vice versa (as
shown in figure above.)
•Example: A old telegram.

Cont’d…
•Full Duplex
Figure: Full Duplex Mode of Communication
• In Full duplex mode, both stations can transmit and receive at the same time.
• Example: mobile phones

What is a Network?
 A network is simply a group of two or more Personal
Computers linked together
 In the computer world, the term network describes two

or more connected computers that can share resources
such as data, a printer, an Internet connection,
applications, or a combination of these.
 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.
Computer Network
• Computer Networks are used for data communications
• A system of interconnected computers and computerized

peripherals such as printers is called computer network.
• This interconnection among computers facilitates

information sharing among them.
• Computers may connect to each other by either wired

or wireless media.

Computer Network[1]
• A computer network can be defined as a collection of
nodes.
• A node can be any device capable of transmitting
or receiving data.
• The communicating nodes have to be connected by
communication links.
• A Compute network should ensure
– reliability of the data communication process
– security of the data
– performance by achieving higher throughput and smaller
delay times

Classification of Computer Networks
• Computer networks are classified based on
various factors. They include:
• Geographical span
• Inter-connectivity
• Administration
• Architecture

Geographical Span
• Geographically a network can be seen in one
of the following categories:
– It may be spanned across your table, among
Bluetooth enabled devices, Ranging not more
than few meters.
– It may be spanned across a whole building,
including intermediate devices to connect all
floors.
– It may be spanned across multiple cities or
provinces.
– It may be one network covering whole world.
Inter - Connectivity
• Components of a network can be connected to each
other differently in some fashion.
• By connectedness we mean either logically,
physically, or both ways.
– Every single device can be connected to every other
device on network, making the network mesh.
– All devices can be connected to a single medium but
geographically disconnected, created bus-like structure.
– Each device is connected to its left and right peers
only, creating linear structure.

Cont’d…
– All devices connected together with a single device,

creating star-like structure.
– All devices connected arbitrarily using all previous ways to
connect each other, resulting in a hybrid structure.

Administration
• From an administrator’s point of view, a
network can be private network which belongs a
single autonomous system and cannot be accessed
outside its physical or logical domain.
• A network can be public, which is accessed by all.

Network Architecture
• Computer networks can be discriminated into
various types such as Client-Server, peer-to-peer or
hybrid, depending upon its architecture.
– There can be one or more systems acting as
Server. Other being Client, requests the Server to
serve requests. Server takes and processes request on
behalf of Clients.
– Two systems can be connected Point-to-Point, or in
back-to-back fashion. They both reside at the same
level and called peers.
– There can be hybrid network which involves
network architecture of both the above types.
Network Applications
• Computer systems and peripherals are connected to
form a network. They provide numerous advantages:
– Resource sharing such as printers and storage devices
– Exchange of information by means of e-Mails and FTP
– Information sharing by using Web or Internet
– Interaction with other users using dynamic web pages
– IP phones
– Video conferences
– Parallel computing
– Instant messaging

The impact of Networks on daily life
• Networks support the way we learn.

• Networks support the way we communicate.
• Networks support the way we work.
• Networks support the way we play.

CHAPTER 2
TYPES OF COMPUTER
NE TWORKS
• Generally, networks are distinguished based on their
geographical span.
• A network can be as small as distance between your
mobile phone and its Bluetooth headphone and as
large as the internet itself, covering the whole
geographical world.

Personal Area Network
• A Personal Area Network (PAN) is smallest
network which is very personal to a user.
• This may include Bluetooth enabled
devices or infra-red enabled devices. PAN
has connectivity range up to 10 meters.
• PAN may include wireless computer

keyboard and mouse, Bluetooth enabled
headphones, wireless printers, and TV
remotes.
For example, Piconet is Bluetooth-enabled Personal Area Network which
may contain up to 8 devices connected together in a master-slave
fashion.

Local Area Network
• A computer network spanned inside a building
and operated under single administrative system
is generally termed as Local Area Network (LAN).
• Usually, LAN covers an organization offices,

schools, colleges or universities.
• Number of systems connected in LAN may vary

from as least as two to as much as 16 million.

Cont’d...
• LAN provides a useful way of sharing the resources
between end users. The resources such as printers,
file servers, scanners, and internet are easily
sharable among computers.

Cont’d...
• LANs are composed of inexpensive
networking and routing equipment. It may
contains local servers serving file storage
and other locally shared applications.
• It mostly operates on private IP addresses
and does not involve heavy routing. LAN
works under its own local domain and controlled
centrally.
• LAN can be wired, wireless, or in both forms at
once.
Metropolitan Area Network
• The size of MAN can cover a city whose scope is
less than 100km.
• MAN generally expands throughout a city such as
cable TV network. It can be in the form of
Ethernet, Token-ring, ATM, or Fiber Distributed
Data Interface (FDDI).
• Metro Ethernet is a service which is provided by
ISPs. This service enables its users to expand their
LANs. For example, MAN can help an
organization to connect all of its offices in a city.
- Backbone of MAN is high-capacity and high-speed
fiber optics.
- MAN works in between Local Area Network and
Wide Area Network.
- MAN provides uplink for LANs to WANs or
internet.
Wide Area Network
• As the name suggests, the Wide Area Network
(WAN) covers a wide area which may span
across provinces and even a whole
country.
• Generally, telecommunication networks are
Wide Area Network. These networks provide
connectivity to MANs and LANs. Since they
are equipped with very high speed
backbone, WANs use very expensive
network equipment.
- WAN may use advanced technologies such as
Asynchronous Transfer Mode (ATM),
Frame Relay, and Synchronous Optical Network
(SONET). WAN may be managed by multiple
administration.
Cont’d...
• A network of networks is called an internetwork,
or simply the internet. It is the largest network in
existence on this planet.
• The internet hugely connects all WANs and it can

have connection to LANs and Home networks.
Internet uses TCP/IP protocol suite and uses IP as its
addressing protocol.
• Present day, Internet is widely implemented using
IPv4. Because of shortage of address spaces, it is
gradually migrating from IPv4 to IPv6.
Cont’d...
• Internet enables its users to share and access
enormous amount of information worldwide. It uses
WWW, FTP, email services, audio, and video
streaming etc.
• At huge level, internet works on Client-Server model.
• Internet uses very high speed backbone of fiber

optics. To inter-connect various continents, fibers are
laid under sea known to us as submarine
communication cable.
Cont’d...
• Internet is serving many peoples and is involved
in many aspects of life.
• Some of them are
• Web sites
• E-mail
• Instant Messaging
• Blogging
• Social Media
• Marketing
• Networking
• Resource Sharing
• Audio andSetVideo
by:- Fantaye.A
Streaming 48
Supporting Network Architecture
 As networks evolve, we are discovering that there are
four basic
 characteristics that the underlying architectures need
to address in order to
 meet user expectations:
Fault Tolerance
Scalability
Quality of Service (QoS)
Security

Packet-switched and Circuit switched networks

Network Topology
• Basically, a topology is a shape, so a network
topology is the shape of a network.
• There is, however, a big difference between a physical
network topology and a logical network topology.
• The physical network topology represents how the

network looks to the naked eye—in other words, the
way the components are arranged.
• The logical network topology represents how the flow
of information works its way through the network.

Bus Topology
• The bus topology was commonly used in earlier
networks but is not seen much today.
• In a bus topology, a single cable connects all the
computers.
• A coaxial cable is used with special connectors called
BNC and T connectors.
• The bus only works if both ends of the cable have a
special resistor installed called a terminator.

Bus Topology

Pros and Cons
 Pros
– The bus topology is very simple and inexpensive
to implement due to its low cost requirements for
cable installation (there's only one main trunk).
 Cons
– Without the proper terminations in place, expect a
very slow or inoperable network.
– The cable itself is a single point of failure. One
break, cut, or poor connection negatively impacts
the entire LAN.
– Because all workstations or devices share a
common cable, troubleshooting can be difficult
when problems occur. You must disrupt LAN
service for troubleshooting.
Star topology
• A star topology is a group of computers that are connected to a
central location such as a hub or a switch.
• This is the most common topology in use today.
• The computers may be physically located next to each other or

spread throughout an entire building, but the flow of
information from each computer to the other computers must
go through the central location.
• Since each computer has its own connection, the failure of one
computer will not affect the other computers in the network;
however, if the hub or switch should fail, then all of the
computers on that hub or switch will be affected.

Star topology

Pros and Cons
• Advantages
– Management of the network is centralized around
the hub and switch components.
– Wiring installation is less obtrusive and therefore
does not disrupt LAN service with the addition or
deletion of nodes.
– A cable cut or bad connector does not take down
the entire LAN segment.
• Disadvantage
– The network component (hub or switch) is a single
point of failure, and
– a great deal of wiring(cabling) is involved to
implement the star.
Ring Topology
• Ring topologies are more complex than the bus and
star topologies, but they offer some attractive
features.
• Nodes logically communicate in a ring formation,
with each node communicating only directly with its
upstream and downstream neighbors.
• You can probably picture what a mess the wiring
would be in an office with hundreds of computer
systems, if a network like this were implemented as a
physical ring. So ring topologies are typically
implemented in a physical star topology.

Pros and Cons
 Pros
– Token-controlled access provides greater overall bandwidth
use.
– Data packet transmission happens within a determinable time
interval. This quality of ring topologies has made it a staple
in situations in which timing is essential.
– Because each node knows its upstream and downstream
neighbors, this information can be used to determine where
problems have occurred on the ring.
 Cons
– The firmware required to manage the ring is somewhat
complicated and must be on every network card that
participates in the ring which makes Token-Ring network
adapters more expensive devices.

Mesh Topology
• A mesh topology is an interlacing of multiple
connections among several nodes. Typically, a mesh
is done for one purpose: redundancy.
• There are two types of mesh: full and partial.
• Except in the smallest network, a full mesh is not
very practical due to high cost.
• Full mesh means that every node contained in a

network has a connection to every other node
contained in the network.
• Partial meshes are designed to provide redundancy
where it is needed.

Mesh Topology

Hybrid Topologies
• Three popular hybrids are
tree, hierarchical star, and
star-wireless.
• The figure below shows a
tree hybrid combination
that groups workstations in
a star and joins the stars
along a linear bus.
• The majority of the
problems of the bus are
eliminated because a single
workstation cannot bring
the entire LAN to a halt.

Hierarchical Star
• Another method that can be used to connect hubs is a
hierarchical star. This method uses a central hub to link several
hubs that have workstations attached.
• This method can be used to build very large LANs; however,

there are restrictions on the size of the LAN.
65
Star-Wireless
• The most recent hybrid topology has arrived with the advent
of wireless technology.
• Wireless LAN technology in its current implementation
requires a user to be in the vicinity of an access point attached
to the wired data network. A configuration such as this gives
you an amorphous hybrid topology of star combined with
wireless.

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Chapter One

Introduction Data Communication and

Set by:- Fantaye.A 1

• The word data refers to any information which is

 It is also called as a Protocol.

 The following sections describes the

Set by:- Fantaye.A 5

4. Jitter: It is the variation in the packet arrival time.

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Fig. Components of a Data Communication System

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4. Audio: Data can also be in the form of sound which

5. Video : Video refers to broadcasting of data in form

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Figure: Simplex mode of communication

Figure: Half Duplex Mode of Communication

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Figure: Full Duplex Mode of Communication

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 In the computer world, the term network describes two

• A system of interconnected computers and computerized

• This interconnection among computers facilitates

• Computers may connect to each other by either wired

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– All devices connected together with a single device,

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• Networks support the way we learn.

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• PAN may include wireless computer

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• Usually, LAN covers an organization offices,

• Number of systems connected in LAN may vary

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• The internet hugely connects all WANs and it can

• At huge level, internet works on Client-Server model.

• Internet uses very high speed backbone of fiber

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• The physical network topology represents how the

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• The computers may be physically located next to each other or

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• Full mesh means that every node contained in a

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