MODULE 1 – INTRODUCTION TO DATA COMMUNICATIONS

DATA COMMUNICATIONS

DATA COMMUNICATIONS
• Is the process of transferring digital information between two or more points.
• Refers to the exchange of data between devices, typically over a transmission medium such as
cables, optical fibers, or wireless signals. It involves the transfer of digital or analog data between
computers, servers, and other devices.
• Data communication is essential for various applications, including internet browsing, emails,
video conferencing, online gaming, and more. It forms the foundation for modern networking and
communication systems.

COMPONENTS OF DATA COMMUNICATION SYSTEMS

1. Message – information or actual data being communicated, which can be in various formats such
as text, images, audio, or video.
2. Transmitter - also called the sender or source. Its purpose is to send information from one place to
another.
3. Receiver – occasionally called sink. Its purpose is to receive the information conveyed through the
transmission medium.
4. Transmission medium – usually called the channel and sometimes line. Channel may be defined as
a path within a line through which information flows whereas line may be defined as the physical
equipment and configurations used in communication.
5. Repeater – a repeater performs two major functions: 1) to extend the distance of transmission; 2) to
ensure signal integrity of intelligence.
6. Protocol – a set of rules and conventions that governs the data exchange to ensure successful
communication
7. Destination – received signal that is converted to the actual data.

STANDARDS ORGANIZATION FOR DATA COMMUNICATIONS

1. International Standards Organization (ISO)

2. International Telecommunication Union (ITU)
3. American National Standard Institute (ANSI)
4. Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE)
5. Electronic Industries Association (EIA)
6. European Telecommunication Standards Institute (ETSI)
7. Telecommunications Industry Association (TIA)
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8. Standard Council of Canada (SCC)

9. Third Generation Partnership Project (3GPP)

TYPES OF DATA COMMUNICATIONS BASED ON DIRECTION OF FLOW

1. Simplex – one way only, receive-only, transmit-only. Data flows in one direction. Ex. keyboard to
computer

2. Half Duplex (HDX) – two-way alternate, -way. Data flows in both directions, but only one
direction at a time. Ex. Walkie-talkies

3. Full Duplex (FDX) – two-way simultaneous, both ways. Data flows in both directions
simultaneously. Ex. Telephone calls

TYPES OF DATA COMMUNICATIONS BASED ON MODE OF TRANSMISSION or NUMBER

OF BITS TRANSMITED

1. Serial Transmission – data is transmitted one-bit at a time over a single channel. This type of
transmission is often called serial-by-bit. Used for long distance data transmission. Ex. Universal
Serial Bus connections
2. Parallel Transmission – all bits can be transmitted simultaneously during the time of a single clock
pulse. This type of transmission is called parallel-by-bit or serial-by-character. Used for short
distance data transmission. Ex. Ethernet networks

TYPES OF DATA COMMUNICATION BASED ON SWITCHING TECHNIQUES

1. Circuit Switching – a dedicated communication path is established for the duration of a session.
Ex: Traditional telephone networks
2. Packet Switching - data is broken into packets and sent over a shared network. Ex: Internet
communication
3. Message Switching - entire messages are sent and stored at intermediate nodes until the
destination is available. Ex: Email systems

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TYPES OF CIRCUITS

1. Point-to-point Circuits – a direct communication link between two devices or nodes. Used for direct,
private connections. Ex. A leased line connecting two office locations
2. Multipoint Circuits – multiple devices share the same communication channel. Each device may
communicate with others on the same circuit, but only one device transmits at a time. Ex. Ethernet
LANs
3. Two-wire Circuit – involves a transmission medium that uses two wires. For full-duplex operation,
the signals propagating in opposite directions must occupy different bandwidths. It is usually in the
subscriber loop between the data set and the central office.
4. Four-wire Circuit – involves a transmission medium that uses four wires. With four wire operation,
the signals propagating in opposite directions are physically separated, and therefore, can occupy
the same bandwidths without interfering with each other.

Note: 4-wire circuits have several inherent advantages like they are less noisy, have less crosstalk, and provide more
isolation between the two directions of transmission when operating in either HDX or FDX mode. But, 2-wire circuits
require less wire, less circuitry, and thus less money than their 4-wire counterparts. 4-wire operation has the
disadvantage of providing amplification.

5. Circuit-Switched Circuit – a dedicated physical path is established between sender and receiver for
the duration of the communication session. Switched circuits create a temporary connection
between devices for the duration of a communication session. The connection is established when
needed and released after the communication ends. Ex. Traditional telephone networks

6. Dedicated/Leased-Line Circuits – provide a constant, always-on connection between two points.

The circuit is reserved for a specific user or purpose and is not shared with others. Typically, more
reliable due to the constant availability of the connection without delays in establishing a
connection. Ex. T1 and E1 lines.

Note: Switched circuits are more flexible and cost-effective for intermittent communication, while dedicated circuits
offer higher reliability and performance for continuous or high-priority connections.

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7. Packet-Switched Circuits – data is divided into packets and transmitted over a shared network. Each
packet may take aa different route to reach the destination. Ex. Internet communication

8. Virtual Circuits – a logical circuit established within a shared network, creating the appearance of a
dedicated circuit. Can be either a Permanent Virtual Circuit (PVC) or Switched Virtual Circuit
(SVC). Ex. Frame relay and MPLS networks

9. Wireless Circuits – use wireless media to transmit data between devices. Can be point-to-point or
multipoint. Ex. Wi-fi networks, cellular networks

Note: These types of circuits are chosen based on the specific needs of communication system such as speed, reliability,
cost, and scalability.

TYPES OF DATA TRANSMISSION BASED ON TRANSMISSION MODE

1. Baseband Transmission – data is sent as a digital signal over a single channel without modulation.
Ex. Ethernet networks
2. Broadband Transmission – data is modulated and transmitted over multiple frequencies, allowing
simultaneous transmission of multiple signals. Ex. Cable television

TYPES OF DATA TRANSMISSION BASED ON SYNCHRONIZATION

1. Synchronous Transmission – data is transmitted in a continuous stream with synchronization

between sender and receiver. Ex. High-speed network communication
2. Asynchronous Transmission – data is transmitted in smaller packets with start and stop bits, without
continuous synchronization. Ex. RS-232 communication in serial ports
3. Isochronous Transmission – combination of asynchronous and synchronous. A common time base
locks the data, and bytes are also framed with start and stop bits.
4. Plesiochronous Transmission – the transition of two digital signals occurs at “almost” the same rate.
Although the clocks are extremely accurate, there’s a small frequency difference between one clock
and the other.

TYPES OF DATA TRANSMISSION BASED ON TRANSMISSION MEDIUM

1. Wired Transmission – data is transmitted through physical cables. Ex. Ethernet cables
2. Wireless Transmission – data is transmitted through the air using radio waves, microwaves, or
infrared signals. Ex. Wi-fi, Bluetooth

TRANSMISSION MEDIA

1. Twisted Pair
• Shielded Twisted Pair (STP) – contains four pairs of thin, copper wires covered I color-coded
plastic insulation that are twisted together. Used in applications where speed and throughput are
from 10 to 100 Mbps. Maximum cable length is 100 meters.
• Unshielded Twisted pair (UTP) – is a common network media that is less expensive than STP.
It has a small diameter and does not require grounding, so it is the easiest type of cable to install.
Speed and throughput are from 10 to 1000 Mbps.

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Commonly used types of UTP cabling are as follows:

• CAT 1 – used for telephone communications. Not suitable for transmitting data.
• CAT 2 – capable of transmitting data at speeds up to 4 Mbps.
• CAT 3 – used in 10BaseT Ethernet networks. Can transmit data at speeds up to 10 Mbps.
• CAT 4 – used in Token Ring networks. Can transmit data at speeds up to 16 Mbps.
• CAT 5 – used is Fast Ethernet networks. Can transmit data at speeds up to 100 Mbps.
• CAT 5e – Used in Gigabit Ethernet. Networks running at speeds up to 1000 Mbps.
• CAT 6 – used in Gigabit Ethernet networks.

2. Coaxial Cable
• Thin Coaxial - used in 10BASE2 LANs. Similar in looks to the cable used in cable television
systems.
• Thick coaxial used in l0BASE5 LANs.
3. Fiber Optic Cable
• For high speed and long-distance data transmission and found in larger LANs.
4. Infrared lights or Radio waves
• Networks that have no physical media are referred to as wireless.

DATA COMMUNICATIONS CONFIGURATIONS

1. Point-to-point or Two-point configuration - used in data communication networks that transfer high-
speed digital information between any two stations.

2. Multi-point configuration – involves three or more stations. Generally used to interconnect a single
mainframe computer (host) to many personal computers.

NETWORK TOPOLOGIES

Network topology describes the layout or appearance of a network – that is, how the computers, cables,
and components within data communication networks are interconnected both physically and logically.
The physical topology describes how the network is laid out. The logical topology describes how data
is flowing through the network.

1. Bus or Multi-drop Topology

• Connects all the devices using a single cable. This cable proceeds from one computer to the
next like a bus line going through a city.

Advantages:
• Requires the least amount of cabling of any major topology.
• Easy to connect a computer or peripherals to a linear bus.

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• The failure of a single station will not cripple the rest of the network.
• Less expensive than a star topology because you do not need a concentrator.

Dis-advantages:
• The entire network shuts down if there is a break in the main cable.
• Terminators are required at both ends of the backbone cable.
• Difficult to identify the problem if the entire network shuts down.
• There must be a minimum distance between taps for workstation to avoid interference.
• Does not have the network security features inherent in a star topology. Security could be
compromised by an unauthorized network user, since all messages are sent along a common
data highway.

2. Star Topology
• Is a multipoint data communication network where remote stations are connected by cable
segments directly to a centrally located computer called a hub, which acts like a multipoint
connector. It is the most commonly used physical topology in Ethernet LAN.

Advantages:
• Easy to install and wire.
• Easy to detect faults and remove parts.
• No disruption to the network when adding or removing workstation.
• System administrator can give certain nodes higher status than others.

Dis-advantages:
• If the concentrator (central computer) fails, the entire network fails.
• Requires a lot of cables because the wire must double-back to the concentrator or hub.
• More expensive than linear bus topologies because of the cost of concentrator.

3. Ring Topology
• Is a multipoint data communication network where all stations are interconnected in tandem
to form a closed loop. Each device waits its turn to send data over the network.
• Combines the advantages of the star and the bus. A workstation assumes the role of
monitoring all network functions. The failure of one workstation does not result in the failure
of the entire network. (i.e., extended star)

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4. Mesh Topology
• In a mesh topology, all devices are connected to each other for redundancy and fault
tolerance. The advantage is that every node is connected physically to every other node.

5. Tree/Hierarchical Topology
• Created similarly to an extended-star topology. The primary difference is that it does not
use a central node. Instead, it uses a trunk node from which it branches to other nodes.

6. Hybrid Topology
• Is simply a combination of two or more of the traditional topologies to form a larger, more
complex topology.

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FACTORS TO CONSIDER WHEN DESIGNING A DATA COMMUNICATION NETWORK

1. Network Requirements

• Bandwidth: The network should have sufficient bandwidth to handle the data traffic load.
• Latency: Low latency is essential for applications requiring real-time data transmission.
• Throughput: The network's capability to handle data transfer over a given period.
• Reliability: The network should be robust with minimal downtime.

2. Scalability/Future growth

• The network should be designed to scale easily as the number of users or devices increases.

3. Cost

• Initial setup costs, including hardware, software, and installation.

• Maintenance and operational costs over time.

4. Security

• Implementation of security measures such as firewalls, encryption, and secure access control
to protect data integrity and confidentiality.

5. Topology

• Selection of an appropriate network topology (star, bus, ring, mesh, etc.) based on the specific
needs of the organization.

7. Types of cables

• Length of cable needed – the linear bus network uses shorter length of cable.
• Ease of installation – it is easier to install a star topology than it is to install a linear bus.

7. Technology

• Choice between wired (Ethernet, fiber optics) or wireless technologies (Wi-Fi, cellular
networks).
• Compatibility with existing systems and future upgrades.

7. Redundancy

• Incorporating redundant paths or systems to ensure network availability in case of component

failure.

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8. Quality of Service (QoS)

• Prioritization of certain types of data traffic to ensure smooth operation for critical
applications.

9. Regulatory Compliance

• Ensuring the network complies with local, national, and international regulations regarding
data transmission and privacy.

10. Vendor Support and Partnerships

• Selection of reliable vendors for hardware, software, and ongoing technical support.

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