Related Terms:

➔ Modem ➔ LAN ➔ Communication ➔ Internet

➔ Connection ➔ WAN ➔ Telecommunication ➔ Extranet

➔ Net ➔ MAN ➔ Interconnected cables ➔ Wi-Fi

➔ Topology ➔ Linked ➔ Intranet ➔ Wireless

Communication
The act of transferring information from one place, person or group to another. All of these
key terms come under the heading “Communication.”

Telecommunication
Telecommunication is the process of using communication facilities such as the telephone,
telegraph, broadcasting or microwave relays to send data over a far distance without
changing it.

Information is transmitted using the following technologies:

➔ over wire
➔ radio
➔ electromagnetic systems
➔ optical

Data Communication

The exchange or transfer of data between two or more devices. It is a subset of

telecommunication that focuses on data and digital transmission of bits.

Data communication is the electronic transfer of data and information from one point to
another over a communication medium. Data communication hardware is used to transmit
information such as: numeric data, text, voice, graphics, pictures and video.

Components of Data Communication

Five Components:
➔ Sender
➔ Message
➔ Medium
➔ Receiver
➔ Protocol
 Components of a Telecommunication System

Three Components:
➔ Sender
◆ Transmitter that converts information into a signal
➔ Medium
◆ This is the transmission medium that carries the signal.
➔ Receiver
◆ Receives the signal and converts it back into usable information.

PROTOCOL PROTOCOL

Rule 1: Rule 1:
Rule 2: Rule 2:
. .
. .
. .
Rule n: MESSAGE Rule n:

SENDER RECEIVER

Protocols are rules for encoding and decoding or explicit and implicit rules.

Transmission Mode/Direction

There are three transmission modes:

➔ Simplex
➔ Half Duplex
➔ Full Duplex

(1) Simplex Mode: Sender can only send the data, but not receive the data;
communication is UNILATERAL, meaning data travels in one direction only.

one direction
only
SENDE RECEIVE
R R
(2) Half Duplex Mode: Sender can send the data and can also receive the data one at a
time. Communication is TWO-WAY DIRECTIONAL, but one at a time.
 A is sending
B is receiving
A B

A is receiving
B is sending
A B

(3) Full Duplex Mode: Sender can send and also can receive the data simultaneously.
Communication is TWO-WAY DIRECTIONAl, but communication simultaneously.

BIDIRECTIONA
L
A B

Data Communication and Telecommunication are both a form of communication. Also data
communication is a subset of telecommunication.

Telecommunication VS Data Communication

Telecommunication Data Communication

➔ any communication over a distance ➔ digital data

➔ sends data between two links by ➔ sends data by telecommunication

means of electromagnetic waves and consists of 0s and 1s

➔ is equipped to send digital data to ➔ is digital data

the receiver

Network
What is a Network?

A network is a set of devices (nodes) connected by communication links (media). A group or

system of interconnected computers.

A node can be a computer, printer or any other peripheral device or any other device
capable of sending and receiving data.

Physical Structure of a Network

A) Types of Connections
 ➔ Point-to-Point (P2P)
◆ Contains ONLY two hosts such as a computer, switches, routers,
servers connected back to back using a SINGLE cable.
DATA
FLO
Compu Comput
ter er
System System
◆ P2P connection is a dedicated link between two devices, allowing
them to transfer files between one another.

➔ Broadcast (or Multicast)

◆ Allows a device to send one message out to the network and have
copies of that message delivered to multiple recipients.

➔ Multipoint (or Multidrop)

◆ One in which more than two devices share a single link.

B) Network Topologies

➔ Topology refers to the layout of the network and how the nodes interconnect
to each other to transfer data.

➔ https://www.tutorialspoint.com/data_communication_computer_network/
computer_network_topologies.htm

Bus

All devices share a single communication line or cable, using multipoint

connection.

If one host disconnects it will not affect the communication, unless the main
communication line or cable is affected.

N.B: The data is sent in only one direction and as soon as it reaches the
extreme end, the terminator removes the data from the line.
 Star

All hosts are connected to one central device called the “Hub” using point-to-
point (p2p) connection.

Ring

Each host machine connects to exactly two other machines, creating a

circular network structure, using point-to-point (p2p) connections.

When one host tries to communicate with another, the data transmitted must
go to the other host. If one host fails/is disrupted/is not working,
communication stops.

Tree (or Hierarchical)

This is the most common form of network topology in use currently. It imitates
an extended Star topology and inherits properties of bus topology.
 Divides the network into multiple levels/layers of network, using point-to-
point connections.

Mesh

A host is connected to one or multiple hosts, using point-to-point connection.

Hybrid

A network structure whose design contains more than one topology is said to
be hybrid topology. Hybrid topology inherits the merits and demerits of all the
incorporating topologies.
 Daisy Chain

Connects all the hosts in a linear fashion; hosts are arranged in a LINEAR
fashion, using point-to-point connections.

C) Network (Coverage Areas)

➔ LAN - Local Area Network

➔ MAN - Metropolitan Area Network
➔ WAN - Wide Area Network
➔ PAN - Personal Area Network

Network Configuration & Coverage

Network coverage refers to the PHYSICAL DISTANCE over which all the nodes in the
network are spread.

(1) PAN - Personal Area Network

➔ a network that is personal to a user.

➔ is the smallest network
➔ connectivity coverage is up to 10m or 30ft
➔ connects devices such as: telephones, videos, PDAs (Personal Digital
System), printers, smart phones, etc.
➔ connects bluetooth headset to a smartphone
➔ looks like star topology
(2) LAN - Local Area Network

➔ a network that links devices in a building such as schools, universities,

colleges, organisations offices, shopping mall
➔ operate over a small region

Types of LANs

➔ Peer-to-Peer
➔ Centralised LAN