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Data Communication – Definition, Components, Types, Channels

Human beings are the only creatures on the earth who are able to communicate with each other
through the medium of language. But humans take this gift to another extent. Distance, time, and
physical existence of the person don’t matter in communication these days because they build a
communication system through which they can communicate or share data like images, videos, text,
files, etc with their loved ones anytime anywhere. Communication is defined as a process in which
more than one computer transfers information, instructions to each other and for sharing resources.
Or in other words, communication is a process or act in which we can send or receive data. A
network of computers is defined as an interconnected collection of autonomous computers.
Autonomous means no computer can start, stop or control another computer.

Components of Data Communication

A communication system is made up of the following components:

1. Message: A message is a piece of information that is to be transmitted from one person to

another. It could be a text file, an audio file, a video file, etc.
2. Sender: It is simply a device that sends data messages. It can be a computer, mobile, telephone,
laptop, video camera, or workstation, etc.
3. Receiver: It is a device that receives messages. It can be a computer, telephone mobile,
workstation, etc.
4. Transmission Medium / Communication Channels: Communication channels are the medium that
connect two or more workstations. Workstations can be connected by either wired media or
wireless media.
5. Set of rules (Protocol): When someone sends the data (The sender), it should be understandable
to the receiver also otherwise it is meaningless. For example, Sonali sends a message to Chetan.
If Sonali writes in Hindi and Chetan cannot understand Hindi, it is a meaningless conversation.

Therefore, there are some set of rules (protocols) that is followed by every computer connected to
the internet and they are:
 TCP(Transmission Control Protocol): It is responsible for dividing messages into packets on the
source computer and reassembling the received packet at the destination or recipient computer. It
also makes sure that the packets have the information about the source of the message data, the
destination of the message data, the sequence in which the message data should be re-
assembled, and checks if the message has been sent correctly to the specific destination.
IP(Internet Protocol): Do You ever wonder how does computer determine which packet belongs to
which device. What happens if the message you sent to your friend is received by your father?
Scary Right. Well! IP is responsible for handling the address of the destination computer so that
each packet is sent to its proper destination.

Type of data communication

As we know that data communication is communication in which we can send or receive data from
one device to another. The data communication is divided into three types:

1. Simplex Communication: It is one-way communication or we can say that unidirectional

communication in which one device only receives and another device only sends data and devices
uses their entire capacity in transmission. For example, IoT, entering data using a keyboard, listing
music using a speaker, etc.
2. Half Duplex communication: It is a two-way communication or we can say that it is a bidirectional
communication in which both the devices can send and receive data but not at the same time.
When one device is sending data then another device is only receiving and vice-versa. For
example, walkie-talkie.
3. Full-duplex communication: It is a two-way communication or we can say that it is a bidirectional
communication in which both the devices can send and receive data at the same time. For
 example, mobile phones, landlines, etc.

Communication Channels

Communication channels are the medium that connects two or more workstations. Workstations
can be connected by either wired media or wireless media. It is also known as a transmission
medium. The transmission medium or channel is a link that carries messages between two or more
devices. We can group the communication media into two categories:

Guided media transmission

Unguided media transmission

1. Guided Media: In this transmission medium, the physical link is created using wires or cables
between two or more computers or devices, and then the data is transmitted using these cables in
terms of signals. Guided media transmission of the following types:

1. Twisted pair cable: It is the most common form of wire used in communication. In a twisted-pair
cable, two identical wires are wrapped together in a double helix. The twisting of the wire reduces the
crosstalk. It is known as the leaking of a signal from one wire to another due to which signal can
corrupt and can cause network errors. The twisting protects the wire from internal crosstalk as well
as external forms of signal interference. Types of Twisted Pair Cable :

Unshielded Twisted Pair (UTP): It is used in computers and telephones widely. As the name
suggests, there is no external shielding so it does not protects from external interference. It is
cheaper than STP.
 Shielded Twisted Pair (STP): It offers greater protection from crosstalk due to shield. Due to
shielding, it protects from external interference. It is heavier and costlier as compare to UTP.

2. Coaxial Cable: It consists of a solid wire core that is surrounded by one or more foil or wire
shields. The inner core of the coaxial cable carries the signal and the outer shield provides the
ground. It is widely used for television signals and also used by large corporations in building
security systems. Data transmission of this cable is better but expensive as compared to twisted
pair.

3. Optical fibers: Optical fiber is an important technology. It transmits large amounts of data at very
high speeds due to which it is widely used in internet cables. It carries data as a light that travels
inside a thin glass fiber. The fiber optic cable is made up of three pieces:

1. Core: Core is the piece through which light travels. It is generally created using glass or plastic.
2. Cladding: It is the covering of the core and reflects the light back to the core.
3. Sheath: It is the protective covering that protects fiber cable from the environment.

2. Unguided Media: The unguided transmission media is a transmission mode in which the signals
are propagated from one device to another device wirelessly. Signals can wave through the air, water,
or vacuum. It is generally used to transmit signals in all directions. Unguided Media is further divided
into various parts :

1. Microwave: Microwave offers communication without the use of cables. Microwave signals are
just like radio and television signals. It is used in long-distance communication. Microwave
transmission consists of a transmitter, receiver, and atmosphere. In microwave communication,
there are parabolic antennas that are mounted on the towers to send a beam to another antenna.
The higher the tower, the greater the range.

2. Radio wave: When communication is carried out by radio frequencies, then it is termed radio
waves transmission. It offers mobility. It is consists of the transmitter and the receiver. Both use
antennas to radiate and capture the radio signal.

3. Infrared: It is short-distance communication and can pass through any object. It is generally used
in TV remotes, wireless mouse, etc.

Article Tags : Class 12 Computer Networks School Learning School Programming TrueGeek TrueGeek-2021

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