Chapter 1
Introduction
1.1
1-1 DATA COMMUNICATIONS
Telecommunication means communication at a distance.
Data refers to information presented in whatever form is
agreed upon by the parties creating and using the data.
Data communications are the exchange of data between
two devices via some form of transmission medium such as
a wire cable.
characteristics of data communication
Delivery Accuracy Timeliness Jitter
deliver data without system must Variation in
data to correct
change during deliver data in the packet
destination transmission time manner arrival time
Components of a data communication system
1.3
1-2 Communications Model Components
Source: generates data to be transmitted (telephone, PC)
Transmitter: Converts data into transmittable signals
(modems)
Transmission System:
Can be single line or complex network system
Receiver: Converts received signal into data (modems)
Destination: Takes incoming data (telephone, PC)
Simplex
• Simplex
– Unidirectional
– As on a one-way
street
Half-Duplex
• Half-duplex
-Both transmit and receive
possible, but not at the
same time
-Like a one-lane road with
two-directional traffic
-as: Walkie-talkie, CB radio
Full-Duplex
• Full-duplex
– Transmit and receive simultaneously
– Like a two-way street, telephone network
– Channel capacity must be divided between two
directions
Point-to-Point Line Configuration
Dedicated link between two devices
The entire capacity of the channel is reserved
Examples: Microwave link, TV remote control
Multipoint Line Configuration
More than two devices share a single link
Capacity of the channel is either:
Spatially shared: Devices can use the link simultaneously
Timeshare: Users take turns
1-3 NETWORKS
Network: is a set of devices (often referred to as nodes)
connected by communication links.
Node: can be a computer, printer, or any other device
capable of sending and/or receiving data generated by
other nodes on the network.
Link can be a cable, air, optical fiber, or any medium
which can transport a signal carrying information.
Topics discussed in this section:
Network Criteria
Physical Structures
Categories of Networks
1.11
Network Criteria
Performance
Depends on Network Elements
Measured in terms of Delay and Throughput
Reliability
Failure rate of network components
Measured in terms of availability/robustness
Security
Data protection against corruption/loss of data due to:
Errors
Malicious users
1.12
Categories of Networks
Local Area Networks (LANs)
Short distances
Designed to provide local interconnectivity
Wide Area Networks (WANs)
Long distances
Provide connectivity over large areas
Metropolitan Area Networks (MANs)
Provide connectivity over areas such as a city, a campus
1.13
Local Area Network
• Usually owned by same organization
• Data rates much higher
• Usually broadcast systems
• some switched systems and ATM are introduced
Categories of LAN Topology
1.15
Bus Topology
• A bus topology is multipoint.
• One long cable acts as a backbone to link all
• Nodes are connected to the cable by drop lines and taps.
• Advantages: ease of installation.
• Disadvantages: difficult reconnection and fault isolation
Mesh Topology
• Every device has a dedicated link to every other device.
• Number of physical links in mesh with n nodes is…….
• if each physical link allows communication in both
directions (duplex mode)
• the number of links by 2. so, we need ……
1.17
Ring Topology
Each device has dedicated point-to - point connection
with only the two devices on either side of it.
signal is passed along the ring in one direction until
reaches its destination.
Each device in ring incorporates a repeater. When a
device receives a signal intended for another device, its
repeater regenerates the bits and passes them
Star Topology
Each device needs only one link and one I/O port
to connect it to any number of others.
This factor also makes it easy to install and
reconfigure.
1.19
A hybrid topology: a star backbone with three bus networks
1.20
Local Area Network
An isolated LAN connecting 12 computers to a hub in a closet
1.22
Metropolitan Area Network
It is suitable for
• Large geographical area
• Crossing public rights of way
• Rely in part on common carrier circuits
WANs: a switched WAN and a point-to-point WAN
1.24
A heterogeneous network made of four WANs and two LANs
1.25
WAN TECNOLOGY
Alternative technologies used for WAN:
Circuit switching
Packet switching
Frame relay
Asynchronous Transfer Mode (ATM)
Circuit Switching
Dedicated communications path is established
for the duration of the conversation
e.g. telephone network
Packet Switching
• Data sent out of sequence
• Small chunks (packets) of data at a time
• Packets passed from node to node between
source and destination
• Packet switching designed for data rate 64
kb/s
Integrated Services Digital Network -ISDN
Narrowband ISDN Broadband ISDN
- use 64 kb/s channel as very high data rate up
basic switching unite to 100s Mb/s
- used with circuit switching - used with packet
switching
Designed to replace public telecom system
Introduce a Wide variety of services (telephone,
video on demand VoD, digital data)
Entirely digital domain
1-3 THE INTERNET
The Internet has revolutionized many aspects of our daily
lives. It has affected the way we do business as well as the
way we spend our leisure time. The Internet is a
communication system that has brought a wealth of
information to our fingertips and organized it for our use.
Topics discussed in this section:
Organization of the Internet
Internet Service Providers (ISPs)
1.29
