Data Communication
Lecture No. 6
College of Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation
Bolan University of Medical and Health Sciences, Quetta
What is Data Communication?
Data communication is the process of
transferring and flow of data and
information between two computers or
devices from one place to another.
Some communications involve cables and
wires; others are sent wirelessly through
the air.
Basic Elements of Data
Communication
There are five basic elements/components of
data communication:
1. Sender
2. Message
3. Medium
4. Receiver
5. Protocol
Basic Elements of Data
Communication (cont.)
1. Sender: The sender is a computer/device that is
used for sending the message. It is also called
Transmitter or Source.
2. Message: Message is the data or information that
is to be transmitted. It may consist of text, number,
pictures, audio, video etc.
3. Medium: Medium is the path through which data
travels from one location to another.
o If the sender and receiver are both in the same
building, then wired medium is used to connect them.
o If they are located at different locations, then they are
connected by means of wireless medium.
Basic Elements of Data
Communication (cont.)
4. Receiver: The receiver is a computer/device
that is used for receiving the message. It can be a
computer, telephone set or TV set.
5. Protocol: Protocol is a set of rules for exchange
of data between computers. It represents an
agreement between communicating devices.
Modes of Network Communication
It refers to the methods or ways information is
transmitted from one place to another.
Network communication modes depends upon the
nature of sending device, receiving device and
medium.
There are three modes of Network
Communication:
1. Simplex Mode
2. Half-Duplex Mode
3. Full-Duplex Mode
1. Simplex Mode
In simplex mode, the data is transmitted in
only one direction from sender to receiver.
The receiver cannot transmit the data back
to the sender.
Example:
Data sent from computer to printer.
Data sent from keyboard to computer.
Electronic announcements in train station,
Airports.
TV broadcasting.
2. Half-Duplex Mode
In half-duplex mode, the data can be sent
and received in both direction but not at the
same time.
The data can only be sent or received at
the same time. Both the devices act as
sender as well as receiver.
Example:
Police wireless set (walkie talkie).
Communication between computer and
credit card machine.
3. Full-Duplex Mode
In full-duplex mode, the data can be sent and
received in both directions at the same time.
Full-Duplex line is the fastest line because the
data can be sent and received simultaneously.
Both sender and receiver can send and
receive data at the same time like a two-way
street.
Example:
Telephone Communication
Video calls
Live chats.
Communication Media
In Network Communication system,
Communication Media are the links that
provide paths for communicating devices.
Communication media is used to transmit
data from one network device (node) to
another.
Categories of Communication Media
There are two main categories of
Communication Media:
1. Guided Communication media
2. Unguided Communication media
1. Guided Communication Media
In this type of communication media,
signals/data pass through a physical path.
It is also called physical or bounded or wired
communication media.
It uses cables that guide the data signals
along a specific path.
The following are some of the important
guided communication media:
Telephone cable
Coaxial cable
Fiber optic cable
2. Unguided Communication Media
In this type of communication media,
transmission of signals/data takes place
through open air.
They are not guided through any specific
path.
It is also called unbounded or wireless
media.
The following are some of the important
unguided communication media:
Communication Satellites
Microwave Transmission
Communication Devices
A communication device is a hardware
device which is capable of transmitting data
from one location to another.
Some of the commonly used
communication devices are:
Hub
Switch
Router
Hub - Communication Device
Hub is a communication
device that is used to
connect devices in LAN.
It is a non-intelligent device
that broadcast message i.e.
It sends information to all the
devices connected on the
internet. It has multiple
input/output ports.
It receives a data on one
port and send the data to all
the ports making it so that
every port can see that data.
Switch - Communication Device
Switch is a network
communication device
that is used to connect
devices.
It is considered as more
intelligent device as it
gathers information about
the data it receives and
forwards it to only that
destination device in the
network that it was
intended for.
Router - Communication Device
Router is a communication
device that is used to connect
multiple networks.
The main responsibility of a
router is to forward data over
network choosing the best
available pathway.
Router can be used on a
network of any size.
It can be used to connect a
LAN with internet or it can
also be used to connect
multiple LANs with WAN.
