1.

Introduction

Data Communications
Winter 2009
M.Sudha

VIT University-Vellore India

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 Topics
„ Data Communications
„ Data flow
• Simplex, half-duplex, full-duplex
„ Network criterion
„ Network connection
• Point-to-point, multipoint
„ Network topologies
• Mesh, star, bus, token ring
„ Categories of network: LAN, WAN, MAN
„ Protocols and Standards
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 Overview
„ Definition - Data communications use
network infrastructure to send data
(information) from one place to another
„ Data Communications involve:
• Data and Data Representation (information)
• Data Flow
• Physical Network Components

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 Overview (cont.)
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„ Examples of Data:
• Online banking
• Airline reservation Bank
Customer Service

• Medical record
• Voice
• audio
• Video

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 Overview (cont.)
„ Networking involves
• Application protocols
• Connections of Hub

computers and Server

programs
• Networking devices
• Media Communication Media

„ LAN
„ WAN Wireless Access Point

EtherNet

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 Overview (cont.)
„ Standards and Protocols
• HTML
• HTTP
• TCP/UDP
• IP
• 802.3
• 802.11g
„ Network Models
• TCP/IP
• OSI
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 1.1 Data Communication
„ Data:
• Refers to Information, Facts, Concepts,
Instructions
• Represented by: binary information units
(bits: 0, 1)
• Consists of: text, numbers, pictures,
sound or video

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1.1 Data Communication
„ Exchange of data between two devices via
transmission medium
• Data is represented by: binary information units
(bits: 0, 1)
• text, numbers, pictures, sound or video
„ Fundamental characteristics:
• Delivery
• Accuracy
• Timeliness - real-time transmission
• Jitter
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 1.1 Data Communication (cont.)
„ 5 components
• Message, Sender, Medium, Receiver,
and Protocol

From Figure 1.1 of Data Communications and Networking by Forouzan, 4th

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Data Flow

„ Simplex
• one direction, either as transmitter or
receiver
„ Half-duplex
• both direction; can transmit or receive, but
one at a time
„ Full-duplex
• can transmit and receive simultaneously

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Data flow (simplex, half-duplex, and full-duplex)

From Figure 1.2 of Data Communications and Networking by Forouzan, 4th

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 1.2 Networks
„ A Network
• a set of nodes connected by media links for resource
sharing
„ A Node
• computer, printer, etc
„ A Link
• communication Channel
„ Resource
• printer, database, files, Web pages, records, etc

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 Network Criterion (cont.)
„ Performance
• Transit time and response time
„ Depends on
• Number of users
• Types of transmission medium
• Hardware
• Software
• Throughput and delay
• Reliability
• Security
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„ Transit Time – Is the amount of time required for a
message to travel from one device to another.

„ Response Time - Is the elapsed time between an

inquiry and response

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 Network Configuration
„ Defines the attachment of communication
devices to a link
„ Two categories:
• Point-to-Point
• Multipoint

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 Point-to-Point Line Configuration
„ Dedicated link
„ Entire capacity of the channel reserved
for communication
„ Examples:
• PC to PC (workstation)
• Mainframe to PC (Workstation)
• Satellite links

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Types of connections: point-to-point and multipoint

From Figure 1.3 of Data Communications and Networking by Forouzan, 4th

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Multipoint Line Configuration
„ Multi-drops
PC Laser printer
„ Sharing a single link: Ethernet

• Spatially
• Time sharing Laptop computer
Notebook computer

PC

Laptop computer Notebook computer

Laser printer
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 Networks Topologies
„ Logical or physical layout of a network
„ Two or more links form a topology
„ Four Basic Topologies:
• Mesh, Star, Bus, Ring

Ethernet Token-ring
Hub

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A fully connected mesh topology (five devices)

From Figure 1.5 of Data Communications and Networking by

Forouzan, 4th

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 Mesh Topology
„ Each device has a point-to-point link to every
other device.
„ Advantages
• Guarantee the connection
• Robustness
• Privacy or security
• Easy fault identification and fault isolation
„ Disadvantages
• Installation and reconnection
• Hardware cost

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 Question

„ State how many links we require to

construct a Local network based on
mesh topology with Eight nodes that
could communicate using

„ 1. simplex mode of data flow

„ 2. Duplex mode of dataflow

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 Solution
„ The Physical link required is n (n-1) for
unidirectional links
n (n-1) = 8(8-1)
= 56 links
The Physical link required is n (n-1)/2 for
bidirectional links
n(n-1)/2 = 8(8-1)/2= 56/2
= 28 links only
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A star topology connecting four stations

From Figure 1.6 of Data Communications and Networking by Forouzan, 4th

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 Star Topology
„ Each device has a point-to-point link only
to a central controller
„ Controller acts as an exchange
„ Advantages
• Easy to install and reconfigure
• Less cabling
• Robustness
„ Disadvantages
• Dependency on one single point
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A bus topology connecting three stations

From Figure 1.7 of Data Communications and Networking by Forouzan, 4th

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 Bus Topology
„ One long cable links all nodes.
„ Nodes are connected to bus cable by drop
lines and taps.
„ Advantages
• Ease of installation
• Less cabling
„ Disadvantages
• Reconnection and fault isolation
• Robustness
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A ring topology connecting six stations

From Figure 1.8 of Data Communications and Networking by Forouzan, 4th

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 Ring Topology
„ Dedicated point-to-point connection with
immediate neighbors
„ A signal is passed along the ring in one
direction
„ Advantages
• Ease of installation and reconfiguration
• Fault isolation
„ Disadvantages
• Unidirectional traffic
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A hybrid topology: a star backbone with three
bus networks

From Figure 1.9 of Data Communications and Networking by Forouzan, 4th

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 Categories of Network
„ Local Area Network (LAN)
„ Wide Area Network (WAN):
• Long distance transmission of data, voice,
image, and video information
• Enterprise network (owned by a single
company)
„ Metropolitan Area Network (MAN)

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 Local Area Network (LAN)

„ Privately owned and links computers

in a single office, building, or campus
„ Topologies

• bus, ring, star

„ Data rates: 2 Mbps, …, 10 Mbps, …,
100 Mbps, Gigabits

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An isolated LAN connecting 12 computers
to a hub in a closet

From Figure 1.10 of Data Communications and Networking by Forouzan, 4th

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 Wide Area Network (WAN)
„ Long distance transmission of data, voice,
image, and video information
„ Enterprise network (owned by a single
company)
„ Technologies:
• ATM (Asynchronous Transfer Mode)
• Frame Relaying
• X.25 (Packet switching network)
• Circuit switching
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WANs: a switched WAN and a point-to-point WAN

From Figure 1.11 of Data Communications and Networking by Forouzan, 4th 35

 Metropolitan Area Network
(MAN)
„ City wide coverage
„ LAN-to-LAN
„ LAN-to-other larger network

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A heterogeneous network made of four WANs and two LANs

From Figure 1.12 of Data Communications and Networking by Forouzan, 4th

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 Internet
„ Internet (World Wide Web)
„ Internet Service Providers (ISPs)
• Local Service Providers
• Regional Service Providers
• National Service Providers
• International Service Providers

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Internet

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 Protocols and Standards
„ Provides a model for govern the
PHYSICAL, ELECTRICAL and
PROCEDURAL characteristics of
communication equipment
„ Necessary to ensure that products
from different manufacturers can
work together as expected

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 Protocols
„ A set of rules that govern data
communications
• What is communicated?
• How it is communicated?
• When it is communicated?
„ Key elements: Syntax, Semantics, and
Timing

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 Protocols (cont.)

„ Syntax
• Structure or Format of data
• Order of data
• Example:
„ Address of Receiver (First 8 bit)

„ Address of Sender (Second 8 bit)

„ Message (rest of bits)

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 Protocols (cont.)

„ Semantics
• Meaning of each section of bits
• Bit pattern and interpretation
• Command or action
„ Timing
• When to send ?
• How fast it can be sent?

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 Standards
„ Advantages:
• Assure that there will be a large market
for a particular piece of equipment or
software
• Allows products from multiple vendors
to communicate (more selections)
„ Disadvantages
• Tends to freeze the technology
• Multiple conflicting standards
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 Standards Organization
„ ISO (International Organization for
Standardization)
„ ITU-T (International Telecommunication Union –
Telecommunication Standards Sector)
„ ANSI (American National Standards Institute)
„ IEEE (Institute of Electrical and Electronics
Engineers)
„ EIA (Electronic Industries Association)

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