Data Communications

 Data communications – the exchange of data between

two devices via some transmission medium either
wired or wireless
 A Simple Data Communications Model
Data Communications
Components
 Message – the information to be communicated
 Sender – the device that sends the data message
 Receiver – the device that receives the message
 Medium – physical path by which a message travels
from sender to receiver
 Protocol – a set of rules that governs data
communications; representing an agreement between
the communicating device
 Exercise: Give your own example
Direction of Data Flow
 Simplex – unidirectional
 Examples - keyboards
Direction of Data Flow
 Half-duplex – each station can both transmit and
receive, but not at the same time
 Examples – walkie-talkie, home security system
 Exercise: Think of the advantages/limitations
Direction of Data Flow
 Full-duplex – both stations can transmit and receive
simultaneously
 Examples – telephone networks
 Exercise: Think of the advantages/limitations
Networks
 Networks – set of devices (nodes) connected by
communication links
 Exercise: Give example of nodes of a network
 Network criteria
 Performance – measured in many ways e.g. transit time,
response time
 Reliability – frequency of failure, failure recovery time,
robustness
 Security – protection from unauthorized access
Networks
 Point-to-point – a dedicated link exists between two
devices
Networks
 Multipoint – more than two specific devices share a
single link
Topology
 Physical topology – the way in which a network is laid
out physically
 Exercise: Think of an example
Topology
 Mesh – every device has a dedicated point-to-point
link to every other device
 A fully connected mesh network has n(n-1)/2 physical
channels to link n devices
 Advantages
 Each connection can carry its own data load, eliminating
traffic problems
 Robust – if one link is unusable, the entire system is not
affected
 Privacy/security – only the intended recipient sees its
message
Topology
 Advantages
 Fault identification and isolation easier
 Disadvantages
 The amount of cabling is numerous making installation
difficult
 A large space is needed to accommodate wiring
 Expensive hardware
 The disadvantages makes mesh installation limited
Topology
 Mesh
Topology
 Star
 Each device has a dedicated point-to-point link only to
central controller (hub)
 Less expensive than mesh
 Easy to install and reconfigure
 Less cabling
 Robust
 Easy fault identification and isolation
Topology
 Star
Topology
 Bus
 A multipoint connection
 One long cable acts as a backbone to link all the devices
in a network
 Nodes are connected to the bus cable by drop lines and
taps
 Drop lines – connection running between the device
and the main cable
 Tap – connector that splices into main cable
Topology
 Bus
 Advantages
 Ease of installation
 Less cabling than star or mesh
 Disadvantages
 Difficult reconnection
 Difficult fault isolation
 Degradation of signal quality as more connections are
made
 Less fault tolerant
Topology
 Bus
Topology
 Ring
 Each device has a dedicated point-to-point connection
only with the two devices on either side of it
 A signal is passed along the ring in one direction, from
device to device until it reaches its destination
 Each device in the ring incorporates a repeater
 Advantages
 Easy to install and reconfigure
 Fault isolation simplified
 Disadvantage
 Less robust
Topology
 Ring
Categories of Networks
Categories of Networks
 LAN
Categories of Networks
 LAN
Categories of Networks
 MAN
Categories of Networks
 WAN