Data Communication and

Networks
Chapter 6

Principles of data
communication
Exchange of digital information between 2
digital devices
Message, Sender, Medium, Receiver and
Protocol

Analogue Signal
An analog or analogue signal is any
continuous signal for which the time
varying feature (variable) of the signal is a
representation of some other time varying
quantity, i.e., analogous to another time
varying signal.

Digital Signal

digital signal is a physical signal that is a

representation of a sequence of discrete
values (a quantified discrete-time signal),
for example of an arbitrary bit stream, or of
a digitized (sampled and analog-to-digital
converted) analog signal.

transmission media
A transmission medium is a material
substance (solid, liquid, gas, or plasma)
that can propagate energy waves. For
example, the transmission medium for
sounds is usually air, but solids and liquids
may also act as transmission media for
sound.

Transmission mode
Transmission mode means transferring of data
between two devices. It is also called
communication mode. These modes direct the
direction of flow of information. There are three
types of transmission mode. They are :
Simplex Mode
Half duplex Mode
Full duplex Mode

Synchronous Transmission
sender and receiver use the same clock
signal
supports high data transfer rate
needs clock signal between the sender
and the receiver
requires master/slave configuration
is carried out under the control of the
timing source

asynchronous transmission
sender provides a synchronization signal
to the receiver before starting the transfer
of each message
does not need clock signal between the
sender and the receiver
slower data transfer rate
Sending end commences the
Transmission of bits at any instant of time

communication equipment
facility consisting of the physical plants
and equipment for disseminating
information

communication protocol
A communications protocol defines the
rules for sending blocks of data (each
known as a Protocol Data Unit (PDU))
from one node in a network to another
node. Protocols are normally defined in a
layered manner and provide all or part of
the services specified by a layer of the
OSI reference model.

OSI Layer

Local Area Networks

A local area network (LAN) is a computer
network that interconnects computers within a
limited area such as a home, school, computer
laboratory, or office building, using network
media.

Wide Area Networks

A wide area network (WAN)
is a network that covers a
broad area (i.e., any
telecommunications network
that links across metropolitan,
regional, national or
international boundaries)
using leased
telecommunication lines.

topologies
is the arrangement of the various
elements (links, nodes, etc.) of a computer
network. Essentially, it is the topological
structure of a network and may be
depicted physically or logically.