Data Communication

Communication is defined as a process in which more than one computer transfers
information, instructions to each other and for sharing resources. Or in other words,
communication is a process or act in which we can send or receive data. A network of
computers is defined as an interconnected collection of autonomous computers.
Autonomous means no computer can start, stop or control another computer.
Components of Data Communication
A communication system is made up of the following components:

1. Message: A message is a piece of information that is to be transmitted from one
person to another. It could be a text file, an audio file, a video file, etc.
2. Sender: It is simply a device that sends data messages. It can be a computer,
mobile, telephone, laptop, video camera, or workstation, etc.
3. Receiver: It is a device that receives messages. It can be a computer, telephone
mobile, workstation, etc.
4. Transmission Medium / Communication Channels: Communication channels are
the medium that connect two or more workstations. Workstations can be connected
by either wired media or wireless media.
5. Set of rules (Protocol): When someone sends the data (The sender), it should be
understandable to the receiver also otherwise it is meaningless. For example, Sonali
sends a message to Chetan. If Sonali writes in Hindi and Chetan cannot understand
Hindi, it is a meaningless conversation.
Therefore, there are some set of rules (protocols) that is followed by every computer
connected to the internet and they are:
 TCP(Transmission Control Protocol): It is responsible for dividing messages into
packets on the source computer and reassembling the received packet at the
destination or recipient computer. It also makes sure that the packets have the
information about the source of the message data, the destination of the message
data, the sequence in which the message data should be re-assembled, and checks
if the message has been sent correctly to the specific destination.
 IP(Internet Protocol): Do You ever wonder how computer determines which packet
belongs to which device. What happens if the message you sent to your friend is
received by your father? Scary Right. Well! IP is responsible for handling the address
of the destination computer so that each packet is sent to its proper destination.
Type of data communication :
As we know that data communication is communication in which we can send or

receive data from one device to another. The data communication is divided into three
types:
1. Simplex Communication: It is one-way communication or we can say that
unidirectional communication in which one device only receives and another device
only sends data and devices uses their entire capacity in transmission. For example,
IoT, entering data using a keyboard, listing music using a speaker, etc.
2. Half Duplex communication: It is a two-way communication, or we can say that it is
a bidirectional communication in which both the devices can send and receive data
but not at the same time. When one device is sending data then another device is
only receiving and vice-versa. For example, walkie-talkie.
3. Full-duplex communication: It is a two-way communication or we can say that it is
a bidirectional communication in which both the devices can send and receive data
at the same time. For example, mobile phones, landline, etc.
Communication Channels
Communication channels are the medium that connects two or more workstations.
Workstations can be connected by either wired media or wireless media. It is also
known as a transmission medium. The transmission medium or channel is a link that
carries messages between two or more devices. We can group the communication
media into two categories:
 Guided media transmission
 Unguided media transmission
1. Guided Media: In this transmission medium, the physical link is created using wires
or cables between two or more computers or devices, and then the data is transmitted
using these cables in terms of signals. Guided media transmission of the following
types:
1. Twisted pair cable: It is the most common form of wire used in communication. In a
twisted-pair cable, two identical wires are wrapped together in a double helix. The
twisting of the wire reduces the crosstalk. It is known as the leaking of a signal from
one wire to another due to which signal can corrupt and can cause network errors. The
twisting protects the wire from internal crosstalk as well as external forms of signal
interference. Types of Twisted Pair Cable :
 Unshielded Twisted Pair (UTP): It is used in computers and telephones widely. As
the name suggests, there is no external shielding so it does not protects from
external interference. It is cheaper than STP.
 Shielded Twisted Pair (STP): It offers greater protection from crosstalk due to
shield. Due to shielding, it protects from external interference. It is heavier and
costlier as compare to UTP.
2. Coaxial Cable: It consists of a solid wire core that is surrounded by one or more foil
or wire shields. The inner core of the coaxial cable carries the signal and the outer
shield provides the ground. It is widely used for television signals and also used by
large corporations in building security systems. Data transmission of this cable is better
but expensive as compared to twisted pair.
3. Optical fibers: Optical fiber is an important technology. It transmits large amounts of
data at very high speeds due to which it is widely used in internet cables. It carries data
as a light that travels inside a thin glass fiber. The fiber optic cable is made up of three
pieces:
1. Core: Core is the piece through which light travels. It is generally created using
glass or plastic.
2. Cladding: It is the covering of the core and reflects the light back to the core.
3. Sheath: It is the protective covering that protects fiber cable from the environment.

Data Communication

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Data Communication

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Communication is defined as a process in which more than one computer transfers

Components of Data Communication

A communication system is made up of the following components:

Type of data communication :

As we know that data communication is communication in which we can send or

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