Unit I –Fundamental of Data Communication and Computer Network DCC(22414)

Topics and Sub-topics-

1) Process of data communication and its components: Transmitter, Receiver, Medium, Message, Protocol.
2) Protocols, Standards, Standard organizations. Bandwidth, Data Transmission Rate, Baud Rate and Bits
per second.
3) Modes of Communication (Simplex, Half duplex, Full Duplex).
4) Analog Signal and Digital Signal, Analog and Digital transmission: Analog To Digital ,Digital To
Analog Conversion
5) Fundamental of Computer Network: Definition And Need Of Computer Network, Applications,
Network Benefits.
6) Classification Of Network: LAN,WAN,MAN
7) Network Architecture: Peer To Peer, Client Server Network

1) Process of data communication and its components: Transmitter,

Receiver, Medium, Message, Protocol.

1) Message: Message is the information or data which is to be sent from sender to the receiver .A
message can be in the form of sound, text, picture, video or combination of them(multimedia)
2) Sender(Transmitter): Sender is device such as host, camera, workstation, telephone etc. which
sends the message over medium
3) Medium: The message originated from sender needs a path over which it can travel to the receiver.
Such path is called as medium or channel
4) Receiver: It is the device which receives the message and reproduces it. A receiver can be host,
camera, workstation, telephone etc.
5) Protocol: A protocol is defined as set of rules agreed by sender and receiver. Protocol governs the
exchange of data in true sense,

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1) Protocols, Standards, Standard organizations.Bandwidth, Data
Transmission Rate, Baud Rate and Bits per second.

 Protocols- protocol is defined as set of rules agreed by sender and receiver. Protocol governs the
exchange of data in true sense. Example: UDP, TCP/IP, SMTP, HTTP, SSL, FTP etc

 Standards- Standards defined as the guidelines to the product manufactures and vendors to ensure
national and international interconnectivity is called as standards.

 Standard organizations-
 International standard organization (ISO)
 American National Standard institute (ANSI)
 Institute of electrical & electronics engineers (IEEE)
 The Electronics Industries Association. (EIA)
 The International Telecommunications Union – Telecommunications Standard Sector
(ITU-T)

 Bandwidth-
-Bandwidth it is a measure of the width of a range of frequencies over which the signal
can pass called as bandwidth.
-The range of frequencies that contains the information is called as the bandwidth.
-For example, if a composite signal contains frequencies between 1000Hz and 5000Hz,
its bandwidth is 5000 – 1000= 4000.

 Data Transmission Rate-

The data transfer rate (DTR) is the amount of digital data that's moved from one place to
another in a given time. The data transfer rate can be viewed as the speed of travel of a
given amount of data from one place to another.

 Baud Rate- Baud rate is the number of signal units transmitted per unit time that is needed to
represent those bits

 Bits per second(Bit rate)-Bit rate is simply the number of bits (i.e., 0's and 1's) transmitted in one
second

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 2) Modes of Communication (Simplex, Half duplex, Full Duplex).
Transmission mode refers to the mechanism of transferring of data between two devices connected over
a network. It is also called Communication Mode.

There are three types of transmission modes.

1) Simplex Communication Mode.
2) Half duplex Communication Mode.
3) Full Duplex Communication Mode.

1) Simplex Communication Mode-

Fig- A simplex communication

-A simplex communication is defined as the communication is unidirectional means in only one direction.
-In these systems the information is communicated in only one direction. For Example- the radio or TV
broadcasting systems can only transmit. They cannot receive.
-The simplex mode can use the entire capacity of the channel to send data in one direction. -Keyboards,
traditional monitors and printers are examples of simplex devices.

2) Half duplex Communication Mode-

Fig- Half duplex communication Mode

-A half-duplex communication is defined as the bidirectional communication which does not take place
simultaneously.
-At a time these systems can either transmit or receive, for Example Walky-Talky set. Thus the direction of
communication will keep changing itself.
-In half-duplex mode, each station can both transmit and receive, but not at the same time. When one device is
sending, the other can only receive, and vice versa

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- The half-duplex mode is used in cases where there is no need for communication in both directions at the same
time. The entire capacity of the channel is utilized by the transmitting (sending) system.-for Example :
Walkietalkies.

3) Full Duplex Communication Mode-

Fig-Full Duplex Communication Mode

-In full duplex communication mode, both the devices can transmit data at the same time. It means that both
devices are capable of sending as well as receiving data at the same time.
-These are truly bi-directional systems as they allow the communication to take place in both the directions
simultaneously.
-The transmission medium sharing can occur in two ways, namely, either the link must contain two physically
separate transmission paths or the capacity of the channel is divided between signals traveling in both
directions.
-One common example of full-duplex communication is the telephone network. When two people are
communicating by a telephone line, both can talk and listen at the same time.

3) Analog Signal and Digital Signal, Analog and Digital transmission:

Analog Data-
The human voice is the best example of analog data, when a person speaks, an analog wave is created in air.

Digital Data-
The data is stored in computer memory in the form of 0 (zero) and 1(one) is digital data.

Analog Signal-

These are the signals which can have infinite number of different magnitudes or values.
-They vary continuously with time. Sine wave, triangular wave etc. are the example of analog signals.
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Digital Signal-

A signal is called as a digital signal if it has only a finite number of predetermined distinct magnitudes. -The
digital signals are discrete time signals, i.e. they are not continuous with time.

Analog To Digital Conversion-

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Digital To Analog Conversion-

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 4) Fundamental Of Computer Network: Definition And Need Of Computer
Network, Applications, Network Benefits.

Definition of Computer Network –

A computer network is a group of computer systems and other computing hardware devices that are
linked together through communication channels to facilitate communication and resource sharing
among a wide range of users is called as computer network.

Computer network is a system which allows communication among the computers connected in the
network is called as computer network

Fig – Computer Network

Need of computer Networks-

1) File sharing: Networking of computers helps the network users to share data files.

2) Hardware sharing: Users can share devices such as printers, scanners, CD-ROM drives, hard drives etc.
Without computer networks, device sharing is not possible e
3) Application sharing: Applications can be shared over the network, and this allows to implement
client/server applications
4) User communication: Networks allow users to communicate using e-mail, newsgroups, and video
conferencing etc.

5) Information exchange: To exchange data and information between different individual users, it is necessary
to interconnect the individual users’ computers.

Computer Network Application-

1) File Sharing
2) Printer Sharing
3) Application Services
4) E-mail Services

5) Remote access 7) Banking

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Benefits of computer network-
1) File sharing: -files can be centrally stored and used by multiple users. Shared directory or disk drive is
used. If many users access same file on network and make changes at same time and conflict occurs.
Network operating system performs file sharing and provides security to share files.
2) Printer sharing: Printer connected in a network can be shared in many ways. Use printer queues on
server. Here printer is connected to server. Each work station can access printer directly. Printer can be
connected to server. Connect a printer to a computer in a network and run special print server software.
Use built in print server. Use dedicated print server. By printer sharing reduces no. of printers needed.
Share costly and high quality printers.
3) Application services: Share application on a network. When applications are centralized, amount of
memory required on disk of work station is reduced. It is easier to administer an application. It is more
secure and reliable. It is faster and convenient.
4) E-mail services. Two types of email systems are available:
1) File based system: Files are stored in shared location on server. Server provides access to file.
Gate way server connects from file based email system to internet. 2) Client server e-mail
system: E-mail server contains message and handles e-mail interconnections. E-mail client
functions (also consider other e-mail functions): read mail, send, compose, forward, delete. E-
mail protocols: SMTP, POP etc.
5) Remote access: Set up remote access service on network operating system. Setup VPN (virtual private
network) on internet terminal services (TELNET). User can access files from remote location. User can
access centralized application or share files on LAN.

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6) Classification Of Network:
1) LAN
2) WAN
3) MAN

1) LAN

Fig- Local area Network

-LAN is local area network. LAN is privately-owned networks covering a small geographic area(less than 1
km), like a home, office, building or group of buildings.
-In LAN all the machines are connected to a single cable. Different types of topologies such as Bus, Ring, Star,
Tree etc. are used for LAN.
-In a LAN one of the Computers can become a server serving all the remaining computers called clients.
Software can be stored on the server and it can be used by the remaining clients.
-The exchange of information and sharing of resources become easy because of LAN
-LAN are widely used to allow resources to be shared between personal computers or workstations. The
resources to be shared can be hardware like a printer or software or data.

Advantages of LAN
1) The reliability of network is high because the failure of the computer in the network does not affect the
functioning for other computers.
2) Resource Sharing
3) Private Ownership
4) Easy Sharing of data from one computer to another
5) Addition of new computer to network is easy.
6) High rate of data transmission is possible.
7) Less expensive to install.
8) Peripheral devices can be shared.

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Disadvantages of LAN
1) It covers a small geographical area.
2) A virus can be spread more easily
3) A limited number of a system can only be connected
4) In a server based LAN architecture , if server develops a fault, all the users are affected.
5) Weak protection of data.

2) WAN
- WAN is wide area network. WAN is a long-distance communication network that covers a wide geographic area, such
as state or country. The most common example is internet.
- WANs can facilitate communication, the sharing of information and much more between devices from around the
world through a WAN provider.
- For example, businesses with many international branch offices use a WAN to connect office networks together. The
world’s largest WAN is the internet because it is a collection of many international networks that connect to each other.

Fig- WAN (Wide area network)

Advantages of WAN-

1) Increase efficiency
2) Easy of communication
3) Large network cover
4) Share information over the large area
5) Message can be sent very quickly to anyone else on the network
6) It supports the global market and global business

Disadvantages of WAN-
1) It is slow in speedIt is complected and complex
2) It is difficult to maintain the network
3) WAN is a big and complex problem
4) Very much dependent on the third party because it is a public network
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 5) WAN is not secure and means not reliable
6) Security problem
7) Training cost
8) Maintenance problem
9) Require high-performance device
10) As WAN covers many areas, fixing the problem in it isn’t easy.

2) MAN-

MAN stands for Metropolitan Area Network. It is a computer network that connects number of LANs to form
larger network, so that the computer resources can be shared. This type of network covers larger area than a
LAN but smaller than the area covered by a WAN which is designed to extend over the entire city. MAN is
specially designed to provide high-speed connectivity.

Fig- MAN - Metropolitan Area Network

Characteristics of MAN:
1) It can covers the area which ranges from 5 to 50 km, which is capable of carrying from a group of

buildings to the whole city.

2) In MAN, data rates are moderate to high.

3) In MAN, mostly used medium is optical fibers which results in high-speed connectivity.

4) MAN network provides high reliability because the error rate in this network is very less.

Advantages of MAN:
1) MAN offers high-speed connectivity in which the speed ranges from 10-100 Mbps.

2) The security level in MAN is high and strict as compared to WAN.

3) It supports to transmit data in both directions concurrently because of dual bus architecture.

4) MAN can serve multiple users at a time with the same high-speed internet to all the users.

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Disadvantages of MAN:
1) The architecture of MAN is quite complicated hence, it is hard to design and maintain.

2) This network is highly expensive because it required the high cost to set up fiber optics.

3) It provides less fault tolerance.

4) The Data transfer rate in MAN is low when compare to LANs.

Examples of MAN:
1) Cable TV network.
2) Used in government agencies.
3) University campuses.

4) PAN
Personal Area Network (PAN) is the computer network that connects computers/devices within the range of an
individual person. As PAN provides a network range within a person’s range typically within a range of 10
meters (33 feet) it is called a Personal Area Network.

A Personal Area Network typically involves a computer, phone, tablet, printer, PDA (Personal Digital
Assistant) and other and other entertainment devices like speakers, video game consoles, etc.
It is very useful in the home, offices, and small network areas due to its high performance in terms of flexibility
and efficiency.
Advantages of PAN-
 PAN is relatively flexible and provides high efficiency for short network ranges.
 It needs easy setup and relatively low cost.
 It does not require frequent installations and maintenance
 It is easy and portable.
 Needs fewer technical skills to use.

Disadvantages-PAN
1) Low network coverage area/range.
2) Limited to relatively low data rates.
3) Devices are not compatible with each other.
4) Inbuilt WPAN devices are a little bit costly.
5) PAN has a limited range.
6) It can only be used for the personal area.
Applications-PAN –

1) Home and Offices

2) Organizations and the Business sector
3) Medical and Hospital
4) School and College Education and Military and Defense

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5) CAN

CAN is a type of computer network in which different computers and devices are interconnected with each
other. CAN is made by combining small LAN’s (Local Area Networks). CAN is smaller than WAN (Wide
Area Network). CAN is also known as corporate area network when it is installed in a large company. CAN is
also known as a controller area network.
Examples
The places where the CAN is used are given below −
 School campus
 University campus
 It is used in large organization and industrial sites.
 It is also used in automotive applications.

Fig-Corporate Area Networks (CAN)

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 7) Network Architecture: Peer To Peer, Client Server Network

1) Peer To Peer Network Architecture-

-In this type of network, each computer is responsible for making its own resources available to other computers
on the network.

-Each computer is responsible for setting up and maintaining its own security for its resources.

-Also each computer is responsible for accessing the required network resources from peer-to-peer
relationships.

-Peer-to-peer network is useful for a small network containing less than 10 computers on a single LAN. each
computer maintains its own accounts and their security.

-In peer-to-peer network, every computer can function as both a client and server.

-In peer-to-peer network do not have a central control system. There are no servers in peer network.

-Peer-to-peer networks are organized into workgroups. Workgroups have very little security. There is no central
login process.

-Peer-to-peer networks are relatively simple. Each computer in the network can act as client as well as server as
per requirement.

-Peer to peer (P2P) is an alternative network model to that provided by traditional client-server architecture.
P2P networks use a decentralized model in which each machine, referred to as a peer, functions as a client with
its own layer of server functionality. A peer plays the role of a client and a server at the same time. That is, the
peer can initiate requests to other peers, and at the same time respond to incoming requests from other peers on

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the network. It differs from the traditional client-server model where a client can only send requests to a server
and then wait for the server’s response

1. Peer to Peer networks do not have a central control system. There are no servers in peer networks.

2. In this type of network users simply share disk space and resources, such as printers.

3. Peer networks are organised into workgroups. Workgroup have very little security. There is no central login
process.

4. If the user has logged into one peer on the network he can use any resources on the network that are not
controlled by a specific password.

-The peer to peer networks are suitable/used for the following working conditions.
1. If security is not important.

2. If the number of users is less than 10.

3. If all the users are situated in the same area.

4. If the possibility of future expansion is less.

Advantages of Peer-to-Peer Networks-

1) No extra investment in server hardware or software is required.
2) Use less expensive computer hardware
3) A user is not dependent on other computer for its operation.
4) Users can control resource sharing.
5) If you have a small network with 10-20 workstations and each one with some important data on it, and one
fails you still have most of your shared resources available.
6) Less Network Traffic: In a peer to peer network, there is less network traffic than in Client-Server Network.

Disadvantages of Peer -to-Peer Networks-

1) Less Security-
2) Backup is Difficult-
In peer-to-peer network there is no centralized server. Data is Hence data is scattered over many
workstations.
3) Individual Performance is Affected
4) It is not possible to save important data in a centralized manner.
5) Additional load on computer because of resource sharing and absence of server.
6) As there is no centralized management it makes large peer network hard to manage and final data easily.

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 2) Client Server Network –

Fig- Client Server Network

-In client server network relationships, certain computers act as server and other act as clients.
- Definition of Client-A client is a computer running a program that requests services from a server. The
individual workstations in a network are clients.
-Definition of Server-A server is simply a computer that makes the network resources available and provides
service to other computers when they request for it.
-A client server network is one in which all available network resources such as files, directories, applications
and shared devices, are centrally managed, stored and then are accessed by client.
-In the client server networks the servers provide security and administration of the entire network. -In client
server networks the processing tasks are divided between client and servers.
-Clients request services such as file storage and printing and servers deliver them.
-The central computer which is more powerful than the clients and which allows the clients to access its
software and database is called as the server.
-No user can access the resources of the servers until he has been authenticated by the server to do so.
-The servers stores all the network's shared files and applications programs, such as word processor documents,
compilers, database applications, spreadsheets, and the network operating system.
-Client server Architecture consists of Client computers or nodes, which are connected to centralized server.
The servers stores all the network's shared files and applications programs, such as word processor documents,
compilers, database applications, spreadsheets, and the network operating system.
- Client will send request to access information from the server based on the request server will send the
required information to the client.

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Features of Servers:
1) They have large storage capacity.
2) They are able to provide information to many computers simultaneously therefore has large RAM.
3) Its processor speed is high, as it may have to execute multiple task together.

Advantages of Client Server Network:

1) It has the centralized control. i.e. centralized user accounts, security, and access to simplify network
administration.
2) It does not slow down with heavy use.
3) The size of the network can be expanded to any size.
4) Proper Management in which all files are stored at the same place. In this way, management of files becomes
easy. Also it becomes easier to find files.
5) As all the data is stored on server it’s easy to make a back-up of it.
6) Reduces Data duplication by storing data stored on the servers instead of each client, so it reduces the amount
of data duplication for the application.

Disadvantages of Client Server Network:

1) Server failure leads to whole network failure.
2) It is very expensive to install and manage as dedicated hardware (server) and special software is required.
3) A Professional IT person is required to maintain the servers and other technical details of network.
4) We have to use a high speed server computer with lots of memory and disk space.

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