Chapter 1
Introduction
1.1 Copyright © The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. Permission required for reproduction or display.
1-1 DATA COMMUNICATIONS
The term telecommunication means communication
at a distance. The word data refers to information
presented in whatever form is agreed upon by the
arties creating and using the data. Data
ommunications are the exchange of data between
o devices via some form of transmission medium
ch as a wire cable.
Topics discussed in this section:
Components of a data communications
system
Data Flow
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Figure 1.1 Components of a data communication system
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Figure 1.2 Data flow (simplex, half-duplex, and full-duplex)
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1-2 NETWORKS
A network is a set of devices (often referred to as
nodes) connected by communication links. A node
can be a computer, printer, or any other device
capable of sending and/or receiving data generated
by other nodes on the network. A link can be a cable,
r, optical fiber, or any medium which can transport a
gnal carrying information.
Topics discussed in this section:
Network Criteria
Physical Structures
Categories of Networks
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Network Criteria
Performance
Depends on Network Elements
Measured in terms of Delay and Throughput
Reliability
Failure rate of network components
Measured in terms of availability/robustness
Security
Data protection against corruption/loss of data due to:
Errors
Malicious users
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Physical Structures
Type of Connection
Point to Point - single transmitter and receiver
Multipoint - multiple recipients of single transmission
Physical Topology
Connection of devices
Type of transmission - unicast, mulitcast, broadcast
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Figure 1.3 Types of connections: point-to-point and multipoint
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Figure 1.4 Categories of topology
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Figure 1.5 A fully connected mesh topology (five devices)
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Figure 1.6 A star topology connecting four stations
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Figure 1.7 A bus topology connecting three stations
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Figure 1.8 A ring topology connecting six stations
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Figure 1.9 A hybrid topology: a star backbone with three bus networks
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Categories of Networks
Local Area Networks (LANs)
Short distances
Designed to provide local interconnectivity
Wide Area Networks (WANs)
Long distances
Provide connectivity over large areas
Metropolitan Area Networks (MANs)
Provide connectivity over areas such as a city, a campus
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Figure 1.10 An isolated LAN connecting 12 computers to a hub in a closet
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Figure 1.11 WANs: a switched WAN and a point-to-point WAN
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Figure 1.12 A heterogeneous network made of four WANs and two LANs
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1-3 THE INTERNET
The Internet has revolutionized many aspects of our
daily lives. It has affected the way we do business as
well as the way we spend our leisure time. The
nternet is a communication system that has brought
wealth of information to our fingertips and
ganized it for our use.
Topics discussed in this section:
Organization of the Internet
Internet Service Providers (ISPs)
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Figure 1.13 Hierarchical organization of the Internet
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1-4 PROTOCOLS
A protocol is synonymous with rule. It consists of a
set of rules that govern data communications. It
determines what is communicated, how it is
communicated and when it is communicated. The
key elements of a protocol are syntax, semantics and
ming
Topics discussed in this section:
Syntax
Semantics
Timing
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Elements of a Protocol
Syntax
Structure or format of the data
Indicates how to read the bits - field delineation
Semantics
Interprets the meaning of the bits
Knows which fields define what action
Timing
When data should be sent and what
Speed at which data should be sent or speed at which it is
being received.
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