The communication system is a system which describes the information exchange between

two points. The process of transmission and reception of information is called communication.
The major elements of communication are the Transmitter of information, the Channel or
medium of communication and the Receiver of information.

Communication systems can have many advantages and disadvantages, including:

Advantages
 Building connections: Communication can help build strong personal connections.
 Immediate feedback: Communication can foster immediate feedback.
 Using senses: Communication can enable the use of all senses and non-verbal cues
like body language.
 Trust: Better communication can build trust.
 Teamwork: Communication can improve teamwork.
 Productivity: Clear communication can boost productivity.
 Problem-solving: Clear communication can speed up problem-solving.
Disadvantages
 Travel: Communication can require travel and physical presence.
 Distractions: Communication can be distracted by others in group settings.
 Loss of personal connection: Virtual communication can lead to a loss of personal
connection.
 Misunderstandings: Communication can lead to misunderstandings.
 Lack of record keeping: Communication can lack record keeping.
 No legal validity: Communication can have no legal validity.

Communication systems have many applications, including:

 Telephony: Allows people to communicate over the phone
 Television: Allows people to watch television
 Radio: Allows people to listen to the radio
 Internet: Allows people to share information and connect to the internet
 Security: Wireless communication systems like walkie-talkies can be used for security
purposes
 Space communication: Digital communication systems are used to transmit signals from
spacecraft to Earth
 Video compression: Digital communication systems are used for video compression
 Speech processing: Digital communication systems are used for speech processing
 Digital audio transmission: Digital communication systems are used for digital audio
transmission
 Public safety communication: Full duplex speech transmission services are used for
emergency response
 Real time text messaging (RTT): RTT is a quick and effective way to send alerts
 Satellite communications: Satellite communications are used for data transmission

Other applications of communication systems include:

  Infrared communication
 Compression and decompression
 Data transmission
 Wireless systems using RF and microwave
 MIMO
 Wireless LAN's
 Mobile phones
 Base station monitoring
 Surveillance

Block diagram of Communication System

The essential components of a communication system are information source, input

transducer, transmitter, communication channel, receiver and destination.

Information source:
Communication systems basically serve to communicate a message and this is in the form of a
word, group of words, code or symbol and out of all these a desired message is to be
communicated and therefore this is the function of an information source to produce the
required message which has to be transmitted.

Input transducer:
Its main function is the conversion of one form of energy into another form, actually in a case if
the message produced by an information source is not in electrical nature then an input
transducer converts it in the form of an electric signal.

Transmitter:
This is used to process the electrical signal from different aspects means the processing of
signals like restriction of range of audio frequencies, amplification and modulation of signal in
order to ease the transmission of signal through the channel.

The channel and the noise:

Channel means the medium through which message travels from transmitter to receiver or we
can say it provides a physical connection between the transmitter and receiver.
Channels are of two types, one is point to point for example wire lines, microwave links and
optical fibers and other is broadcast channel which provides a capability where several
receiving stations can be reached simultaneously from a single transmitter for example a
satellite in geostationary orbit which covers about one third of earth's surface.

Receiver:
The purpose of the receiver is to reproduce the message signal in electrical form from the
distorted received signal.

Destination:
Now destination is the last stage where the electrical message signal is converted into its
original form like in radio broadcasting the destination is a loudspeaker who works as a
transducer means it converts the electrical signal in the form of original sound signal.

Note: Examples of communication systems are line telephony & line telegraphy, radio
telephony & radio telegraphy, radio broadcasting, mobile communication, television
broadcasting, computer communication and radar communication etc.

What is Analog Communication?

In Analog communication the data is transferred with the help of analog signal in between
transmitter and receiver. Any type of data is transferred in analog signal. Any data is converted
into electric form first and after that it is passed through communication channel. Analog
communication uses a continuous signal which varies in amplitude, phase, or some other
property with time in proportion to that of a variable.
Advantages of Analog Signals
 It is Easier in processing.
 Analog Signals are best fitted to audio and video transmission.
 It has a coffee cost and is portable.
 It posses higher density.
Disadvantages of Analog Signals
 Analog tends to possess a lower quality signal than digital.
 The cables are sensitive to external influences.
 Analog wire is expensive and not easily portable.
 The below figure illustrates the Analog Communication System

What is Digital Communication?

In Digital communication digital signal is used rather than analog signal for communication in
between the source and destination. The digital signal consists of discrete values rather than
continuous values. In digital communication physical transfer of data occurs in the form of
digital bit stream i.e 0 or 1 over a point-to-point or point-to-multipoint transmission medium. In
digital communication the digital transmission data can be broken into packets as discrete
messages which is not allowed in analog communication.
Advantages of Digital Communication
 The speed of data transmission is quite high therefore, message transfer occurs almost
instantly.
 The process of digital communication is quite efficient because speed and accuracy are
always maintained in this system.
 The wireless nature of digital communication can be used to establish connections
globally without major geographical constraints.
Disadvantages of Digital Communication
 Digital Communication lacks a personal touch due to a lack of proper interaction
between users at both the ends of channel.
 With an increase in network coverage, the complexity of digital communication systems
increases and therefore, implementation of such circuits is difficult.
The below figure illustrates the Digital Communication System

Network as a Platform
A network as a platform is a concept that describes how networks can distribute services to
users in a reliable, secure, and efficient way. Network platforms are integrated systems that
combine hardware, software, policy, and open APIs with an intuitive user interface,
automation, and advanced telemetry.

The underlying architecture of networks should address four basic characteristics: Fault
tolerance, Scalability, Quality of service (QoS), and Security.

INTERNET ARCHITECTURE
Network architecture and internet architecture are two related but distinct concepts. They may
sound similar, but each has unique characteristics that set them apart.

Network architecture refers to the specific design and framework of a particular network. This
includes how network devices and services are structured to cater to the connectivity
 requirements of the network’s users. It lays out the network’s structure, from hardware
components like network routers and switches to protocols and services like DHCP and DNS. It’s
about network design and constructing the network itself, focusing on efficient communication,
secure data transfer, and performance optimization.
On the other hand, internet architecture describes the structure and protocols that make the
global internet function. It doesn’t concern itself with individual networks but looks at how all
networks interact to form the internet. Its focus is on the global system of interconnected
computer networks and the protocols they use to communicate, such as TCP/IP.

While network architecture provides a network’s physical and logical design, internet
architecture focuses on the global set of rules and standards that allow individual networks to
work together as a coherent system—the internet.

The two architectures interact and complement each other. Network architecture lays the
foundation for how devices and services interact within a particular network, while internet
architecture provides the rules and protocols that enable these individual networks to interact
and form the global internet.
To understand internet architecture better, let’s look at its layers: IP, TCP, and Application
Protocol.
IP (Internet Protocol) Layer: The IP layer delivers packets from the source host to the
destination host based on the IP addresses. This layer ensures that data is sent and received
over the internet.
TCP (Transmission Control Protocol) Layer: The TCP layer provides reliable, ordered, and error-
checked delivery of a stream of bytes between applications running on hosts communicating
over an IP network. It is responsible for ensuring that data packets are transmitted without
errors and in the correct order.
Application Protocol Layer: The Application Protocol layer contains all the higher-level
protocols like HTTP (Hypertext Transfer Protocol), FTP (File Transfer Protocol), SMTP (Simple
Mail Transfer Protocol), and others. These protocols are used by internet applications to send
and receive data.
Each layer plays a crucial role in the functionality of the internet. The IP layer ensures the data
gets to the right place, the TCP layer ensures the data is correct and in order, and the
Application Protocol layer allows users to access and use the internet in a meaningful way.
Here are some networking trends:
 5G
This technology offers higher speeds, lower latency, and more capacity, which can be
used in many sectors, including healthcare, manufacturing, and transportation.
 Internet of Things (IoT)
The Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) market is growing as more industries use IoT
technology for smart manufacturing, healthcare, logistics, and more.
 Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML)
These technologies can analyze large amounts of data to identify patterns and
anomalies that indicate potential security threats.
 Network automation and AIOps
These technologies use AI to streamline network management and anticipate potential
disruptions.
 Edge computing
Deployments of edge computing are expected to increase as smart cities, industrial
IoT, and AI-powered capabilities develop.
 Software-defined wide-area networking (SD-WAN)
This technology uses broadband internet to provide access, and can lower operational
costs by up to 40%.
 Cybersecurity
As cyber threats become more sophisticated, cybersecurity will remain a top priority
for organizations.

Data transmission sends digital or analog data over a communication medium from one
device to another. This transfer occurs through wired (e.g., fiber cables, fiber optics) or wireless
(e.g., wifi, radio, infrared, satellite) channels and enables the sharing of information, such as
files, messages, or commands, between computers, servers, and other devices. Data transfer
can be synchronous or asynchronous, sending data as continuous streams or in packets. Key
factors influencing transmission include bandwidth, latency, and error rate, all affecting speed
and accuracy.

Data is transferred via network infrastructure that the hardware, software, and communication
protocols necessary for data transmission and communication within and between networks.
This infrastructure includes devices such as routers, switches, hubs, modems, access points, and
network cables, as well as protocols and standards like Ethernet, TCP/IP, and Wi-Fi.

Analog and digital transmissions are two ways to transmit information using
signals:
 Analog transmission
Uses analog signals to transmit information in a continuous function of time. Analog
signals are represented by sine waves and are better suited for transmitting audio and
video. However, analog signals are more susceptible to interference and electrical
noise, which can reduce their accuracy.
 Digital transmission
Uses digital signals to transmit information in a discrete function of time. Digital signals
are represented by binary code, which is made up of ones and zeros. Digital signals
are more reliable and resistant to noise than analog signals, and they are better suited
for computer and digital electronic processes.
Here are some other differences between analog and digital transmission:
 Bandwidth: Digital signals have a higher bandwidth than analog signals.
 Power consumption: Digital signals use less power than analog signals.
 Sound quality: Digital radios maintain consistent sound quality regardless of distance
from their maximum range, while analog radios decrease in signal quality as you get
closer to their maximum range.
 Storage: Computers use digital form to store information

Transmission Impairment in Data Communication

In communication system, analog signals travel through transmission media, which tends to
deteriorate the quality of analog signal, which means that the signal at the beginning of the
medium is not the same as the signal at the end of the medium. The imperfection causes signal
impairment.
Below are the causes of the impairment.
Causes of impairment –

Attenuation – It means loss of energy. The strength of signal decreases with increasing distance
which causes loss of energy in overcoming resistance of medium. This is also known as
attenuated signal. Amplifiers are used to amplify the attenuated signal which gives the original
signal back and compensate for this loss.
Attenuation is measured in decibels(dB). It measures the relative strengths of two signals or
one signal at two different point.
Attenuation(dB) = 10log10(P2/P1)
P1 is the power at sending end and P2 is the power at receiving end.
Some where the decibel is also define in terms of voltage instead of power. In this case because
power is proportional to the square of the voltage the formula is
Attenuation(dB) = 20log10(V2/V1)
V1 is the voltage at sending end and V2 is the voltage at receiving end.

Distortion – It means changes in the form or shape of the signal. This is generally seen in
composite signals made up with different frequencies. Each frequency component has its own
propagation speed travelling through a medium. And thats why it delay in arriving at the final
destination Every component arrive at different time which leads to distortion. Therefore, they
have different phases at receiver end from what they had at senders end.

Noise – The random or unwanted signal that mixes up with the original signal is called noise.
There are several types of noise such as induced noise, crosstalk noise, thermal noise and
impulse noise which may corrupt the signal.
Induced noise comes from sources such as motors and appliances. These devices act as sending
antenna and transmission medium act as receiving antenna. Thermal noise is movement of
electrons in wire which creates an extra signal. Crosstalk noise is when one wire affects the
other wire. Impulse noise is a signal with high energy that comes from lightning or power lines