Computer Network:

A computer network is a system of interconnected computers and peripheral devices. It is the association or interconnection among different computers in order to share the several resources like files, data, information, storage medias, printers etc.

Communication:
Communication is the term about the transfer of information from a sender, across a distance, to a receiver. Communication is an act of transmitting messages.

Computer Network Communication:

We transfer data or information by using two types of signal, namely analog and digital. The older forms of communication technology, like telephone or radio, use analog signal. The computer uses digital signal.

Types of Network according to Geographical area covered:

There are mainly three types of computer network, namely LAN (Local area network), MAN (Metropolitan area network) and WAN (Wide area network).

Local Area Network (LAN):

LAN is the smallest network. The simplest form of the network is the network connection between two computers. In LAN few computers are interconnected. It is operated within a smallest physical area, such as home, school, office, single building or few buildings.

Metropolitan Area Network (MAN):

Metropolitan term is related to the large cities, like New York, Mumbai or Kathmandu or any particular developed area. MAN is located at different sites within a particular area, such as city. Companies that have several branches within a certain area, use MAN to establish connection, like different branches of Bank in any particular geographical area. Setting up a MAN across long distance can be connected using wireless (like radio wave frequencies) or wired (fiber optic cable). MAN is the collection of several LANs. MAN is used to share regional resources and speed is slower than LAN but higher than WAN.

Wide Area Network (WAN):

It is the largest network of all network types. Internet is an example and this is the largest network in the world. WAN generally covers large area such as countries, continents or the whole world. WAN is the group of LANs, MANs or combining both.

Network Architectures:
Network architecture is the overall design of the computer network that describes how a computer network is configured and what strategies are being used. The architecture mainly focuses on the functions of the networks. The network architecture is also known as network model and network design. The major two types of computer network architecture are: Client/Server and Peer-to-peer architectures.

Client/Server Network (Architecture):

A client/server network is a computer network in which the shared files and applications are stored in the main computer (known as server) but network users (clients) can still store files on their individual computers. A server is a computer that shares information and resources with other computers on a network. A client is a computer that request services or files from a server computer.

Peer-to-Peer (P2P) Network:

It is a computer network with all nodes (points, stations) acting as both servers and clients. A computer can access files located on another computer and can also provide files to other computers in P2P network. All computers on peer-to-peer network have equal responsibilities and capabilities to use the resources available in the network. With peer-topeer network, no server is needed. Each computer in the network is called a peer.

Modulation Techniques
Modulation techniques are methods that are used to encode digital information in an analog world. The 3 basic modulation techniques are as follows: o AM (amplitude modulation)

o o

FM (frequency modulation) PM (phase modulation)

All 3 modulation techniques employ a carrier signal. A carrier signal is a single frequency that is used to carry the intelligence (data). For digital, the intelligence is either a 1 or 0. When we modulate the carrier, we are changing its characteristics to correspond to either a 1 or 0. AM - Amplitude Modulation Amplitude Modulation modifies the amplitude of the carrier to represent 1s or 0s.In the above example, a 1 is represented by the presence of the carrier for a predefined period of 3 cycles of carrier. Absence--or no carrier--indicates a 0. Advantages: Simple to design. Disadvantages: Noise spikes on transmission medium interfere with the carrier signal. Loss of connection is read as 0s. FM - Frequency Modulation Frequency Modulation modifies the frequency of the carrier to represent the 1s or 0s. In the above example, a 0 is represented by the original carrier frequency, and a 1 by a much higher frequency (the cycles are spaced closer together). Advantages: Immunity to noise on transmission medium. Always a signal present. Loss of signal easily detected Disadvantages: Requires 2 frequencies Detection circuit needs to recognize both frequencies when signal is lost. PM - Phase Modulation Phase Modulation modifies the phase of the carrier to represent a 1 or 0. The carrier phase is switched at every occurrence of a 1 bit, but remains unaffected for a 0 bit. The phase of the signal is measured relative to the phase of the preceding bit. The bits are timed to coincide with a specific number of carrier cycles (3 in this example = 1 bit). Advantage: Only 1 frequency used Easy to detect loss of carrier Disadvantages: Complex circuitry that is required to generate and detect phase changes.