PCS372: DATA COMMUNICATIONS MARKING SCHEAME

Q1. (a) Briefly explain Data Communication(5marks)

(b) State the importance of Data Communication(5marks)

Process of transferring digital information between two or more points

(WayneTomasi).Data generally are defined as information that is stored in digital
form. Information are knowledge or intelligence.
Or
Transmission of data between devices, using electronic, electrical or light signals.
between computers
between computers and peripherals
between other electronic devices
or
The transmission, reception, and processing of digital information (Wayne Tomasi).
Original source information can be human voice, alphanumeric characters stored in databases, or
other forms

(b)

Computers and peripherals need to communicate.

Computers need to communicate with other computers, such as in computer

networks.

Resources have to be shared

Different types of computers need to communicate

Other electronic equipment need to communicate with other electronic

equipment

Q2. Briefly explain the following terms:

a.
b.
c.
d.

Communication Link
Data communications network
Communications Medium
Data Communication Code

e. Bandwidth

F
Path for transmission of signals between communicating devices
G
Systems of interrelated computers and computer equipment that are interconnected to one
another, for the purpose of transmitting and / or receiving information.

H.
Transmission path between DCEs, or between DTE and another DTE
I.
Used to represent characters and symbols, Includes character codes, character sets, symbol
codes, character languages
J
Range of frequencies contained in a frequency spectrum
Equal to highest frequency minus the lowest frequency which could be used / transmitted
(2marks each)

Q3.
Electronic communication Systems can be of two basic types with four different
transmission modes, state and explain briefly the two basic types and the four transmission
modes.

Analog Communication System(1mark)

System in which signals are transmitted in analog form (a continuously
varying signal such as a sine wave)
Examples: AM and FM radio
Digital Communication System(1mark)
System in which signals are transmitted and received in digital form
(discrete levels such as on (+ voltage) and off (0 volts) pulses.
Example: T1 and E1 communication systems

Simplex(2marks)
Transmissions can occur only in one direction
Also called one-way-only, receive only, or transmit-only systems A
location may be a transmitter or receiver but not both.
Example: AM and FM radio

Half Duplex(2marks)
Transmissions can occur in both directions, but not at the same time
Also called two-way-alternate, either-way, or over-and-out systems
A location may be a transmitter and a receiver but not both at the
same time.
Example: two way radios that use push-to-talk (PTT) buttons to
activate their transmitters such as citizens-band and police-band
radios

Full Duplex(2marks)

Transmissions can occur in both directions at the same time.

Also called two-way-simultaneous, duplex, or both-way-lines.

A location can transmit and receive at the same time. However, the station it
is transmitting to must also be the station it is receiving from.

Example: standard telephone system

Full Full Duplex(2marks)

A station can transmit and receive simultaneously, but not necessarily to and
from the same station. One station can transmit to a second station, and
receive from a third station, at the same time.

Q4. Describe the following transmission modes with stated examples:

a. Serial Data Transmission(5marks)
b. Parallel Data Transmission(5marks)

Serial Data Transmission

Bits are transmitted one at a time (serial by bit)

One communication link is used for transmission

Slower compared to parallel data transmission

Less costly compared to parallel data transmission

Used for short or long distance communications

Example: Com 1 and Com 2 ports of PCs

Parallel Data Transmission

More than one bit are transmitted at the same time.

More than one communication link is used for transmission.

Faster compared to serial data transmission.

More costly compared to serial data transmission.

Used for short distance communications.

Example: parallel printer port (Centronics) of PCs

Q4. (a) Data communications errors can be generally classified into three categories, briefly
explain these categories.(2marks each)
(b) Error performance of a communication system can be expressed as :
(i) P(e) = 10 -4
(ii) BER = 10-6.
Name and explain the type of error value and briefly interpret the values.
(2marks each)

Ans:
Data communications errors can be generally classified as:
Single bit only one bit in data string is in error
Multiple bit two or more nonconsecutive bits within a given data string are in error.
Burst two or more consecutive bits within a data string are in error

(b)
expected value pertains to probability of error as expected in a system. Ex: P(e) 10 -4 means
1 bit is expected to be with error out of 10000 bits transmitted
empirical value pertains to actual error performance of a system which is called bit error
rate (BER). Ex.: If 1 bit has an error out of 1 million bits transmitted, then BER is equal to 10 6.

Q6 . (a) Briefly explain synchronous data transmission mode.

(B) Explain error control

(a)
Uses serial data transmission.
Does not use start and stop bits.
Usually uses start and ending flags.
Receiver clock is synchronized with transmitter clock.
Usually, more than one character is transmitted in one packet.
Relatively fast if a lot of data are to be transmitted continuously.
Synchronous Data Transmission Protocols

Bisync (Binary Synchronous)

developed by IBM

Uses half duplex error control procedures

SDLC (Synchronous Data Link Control)

developed by IBM

Uses full duplex error control procedures

relatively faster compared to Bisync

HDLC (High Level Data Link Control)

(6marks)
(B)
Error control can be divided into two general categories which are:
Error detection - process of monitoring data and determining when transmission errors have
occurred.(2marks)
Error correction - Process of correcting the errors which occurred during the transmission
of data.(2marks)