Data communications

- refers to the transmission of this digital data between two or

more computers.

-It is the process of using computing and communication

technologies to transfer data from one place to another, and vice
versa. It enables the movement of electronic or digital data
between two or more nodes, regardless of geographical location,
technological medium or data contents.
Computer Network or data network is a telecommunications
network that allows computers to exchange data. The physical
connection between networked computing devices is established
using either cable media or wireless media. The best-known
computer network is the Internet.
Communication channel or simply channel refers either to a
physical transmission medium such as a wire, or to a logical connection over
a multiplexed medium such as a radio channel
in telecommunications and computer networking. A channel is used
to convey an information signal, for example a digital bit stream, from one
or several senders (or transmitters) to one or several receivers. A channel has
a certain capacity for transmitting information, often measured by
its bandwidth in Hz or its data rate in bits per second.
 Three Types of Communication Channel

1) Simplex
A simplex communication channel only sends information in one
direction. For example, a radio station usually sends signals to the
audience but never receives signals from them, thus a radio station is
a simplex channel. It is also common to use simplex channel in fiber
optic communication. One strand is used for transmitting signals and
the other is for receiving signals. But this might not be obvious
because the pair of fiber strands are often combined to one cable.
The good part of simplex mode is that its entire bandwidth can be
used during the transmission.
2. Half duplex

In half duplex mode, data can be transmitted in both directions on a

signal carrier except not at the same time. At a certain point, it is
actually a simplex channel whose transmission direction can be
switched. Walkie-talkie is a typical half duplex device. It has a
“push-to-talk” button which can be used to turn on the transmitter
but turn off the receiver. Therefore, once you push the button, you
cannot hear the person you are talking to but your partner can hear
you. An advantage of half-duplex is that the single track is cheaper
than the double tracks.
3) Full duplex
A full duplex communication channel is able to transmit data in
both directions on a signal carrier at the same time. It is
constructed as a pair of simplex links that allows bidirectional
simultaneous transmission. Take telephone as an example, people
at both ends of a call can speak and be heard by each other at the
same time because there are two communication paths between
them. Thus, using the full duplex mode can greatly increase the
efficiency of communication.
The protocols for serial data transfer can be grouped into two
types: synchronous and asynchronous.

Synchronous means working together at the same time, and in the

online learning world, chat rooms and online conferences are good
examples of synchronous communication. In a chat room, people's
comments to each other are relayed immediately, enabling a real-
time discourse. Similarly, online conferencing with the benefit of
voice over Internet protocol (VOIP) tools enable real-time
conversations to take place online.
The term asynchronous is usually used to describe
communications in which data can be transmitted intermittently
rather than in a steady stream. For example, a telephone
conversation is asynchronous because both parties can talk
whenever they like.
A network is defined as a group of two or more computer systems
linked together. There are many types of computer networks,
including the following:
local-area networks (LANs): The computers are geographically
close together (that is, in the same building).

wide-area networks (WANs): The computers are farther apart

and are connected by telephone lines or radio waves.

metropolitan-area networks MANs): A data network designed

for a town or city.
campus-area networks (CANs): The computers are within a
limited geographic area, such as a campus or military base.

home-area networks (HANs): A network contained

within a user's home that connects a person's digital
devices.
Types of Topologies