1. Computer Networks
Lecture # 6
Course Title: Computer Networks
Instructor: Tahira Malik (Lecturer)
Email Address: tahira@uosahiwal.edu.pk
Department of Computer Science
Term (Semester): Fall 2020
1

2. 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 parties creating and
using the data. Data communications are the exchange of
data between two devices via some form of transmission
medium such as a wire cable.
Components
Data Representations
Data Flow
Topics discussed in this section:

3. Components of Data Communication
• Message
• Sender
• Receiver
• Transmission Medium
• Protocol

4. Figure Five components of data communication

5. Data Representations
• Text
• Numbers
• Images
• Audio
• Video

6. Data Flow
• Simplex:
• Half Duplex
• Full Duplex

7. Types of Connection
• Point to Point:
It provides a dedicated link between two devices. The
entire capacity of link is reserved for transmission between those
two devices. Most point to point connections use an actual
length of wire or cable to connects the two ends.
• Multipoint :
it is one in which more than two specific devices share the
single link.

8. Figure Types of connections: point-to-point and multipoint

9. Figure Categories of topology

10. Figure A fully connected mesh topology (five devices)

11. Figure A star topology connecting four stations

12. Figure A bus topology connecting three stations

13. Figure A ring topology connecting six stations

14. Figure A hybrid topology: a star backbone with three bus networks

15. Network Topologies
• Topology
– Logical layout of wires and equipment
– Choice affects
• Network performance
• Network size
• Network collision detection
– Several different types

16. Network Topologies
• Packets
– Pieces of data transmitted over a network
• Packets are created by sending node
• Data is reassembled by receiving node
– Packet header
• Sending and receiving address
– Packet payload
• Number and size of data
• Actual data
– Packet error control

17. Network Topologies
• Bus topology
– Also called linear bus
– One wire connects all nodes
– Terminator ends the wires
– Advantages
• Easy to setup
• Small amount of wire
– Disadvantages
• Slow
• Easy to crash

18. Network Topologies
• Star topology
– All nodes connect to a hub
• Packets sent to hub
• Hub sends packet to destination
– Advantages
• Easy to setup
• One cable can not crash network
– Disadvantages
• One hub crashing downs entire network
• Uses lots of cable
– Most common topology

19. Network Topologies
• Ring topology
– Nodes connected in a circle
– Tokens used to transmit data
• Nodes must wait for token to send
– Advantages
• Time to send data is known
• No data collisions
– Disadvantages
• Slow
• Lots of cable

20. Network Topologies
• Mesh topology
– All computers connected together
– Internet is a mesh network
– Advantage
• Data will always be delivered
– Disadvantages
• Lots of cable
• Hard to setup