Data Communications

1. Data communication refers to the transmission of data over a communicati

on medium such as telephone lines, coaxial cable, fiber optic cable or microwave
, from one computer to a user or from one computer to another for direct use or
for further processing. The process of transmitting data and information
2. Bandwidth – The volume of data that can be transmitted through the channel
each second. The types of Bandwidth are: narrow-band, voice-band and broadband,
depending on the volume of data that can be transmitted.
3. Transmission Directions - the transmission lines that carry the data are
classified according to the direction of data flow: SIMPLEX, HALF-DUPLEX or FUL
L-DUPLEX.
4. Transmission Media - This refers to the physical materials along which d
ata travels from one point to another. The media used is dependent on the dista
nce, speed and volume of data to be transmitted. For computers that are linked
by cables there are three choices; Twisted pairs, Coaxial cable and Fiber- optic
cables. For communication over long distances microwave and satellite transmis
sion are used.
Networks
5. A Local Area Network (LAN) is a collection of microcomputers connected w
ithin a small geographical area so that they can share information and periphera
ls and also communicate with each other.
6. LAN’s can be divided into two categories and this in accordance to the way
the computers communicate on the network: CLEINT/SERVER networks and PEER-TO-PE
ER networks.
7. The connection in a LAN can be through cables or wireless. Some typical
configuration topologies of LANs are: BUS, STAR and RING
8. A Wide Area Network (WAN) can connect computers and peripherals across a
large geographical area such as a city, a state or countries. Information is tr
ansmitted using special high-speed telephone lines, microwave links, satellite l
inks or a combination of all three.
The Internet
9. The Internet is a network of networks that connects computers across the
globe. To connect to the Internet you need a PERSONAL COMPUTER (PC) or WORKSTAT
ION, A MODEM and A COMMUNICATION LINK (Medium) such as a TELEPNONE LINE, CABLE o
r SATELLITE, and access to an INTERNET SERVICE PROVIDER (ISP).
10. Modem - A modem is a device that can convert digital signals into analog
and vice-versa. For example, a modem at one computer converts the digital sign
als produced by the computer to analog signals for transmission along a telephon
e line. The speed of a modem is measured in bits per second (bps).
a. The process of converting digital signal to analog signal is called modu
lation.
b. The process of converting analog signal to digital signal is called demo
dulation
11. A Standard phone modem is a hardware device that converts analogue signa
ls to digital signals and vice versa. Other types of modems that do not convert
analogue to digital signals are: ISDN (Integrated services digital network) mode
ms and ADSL (Asymmetric digital subscriber line) modems.
12. An ISP is a company that has a direct connection to the Internet and giv
es users access to it, usually for a fee.
13. Protocols - To ensure that transmissions are co-ordinate with minimal in
terference, protocols were developed. These are set of rules and procedures gov
erning the transmission and receiving of data.
14. To transfer data from one computer to the next, computers must follow a
set of rules called protocols. The protocol used over the Internet is TCP/IP (Tr
ansfer Control protocol/ Internet Protocol), which allows operating systems soft
ware from different computers to communicate. Each computer on the Internet has
a unique address called the IP address.
15. Internet Services - The four main types of services available on the Int
ernet are:
• Communication services, including e-mail and electronic discussion forums (maili
ng lists, newsgroups, chat rooms and bulletin boards)
• File Transfer Protocol (FTP) services which enable you to locate and use electro
nic files stored on computers across the Internet
• Terminal emulation services such as Telnet which enable you to use your computer
to connect to a remote host, as if your computer were a terminal of the host co
mputer.
• The World Wide Web (WWW)
Communication Services
16. COMMUNICATION SERVICES are ELETRONIC MAIL (E-MAIL), ELECTRONIC DISCUSSI
ON FORUMS, POINT-TO-POINT PROTOCOL (PPP), BROADCASTING, and NARROWCASTING
17. ELETRONIC MAIL (E-MAIL) – it enables users locally and world wide to send
electronic messages (text, sound, video and graphics) to one individual or to gr
oup of individuals, and to receive messages from others. A powerful feature of e
-mails is the option to send attachments. EMAIL ADDRESSSES – to be send and / or r
eceive e-mail, each user must have an e-mail address and an e-mail program such
as OUTLOOK EXPRESS or free e-mail services offered by web sites such as YAHOO!,
MSN, and EXCITE. E-MAIL ADDRESS FORMAT – Username@Domainname, For example brown@ts
tt.net.tt OR pettipoo@yahoo.com. MAIL SERVER – this is a computer on the Internet
that operates like the traditional post office. The mail server receives in comi
ng messages and delivers outgoing messages. It allocates a certain amount of sto
rage to mail for registered users. MAIL CLIENT – this is a program that enables yo
u to read and compose e-mail from the server.
18. ELECTRONIC DISCUSSION FORUMS are Mailing List, Newsgroups, Bulletin Boar
d system, Chats (Text-based chat, Internet Relay Chat (IRC), Instant messaging a
nd Multimedia chat) and Short Message Service (SMS).
19. A BULLETIN BOARD SYSTEM (BBS) is an Internet facility dedicated to the e
xchange of messages.
20. BROADCASTING refers to the distribution of information, programming or a
dvertising content to everyone on a network.
21. NARROWCASTING refers to the targeted distribution of information, progra
mming or advertising content to specific individuals or venues.
22. POINT-TO-POINT PROTOCOL (PPP) enables systems to dial into a local Inter
net Service Provider to connect securely to their corporate network through the
internet.
World Wide Web (WWW)
23. The WORLD WIDE WEB consists of hypertext and hypermedia documents. A HYP
ERTEXT DOCUMENT enables you to use hyperlinks to move from one document in a com
puter to another related document, either in the same computer or in another com
puter elsewhere.
24. HYPERTEXT TRANSFER PROTOCOL (HTTP) is a set of rules governing how data
travels between server and client computer on the Internet.
25. A WEB SITE consists of web pages built using specialised programming lan
guage such as HYPERTEXT MARKUP LANGUAGE (HTML). Each web page has a unique addre
ss called its UNIFORM RESOURCE LOCATOR (URL).
26. To find, retrieve, view and send HYPERTEXT and HYPERMEDIA DOCUMENTS over
the web, you need a BROWSER. BROWSERS also give you access to search engines su
ch as YAHOO!, GOOGLE and MSN, enabling you to find information quickly by typing
in keywords, a phrase or web site address.
27. WEBCAST is the delivery of live or delayed sound or video broadcast cond
ucted over the World Wide Web.
28. WEBINAR is the conducting of a seminar or lecture via the World Wide Web
.
29. An INTRANET provides many of the features of the Internet within a compa
ny or organization
30. An EXTRNET is similar to an intranet except that it allows limited acces
s to individuals outside the company or organizatio