Introduction to Data Communications:
In Data Communications, data generally are defined as information that is stored in digital form. Data communications is the process of transferring digital information between two or more points. Information is defined as the knowledge or intelligence. Data communications can be summarized as the transmission, reception, and processing of digital information. For data communications to occur, the communicating devices must be part of a communication system made up of a combination of hardware (physical equipment) and software (programs). The effectiveness of a data communications system depends on four fundamental characteristics: delivery, accuracy, timeliness, and jitter.
A data communications system has five components:
1. Message: The message is the information (data) to be communicated. Popular forms of information include text, numbers, pictures, audio, and video.
2. Sender: The sender is the device that sends the data message. It can be a computer, workstation, telephone handset, video camera, and so on.
3. Receiver: The receiver is the device that receives the message. It can be a computer, workstation, telephone handset, television, and so on.
4. Transmission medium: The transmission medium is the physical path by which a message travels from sender to receiver. Some examples of transmission media include twisted-pair wire, coaxial cable, fiber-optic cable, and radio waves.
5. Protocol: A protocol is a set of rules that govern data communications. It represents an agreement between the communicating devices.
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