Chapter 2: Data Transmission
Data Transmission
- Data transmission is the movement of data as bits between devices. This can happen through
cables like copper wire, optical fiber, or wirelessly.
- Key things to consider:
- How data is sent.
- How to detect and fix errors.
- Using encryption to keep data safe.
Transmission of Data
- Data is sent in small parts called packets.
- Packets are easier to manage than sending a huge file in one go.
- Advantage: If a path is busy or broken, packets can take other routes.
- Disadvantage: Packets must be reassembled at the end.
Data Packet Structure
- Header: Contains sender and receiver IPs, packet number, and size.
- Payload: The actual data (about 64 KiB).
- Trailer: Marks end of packet and includes error check (using CRC).
Packet Switching
- Packets take different paths based on router decisions.
- Sometimes packets arrive out of order and need rearranging.
- Benefits:
- No need to reserve a whole line.
- Can handle busy/faulty routes.
- Easy to expand and high speed.
- Drawbacks:
- Packets can be lost.
- Delay while reordering.
- Problems with live streaming.
Hopping
- Prevents packets from getting stuck by using a hop number that decreases at each router.
- If it hits zero, the packet is deleted and must be resent.
Data Transmission Modes
- Simplex: One-way only (e.g., keyboard to computer).
- Half-Duplex: Two-way but one at a time (e.g., walkie-talkie).
- Full-Duplex: Both ways at the same time (e.g., phone calls).
Serial vs. Parallel Transmission
- Serial: Sends one bit at a time (simple, cheap, but slow). Used in USBs and long distances.
- Parallel: Sends multiple bits at once (fast but can get messy over distance). Used inside computers
and for printers.
USB (Universal Serial Bus)
- Standard port for connecting devices.
- Supports both half and full-duplex.
- Advantages: Auto-detects devices, standard, fast.
- Disadvantages: Limited to 5 meters, older versions are slower, and even new versions are slower
than Ethernet.
- USB-C: New version with faster speeds, more power, and reversible connector.
Error Detection Methods
- Important because data can get corrupted by interference or lost packets.
Parity Check
- Adds an extra bit (parity bit) to check for errors.
- Uses even or odd parity rules.
- Drawback: Might miss errors if two bits get swapped.
Parity Block
- Checks both rows and columns in a block of data.
- Can detect and locate a single error.
Checksum
- Sends data with a calculated total (checksum).
- Receiver recalculates and compares to check for errors.
Echo Check
- Data is sent and then echoed back.
- Sender compares both copies.
- Drawback: Extra data sent and can't tell where the error occurred.
Check Digit
- Extra digit in codes (e.g., barcodes, ISBNs) to check correctness.
- Detects common mistakes like wrong numbers or swapped digits.
- Uses algorithms like modulo 11.
Automatic Repeat reQuest (ARQ)
- Uses acknowledgments (ACKs) and timeouts.
- If no ACK is received, data is resent.
- Used in mobile networks.
Encryption
- Protects data from hackers by turning it into unreadable form.
- Even if data is intercepted, encryption makes it useless without the key.
Types of Encryption
- Symmetric Encryption: Uses the same key to encrypt and decrypt.
- Problem: Key needs to be shared, which can be risky.
- Asymmetric Encryption: Uses two keys: Public (shared) and Private (secret).
- Sender uses the receiver's public key to encrypt.
- Receiver uses their private key to decrypt.
- Safer because private key is never shared.
- Used in banks and secure websites.
Key Terms
- Packet Switching: Breaks message into packets that take different paths.
- Router: Decides packet paths.
- Simplex/Half-Duplex/Full-Duplex: Types of data direction.
- Serial/Parallel: Ways to send data (bit by bit vs. many bits at once).
- Error Checks: Parity, checksum, echo, check digit, ARQ.
- Encryption: Turns data into secret code (Symmetric/Asymmetric).
