KABARAK UNIVERSITY
SCHOOL OF COMPUTER SCIENCE AND BIOINFORMATICS
P.O Private Bag – 20157, KABARAK, KENYA
Course code: INTE 122, Course Name: Data communication,
credit Hour: 3
COURSE OUTLINE
Lecturer; John Chebor
Cell phone; 0721416894
Email; [email protected]
Course description
Purpose of the course
This course aims to impart an in-depth knowledge of the fundamental techniques involved in
computer-to-computer and computer-mediated communications in a networked environment.
Expected Learning outcomes
1. Explain the characteristics of communication and networking.
2. Analyze signal communication, coding, switching, transmission and error detection and
correction techniques
3. Make appropriate judgments regarding the application of data communication techniques.
Learning approaches
E.g Lectures, discussions in class and groups, short presentations, individual exercises and structured
activities.
Course Outline
Weeks Detailed course content
Week 1 1. Introduction to Networking
Networks
Types of Networks
Classification of Networks
Week 2 2. Signal Transmission
Analog Signals
Digital Signal
Week 3 3. Signal Transmission
Transmission Impairments
Maximum Data Rate of a Channel
Week 4 Cat 1
Week 5 4. Signal Encoding Schemes
Unipolar Encoding Schemes
Polar Encoding Schemes
Bipolar Encoding Schemes
Week 6 5. Signal Modulation Schemes
Amplitude Shift Keying
Frequency Shift Keying
Phase Shift Keying
Week 7 6. Transmission Modes
Parallel and Serial Transmission Mode
Asynchronous Transmission Mode
Synchronous Transmission Mode
Isochronous Transmission Mode
Week 8 7. Switching Modes
Packet Switching Mode
Circuit Switching Mode
Message Switching Mode
Week 9 Cat 2
Week 10 8. Multiplexing
Communication Modes
Frequency Division Multiplexing
Week 11 9. Multiplexing
Time Division Multiplexing
Wavelength Division Multiplexing
Code Division Multiplexing
Week 12 10. Error Detection and Correction
Signal Errors
Error Detection Methods
Error Correction Methods
Week 13 Revision
Week 14 Revision
Week 15 Exams
1 Course assessment
Continuous assessment tests (CATS) 30
Final examination 70
Total 100
Core Reading Texts
1. Forouzan, B. A. (2007) Data Communications and Networking (4th Ed), McGraw-Hill
2. Tanenbaum, A.S., (1996) Computer Networks, 3rd Ed., Prentice Hall, New Jersey
3. William Shay, (2004) Understanding Communications and Networks, 3rd ed. Thomson-
Brooks
E Books
1. Kurose, J.K. and Ross K.W. (2006). Computer Networking: A Top_down Approach Featuring the
Internet. 3rd ed. Addison Wesley.
Other reading texts.
1. Halsall, F. (1995) Data Communications, Computer Networks and Open Systems, 4th Ed.,
Addison Wesley, New York.
Lesson 1: Introduction to Data Communication
Sub topics
1. Data Communication Systems
2. Types and Categories of Networks
3. Benefits and Drawbacks of Networks
Objectives
1. To describe the various types of networks
2. To explain the need for networking
Lesson 2: Signal Transmission
Subtopics:
1. Analog and Digital Signals
2. Signal Transmission impairments
3. Maximum Data Rate of a channel
Objectives
1. To describe analog and digital signals
2. To compare and contrast analog and digital signals
3. Identify and explain signal transmission impairments
4. Evaluate the impact of noise and signal levels on signal transmission
Lesson 3: Signal Encoding Techniques
Subtopics:
1. Unipolar Encoding Schemes
2. Polar Encoding Schemes
3. Bipolar Encoding Schemes
Objectives
1. To describe unipolar, polar and bipolar signal encoding schemes
2. To compare and contrast unipolar, polar and bipolar signal encoding schemes
3. To draw the graphical representation of unipolar, polar and bipolar signal
encoding schemes
Lesson 4: Signal Modulation Techniques
Subtopics:
1. Amplitude Shift Keying
2. Frequency Shift Keying
3. Phase Shift Keying
Objectives
1. To describe amplitude, frequency and phase modulation shift keying techniques
2. To compare and contrast amplitude, frequency and phase modulation shift keying
techniques
3. To draw the graphical representation of amplitude, frequency and phase
modulation shift keying techniques
Lesson 5: Transmission Modes
Subtopics:
1. Parallel and Serial Transmission Mode
2. Asynchronous Transmission Mode
3. Synchronous Transmission Mode
4. Isochronous Transmission Mode
Objectives
1. To describe parallel and serial modes of transmission and packet, circuit and
message switching techniques
2. To describe synchronous, asynchronous and isochronous modes of serial
transmission
3. To compare and contrast parallel and serial and synchronous, asynchronous and
isochronous modes of signal transmission and packet, circuit and message
switching techniques
4. To determine the applicability of each of the parallel and serial and synchronous,
asynchronous and isochronous modes of signal transmission and packet, circuit
and message switching techniques
Lesson 6: Switching Methods
Subtopics:
1. Packet Switching
2. Circuit Switching
3. Message Switching
Objectives
5. To describe packet, circuit and message switching techniques
6. To compare and contrast packet, circuit and message switching techniques
7. To determine the applicability of each of the packet, circuit and message
switching techniques
8. To establish the factors that affect signal transmission
Lesson 7: Multiplexing: Sharing of the Medium
Subtopics:
1. Communication modes
2. Frequency Division Multiplexing (FDM)
3. Time Division Multiplexing(TDM)
4. Wavelength Division Multiplexing (WDM)
5. Code Division Multiplexing (CDM)
Objectives
1. To contextualize multiplexing in as far as communication modes are concerned
2. To describe frequency, time, wavelength and code division multiplexing
techniques
3. To compare and contrast frequency, time, wavelength and code division
multiplexing techniques
4. To determine the applicability of each of the frequency, time, wavelength and
code division multiplexing techniques
Lesson 8: Error Detection and Correction
Subtopics:
1. Causes of Errors in Data Transmission
2. Types of Signal Errors
3. Error Detection Methods
4. Error Correction Methods
Objectives
1. Identify and explain causes of errors in data transmission
2. Describe single-bit and bust errors, parity, cyclic redundancy and block checksum
error detection methods and hamming code correction methods
3. To determine the process of generating parity, cyclic redundancy and block
checksums methods of error detection
4. Analyze the performance of parity, cyclic redundancy and block checksums
methods of error detection
