Chapter 1: Introduction

Er.Hom Nath Tiwari

Pashchimanchal Campus,
Lamachaur, Pokhara
[email protected]
Department of Electronics and Computer Engineering

1
Course structure
Analog Data Communication
Attributes of Communication
Data Representation
Data Flows
The Evolution of Data Communication
1. Early Forms of Communication
• The history of data communication dates back to ancient times when humans
devised various means to convey information. Early civilizations used smoke
signals, drumbeats, and visual symbols to communicate over long distances. The
invention of writing systems, such as cuneiform and hieroglyphics, enabled the
transmission of data through written records.
2. The Telegraph
• The 19th century marked a significant breakthrough with the invention of the
electric telegraph by Samuel Morse and Alfred Vail. The telegraph revolutionized
communication by enabling the transmission of coded messages over long
distances through electrical signals. Morse code, a system of dots and dashes,
represented letters and numbers, facilitating rapid communication.
3. The Telephone
• The late 19th century witnessed the birth of the telephone, a device that
transformed data communication by allowing voice transmission. Alexander
Graham Bell’s invention ushered in a new era of real-time communication,
enabling people to converse over long distances. Initially, telephones relied on
analog signals carried over copper wires.
4. The Rise of Radio
• The early 20th century saw the emergence of wireless communication with the
invention of radio. Pioneers like Guglielmo Marconi developed methods to
transmit and receive radio waves, enabling long-distance communication without
physical wires. Radio broadcasting gained popularity, becoming a primary
medium for disseminating information and entertainment.
5. The Internet and Packet Switching
• The birth of the internet in the late 20th century revolutionized data
communication on a global scale. The concept of packet switching, developed by
Paul Baran and Leonard Kleinrock, allowed data to be broken into small packets
and routed independently across a network. This decentralized approach
increased the efficiency and robustness of data transmission.
6. ARPANET and the Birth of the Internet
• In the 1960s, the Advanced Research Projects Agency Network (ARPANET) was
established by the U.S. Department of Defense, connecting computers at various
research institutions. ARPANET laid the foundation for the internet by
implementing key protocols like TCP/IP, ensuring reliable data transfer between
different networks.
7. Commercialization and the World Wide Web
• The 1990s witnessed the commercialization of the internet and the advent of the
World Wide Web (WWW) by Sir Tim Berners-Lee. The WWW introduced a user-
friendly interface for accessing and sharing information globally. Web browsers
like Mosaic and later Netscape Navigator made the internet more accessible to
the general public.
8. Broadband and Mobile Communication
• The early 21st century witnessed the proliferation of broadband internet
connections, offering higher speeds and increased data capacity. This enabled
seamless streaming, file sharing, and online collaboration. Mobile communication
also advanced rapidly, with the introduction of smartphones and wireless
networks like 3G, 4G, and eventually 5G, providing ubiquitous access to data
services.
9. Cloud Computing and Big Data
• The development of cloud computing technologies in the 2000s revolutionized
data storage and processing. Cloud platforms like Amazon Web Services (AWS)
and Microsoft Azure offered scalable and on-demand computing resources,
enabling businesses and individuals to store and access vast amounts of data
remotely.
10. The Internet of Things (IoT) and Data Security
• The proliferation of internet-connected devices in the 21st century gave rise to
the Internet of Things (IoT), where everyday objects could communicate and
exchange data. However, this connectivity also brought new challenges, such as
data security and privacy concerns. The development of encryption algorithms
and security protocols aimed to safeguard sensitive information.
 Communication Model
• In Analog communication the data is transferred with the help of analog signal in between transmitter
and receiver. Any type of data is transferred in analog signal. Any data is converted into electric form
first and after that it is passed through communication channel. Analog communication uses a
continuous signal which varies in amplitude, phase, or some other property with time in proportion to
that of a variable.
• Advantages of Analog Signals
• It is Easier in processing.
• Analog Signals are best fitted to audio and video transmission.
• It has a coffee cost and is portable.
• It posses higher density.
• Disadvantages of Analog Signals
• Analog tends to possess a lower quality signal than digital.
• The cables are sensitive to external influences.
• Analog wire is expensive and not easily portable.
Noise
Digital Communication
• In Digital communication digital signal is used rather than analog signal for communication in
between the source and destination. The digital signal consists of discrete values rather than
continuous values. In digital communication physical transfer of data occurs in the form of digital
bit stream i.e 0 or 1 over a point-to-point or point-to-multipoint transmission medium. In digital
communication the digital transmission data can be broken into packets as discrete messages
which is not allowed in analog communication.
• Advantages of Digital Communication
• The speed of data transmission is quite high therefore, message transfer occurs almost instantly.
• The process of digital communication is quite efficient because speed and accuracy are always
maintained in this system.
• The wireless nature of digital communication can be used to establish connections globally
without major geographical constraints.
• Disadvantages of Digital Communication
• Digital Communication lacks a personal touch due to a lack of proper interaction between users at
both the ends of channel.
• With an increase in network coverage, the complexity of digital communication systems increases
and therefore, implementation of such circuits is difficult.
Digital Communication Model

Noise
Data Communication and Its Model
Networks
2. Metropolitan Network(MAN)
Simplified Network Architecture
Peer to peer Network
Data Communication and Networking for Today’s Enterprise
In the modern digital enterprise, data communication and networking are foundational
to almost every operation. Here’s a comprehensive overview tailored for today’s
enterprise environment:
a. Data Communication
Definition: The exchange of data between devices via transmission media.
Components: Sender, receiver, message, transmission medium (wired/wireless),
protocol.
b. Networking
Definition: The interconnection of computers and other devices to share resources and
information.
Types: LAN, WAN, MAN, WLAN, PAN, CAN.
Topologies: Star, Mesh, Bus, Ring, Hybrid.
2. Enterprise Networking Architecture

a. Traditional vs Modern Networking

Modern Enterprise
Feature Traditional Network Network
Architecture Static, hardware-centric Software-defined, scalable
Management Manual Automated, AI/ML-driven
Security Perimeter-focused Zero Trust, end-to-end
Infrastructure On-premises Cloud-native and hybrid
b. Key Components
• Core Network: High-speed backbone connecting enterprise segments.
• Access Network: Connects end-user devices.
• Data Center Network: Connects servers and storage for computing services.
• Edge Network: IoT and remote offices.

3. Technologies in Use
a. Wired & Wireless Technologies
Ethernet (1G/10G/100G)
Wi-Fi 6/6E and upcoming Wi-Fi 7
5G & Private LTE
b. Protocols and Standards
• TCP/IP, HTTP/S, FTP, SMTP, DNS
• BGP, OSPF, MPLS for routing
• 802.1X, 802.11 for wireless
c. Cloud Networking
• Hybrid Cloud & Multi-cloud
• Virtual Private Cloud (VPC)
• Cloud-based firewalls & load balancers
d. SDN & NFV
• Software-Defined Networking (SDN): Centralized control plane for
programmability.
• Network Functions Virtualization (NFV): Virtualizing network services like
firewalls, routers.
4. Security in Enterprise Networks
• Zero Trust Architecture (ZTA)
• Network Access Control (NAC)
• Firewall (NGFW), IDS/IPS
• VPN, SSL/TLS
• SIEM/SOAR platforms
• Segmentation and microsegmentation

5. Trends and Innovations

• AI-Driven Network Management
• Intent-Based Networking (IBN)
• Edge Computing & IoT Integration
• SASE (Secure Access Service Edge)
• Quantum-Safe Networking (emerging)
6. Challenges
• Cybersecurity threats
• Complexity of hybrid environments
• Latency and bandwidth constraints
• Compliance and data privacy regulations

7. Best Practices for Enterprises

• Adopt a layered security model.
• Implement robust network monitoring tools.
• Leverage automation for provisioning and management.
• Ensure scalability and redundancy.
• Regularly update and patch systems.
Thank you