Define the various components of data communication?
Answers
Answer:
There are five elements of a data communication system:-
- Message
- Sender
- Receiver
- Medium (Communication Channel)
- Encoder & Decoder
Message:
The message is the information or data that is communicated. It may consist of text, numbers, images, sound, video etc.
Sender:
The computer or device that sends the data or messages is called sender. In data communication system, computer is usually used as a transmitter. It is also called sender. A sender may be computer, workstation, telephone, video camera etc.
Receiver:
The device that receives the data or messages is called receiver. Receiver is also known as sink. The receiver can be a computer, workstation, printer or a fax machine.
Medium (Communication Channel):
The path through which data is sent or transmitted from one location to another is called communication channel. If the receiver and the sender are within a building, a wire may be the communication channel. If they are located at different locations, the channel may be the telephone lines, fibre optics, satellite or microwaves.
Encoder:
The computer works with digital signals. The communication channels usually use analog signals. Therefore, to send data through a communication channel, the digital signals are encoded (or converted) into analog signals or into a form which can be transmitted through transmission medium. This is called encoding. The device that carries out this function is called encoder.
Decoder:
The computer works with digital signals. The communication channels usually use analog signals. Therefore, to receive data from a communication channel, the coded analog signals or any other encoded form are converted back to digital signals. This is called decoding. The device that carries out this function is called decoder.