Teach Computer
Science
Data transmission
technologies
3
Lesson Objectives
Students will learn about:
Various data transmission technologies and factors that
affect them
USB technologies
Error checking methods in detail
1.
Content
5
Introduction
▪ Data transmission technologies allow users to transmit
data from one point to another.
▪ Data transmission can be over short distances, for
example, from a CPU to a monitor for displaying
information.
▪ Data is also transmitted over long distances, for example,
from a satellite back to Earth.
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For error-free transmission of data, three factors are to be
considered.
7
Classification of
transmission
Factor Classification of transmission
Simplex, half-duplex and full-duplex
Direction
transmission
Method of transmission Serial and parallel transmission
Asynchronous and synchronous
Method of synchronization
transmission
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Simplex, half-duplex and full-
duplex transmission
Simplex transmission Half-duplex Full-duplex transmissions
Data is transferred in one transmissions Data can be transferred in
direction only. Data can be transferred both directions
For example, data is sent in both directions but simultaneously.
from a CPU to a monitor, one at a time. For example, mobile phone
broadcasting radio For example, a walkie- communication in which
programmes, etc. talkie. both parties can send and
hear at the same time.
9
Simplex,
half-duplex
and full-
duplex
transmission
10
Serial and parallel data
transmission
Serial data Parallel data
transmission transmission
In serial data In parallel data transmission,
transmission, one bit is several bits are sent at a
sent at a time over a time over multiple channels.
single channel. For each bit, one channel is
used at a point of time.
Serial data transmission 11
▪ Well-suited for long-distance
communication but the speed of
the transmission is lower, as only
one channel is used.
▪ There is no need for data
synchronization as the bits are
sent in a single stream.
▪ USB (Universal Serial Bus) is a
common example of serial data
transmission. Data to and from the
computer is transferred to flash
drives using USB technology.
12
Parallel data
transmission
▪ Parallel transmission is faster than
serial transmission, as multiple
channels are used.
▪ Used in the transfer of data between
the internal components of a
computer because of high data-
transfer speed.
▪ 8-bit, 16-bit, 32-bit and 64-bit data
buses are used.
▪ An internal timer synchronizes the
data in the different channels.
▪ Eg: printer connection to a
computer using a ribbon connector
Asynchronous and 13
Synchronous data
transmission
Synchronous data transmissions
Asynchronous data transmissions
A synchronous data transmission
In asynchronous data transmissions,
sends data as a stream of bits.
the data is sent in groups in an
agreed bit pattern. The data also contains timing signals
that are generated by an internal
Bits are combined with a start and
clock.
stop bit.
14
Asynchronous data
transmissions
▪ The grouped data starts with a control bit called a start bit.
▪ The grouped data ends with a control bit called a stop bit.
▪ USB data transmission is an example of this data transmission.
Start Stop
1 0 1 1 1 0 1 0 1 1 1 1 0 1 0 0
bit bit
▪ A receiver is notified about the control bits prior to the
transmission.
▪ Once the grouped bits are received, using the control bits, it can
separate the data.
15
Synchronous data
transmissions
▪ The sender and receiver are synchronized with each other using
timing signals.
▪ Timing signals play an important role as there are no control bits.
▪ The receiver counts the number of bits received and converts
them into bytes.
▪ This method is faster when compared to asynchronous
transmission.
▪ This type of transmission is widely used in network
communications.
16
Universal Serial Bus
▪ Universal Serial Bus (USB)
implements the asynchronous data
transmission method.
▪ This establishes the industrial
standards for cables, connectors
and transmission protocol between
computers and their peripherals.
17
Universal Serial Bus
▪ A USB device has four pins.
▪ Two pins are responsible for connecting wires, which carry the
power and ground connection.
▪ The two other pins connect the wires that transmit data.
▪ Hence, the cable used to connect two USB ports is a four-wire
shielded cable.
18
Connecting an USB device to
computer
The
The speed, The
computer
The device is type and computer
prompts the
detected by the configuratio loads the
user to
computer due to n of the appropriate
install the
the small change device are driver to
required
in voltage in the determined communicat
driver if the
data lines. by e with the
driver is not
computer. device
available.
19
Benefits of USB data
transmission
▪ Once the device is plugged in, the device drivers are installed
automatically. A USB interface is self-configuring.
▪ The connectors can be connected in a particular manner only. This
property makes sure that user does not connect it in an incorrect
manner.
▪ Several data transmission rates are supported.
▪ Newer USB connectors are compatible with the older USB
standards.
▪ USB connectors are widely used for charging the batteries of
portable devices.
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Error-checking methods
▪ When data is transmitted through a channel, it could get
corrupted or changed.
▪ Hence, it’s very important to implement error-checking methods
in computer technology.
▪ These methods are used to detect and correct errors.
▪ Methods discussed are:
Parity checking
Automatic Repeat Request (ARQ)
Checksum
Echo check
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Parity checking
▪ Parity checking uses a parity bit in each byte of data. This bit is
allocated before transmission.
▪ An even parity has an even number of bit 1s in a byte. An odd
parity has an odd number of bit 1s in a byte.
▪ Systems may use even or odd parity.
▪ The sender and receiver make an agreement prior to the
transmission about the type of parity.
22
Parity checking: Example
1
▪ In this data, there are 5 bits of 1.
Even parity 1
1 0 1 0 1 1 1
Odd parity 0
Parity
bit Data
▪ Hence, to make the number of 1 bits even, parity bit is assigned
bit 1. The number of bits is odd and hence, the parity bit in odd
parity is 0.
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Parity checking: Example
2
▪ Let us consider the following byte of data, which uses even parity,
received by a receiver.
1 0 1 0 1 1 1 0
Parity bit Data
▪ The number of bit 1s is 5 and this indicates transmission error.
Some bits have changed during transmission.
▪ A receiver cannot find the exact location of the error.
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Parity Bit Bit Bit Bit Bit Bit Bit
bit 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
Parity checking Byte
1
1 1 0 1 1 0 1 1
Byte
1 1 1 1 0 1 1 0
2
▪ To find the exact location Byte
0 0 1 0 0 1 1 1
of the bit changed, a 3
Byte
block of data is sent. The 1 0 1 1 0 0 1 0
4
parity is checked both
Byte
horizontally and 1 1 1 1 0 1 1 0
5
vertically. Byte
0 1 0 1 1 0 1 1
▪ Consider the block of 6
Byte
data with even parity 1 0 0 1 0 1 0 1
7
received at the receiver Byte
side. 1 1 0 0 1 1 1 1
8
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Parity Bit Bit Bit Bit Bit Bit Bit
▪ When carefully observed, bit 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
it can be noted that row 6 Byte
1 1 0 1 1 0 1 1
and column 3 has 1
Byte
incorrect parity. 1 1 1 1 0 1 1 0
2
▪ Byte 6 can be Byte
0 0 1 0 0 1 1 1
automatically corrected to 3
be 01001011 or an error Byte
1 0 1 1 0 0 1 0
4
message could be sent to
Byte
the sender. 1 1 1 1 0 1 1 0
5
▪ If two bits changed during Byte
0 1 0 1 1 0 1 1
transmission, it could be 6
impossible to locate the Byte
1 0 0 1 0 1 0 1
7
error.
Byte
1 1 0 0 1 1 1 1
8
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Automatic Repeat Request
(ARQ)
▪ Automatic Repeat Request is another method used for error-
checking in which ACKNOWLEDGEMENT and TIMEOUT are used.
▪ ACKNOWLEDGEMENT is a message sent by the receiver to the
sender indicating that the data has been received correctly.
▪ TIMEOUT is the time allowed to elapse before an
acknowledgement is received.
▪ If the ACKNOWLEDGEMENT is not received within the TIMEOUT,
the message is automatically resent.
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Checksum
▪ A value called a checksum is attached to the end of the block of
data. This value can indicate transmission errors.
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Calculating checksum
Checksum = the sum of all digits, if the sum of all digits ≤ 256.
If the sum of all digits > 256, the checksum is found according to the
following algorithm:
Round
down to
Multiply Y by
Divide the sum the
256 and Checksum
by 256 nearest
denote this = (X-Z)
X= 256 whole
number by Z
number,
Y=
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Calculating checksum
Let us calculate the checksum of a number with a byte sum 905.
𝑋=905 𝑎𝑛𝑑
𝑍=3×256=7 =𝑋−𝑍=90
Checksum
down, 𝑌=3
Rounding
905/256=3.5351
68 5−768=1
…
37
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Checksum
The sender transmits the block of data with checksum.
When received at the receiver end, the checksum of the block
of data is calculated.
If the calculated checksum is equal to the checksum
transmitted by sender, then there are no transmission errors.
If both the checksums are not equal, the sender is request to
resend the data.
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Echo check
▪ In this method, the data is sent from the sender to the receiver and
the data received is sent back to the sender.
▪ The sender compares the two sets of data for transmission errors.
▪ This method is not very reliable because it cannot be decided in which
transmission the data was corrupted.
▪ An error-free echo check would prove that no data has changed or
been corrupted.
Let’s review some 32
concepts
Factors affecting data Simplex, half-duplex and Serial and parallel data
transmission full-duplex transmission transmission
Direction of transmission Simplex-one direction only Serial: One bit is sent at a time
over a single channel
Method of transmission Half-duplex-both directions
but one at a time Parallel: Several bits are sent
Method of synchronisation
at a time over multiple
Full-duplex-both directions
channels
simultaneously
Asynchronous and
Synchronous data Universal Serial Bus (USB) Parity checking
transmission
Industrial standard for cables, Parity checking uses a parity
Asynchronous: Data is sent connectors and transmission bit in each byte of data. An
in groups in an agreed bit protocol between computers even parity has an even
pattern and their peripherals. number of bit 1s in a byte. An
odd parity has an odd number
Synchronous: data as a of bit 1s in a byte.
stream of bits with timing
signals
2.
Activities
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Parity Bit Bit Bit Bit Bit Bit Bit
Activity-1 bit 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
Duration: 10 minutes Byte
1 1 0 1 1 0 0 1
1
Byte
1 1 1 0 0 0 1 1
2
1. Find out the location of
Byte
error in the block of 0 1 0 1 0 1 1 1
3
data received by user Byte
0 1 0 1 0 0 1
1
if odd parity was used. 4
Byte
0 1 1 1 0 0 0 0
5
Byte
1 1 0 0 0 1 1 1
6
Byte
0 1 0 0 1 0 1 0
7
Byte
0 1 1 0 1 0 0 0
8
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Activity-2
Duration: 10 minutes
1. Calculate the checksum of a number with byte sum 201. Show
your working.
2. Calculate the checksum of a number with byte sum 1183.
3.
End of topic questions
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End of topic questions
1. Based on what factors is data transmission classified?
2. What are the differences between serial and parallel data
transmission?
3. How do sender and receiver notify each other in
asynchronous data transmission?
4. How do sender and receiver notify each other in
synchronous data transmission?
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End of topic questions
5. What are the functions of pins in USB port?
6. What happens when an USB device is plugged in to the
computer? Write down the various steps.
7. How does the echo check method ensures that data
received is error free?
