Objectives
• Understand that data is broken down into packets to
be transmitted
• Describe the structure of a packet including
• Packet header (destination address, packet number,
originator’s address)
• Payload
• Trailer
• Describe the process of packet switching including:
• Packets, routing, routers, packet order and reordering
Data packets
Unit 2 Data transmission and encryption
Starter
• A law firm needs to send
a client 1000 pages of
important documents
through the postal network
• Due to weight limits a
maximum of 200 pages
may be sent at a time
• How is it possible to send
the large document?
Data packets
Unit 2 Data transmission and encryption
Starter
• How is it possible to send the large document?
• The document is broken up into different sections
• Each section is sent in its
own packet
• Each packet will need the
client’s address and the
law firm’s address (in case
it doesn’t arrive or there
is a problem)
• Each packet needs to say
which document number from
the sequence it is
Data packets
Unit 2 Data transmission and encryption
Data packets
• We often need to send large
amounts of data through networks
• This is carried out by breaking down
the data into lots of smaller packets
• The system works in a similar
manner to a postal network that
allows many users to send
different packages and letters
• What information do you think each
data packet needs to contain?
Data packets
Unit 2 Data transmission and encryption
Data packets
• The data is split down into smaller fragments that
make up the payload of each packet
• The header contains the destination address, originating
address (source address) and the packet number so that the
correct order is restored once it arrives
• The payload is the contents that need to be sent
• The trailer has data that indicates the end of the packet and a
checksum for the destination to check it transmitted correctly
Header
Destination Originating Packet Payload Trailer
address address number
One data packet
Data packets
Unit 2 Data transmission and encryption
Worksheet 1
• Complete Task 1 on Worksheet 1
Data packets
Unit 2 Data transmission and encryption
Packet switching
• The process for sending data through a network is
known as packet switching
1. Break down 2. Send the 3. Routers
data into packets through control the ?
packets the network route taken
• Routers control the specific route that each
packet takes
• What happens at the end of the process?
Data packets
Unit 2 Data transmission and encryption
Packet switching
• As each packet may take a different route through
the network, they may arrive out of order
• The destination computer or server will need to reorder the
packets into the correct order
• The packet number is used to do this
1. Break down 2. Send the 3. Routers 4. Reorder
data into packets through control the packets into
packets the network route taken correct order
Data packets
Unit 2 Data transmission and encryption
Packet switched network
• The diagram shows a
number of components
that are part of a network
• What is each component?
Data packets
Unit 2 Data transmission and encryption
Packet switched network
Number Component
1 Server
2-7 Routers
8 Wi-Fi access point and router
9, 10, 11 Smartphone, tablet, desktop
Data packets
Unit 2 Data transmission and encryption
Worksheet 1
• Complete Task 2 on Worksheet 1
Data packets
Unit 2 Data transmission and encryption
Plenary
• What are the roles of the
following concepts when
sending information
through the Internet?
• Data packets
• Packet switching
• Routers
• State the different
components of
each packet
Data packets
Unit 2 Data transmission and encryption
Plenary
• To send data, such as a file through the Internet, it is first split
into fragments known as packets. Packet switching is then
undertaken by each router on the network. Each packet is
directed to another closer router. Each packet may take a
different route through the network. Packets may arrive out of
order. Once the last packet has arrived, the packets are
reordered.
• State the different components of each packet
• Packet header: destination address, packet number,
originator’s address (source address)
• Payload – the data being sent
• Trailer
Data packets
Unit 2 Data transmission and encryption
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