Data Communication is a process of exchanging data or information. In case of computer networks this exchange is done between two devices over a transmission medium. This process involves a communication system which is made up of hardware and software.
- The hardware part involves the sender and receiver devices and the intermediate devices through which the data passes.
- The software part involves certain rules which specify what is to be communicated, how it is to be communicated and when. It is also called as a Protocol.
The following sections describes the fundamental characteristics that are important for the effective working of data communication process and is followed by the components that make up a data communications system.
Characteristics of Data Communication
The basic four fundamental characteristics depends on any data communications system to make an effective are as
- Delivery: The data should be delivered to the correct destination and correct user.
- Accuracy: The communication system should deliver the data accurately, without introducing any errors. The data may get corrupted during transmission affecting the accuracy of the delivered data.
- Timeliness: Audio and Video data has to be delivered in a timely manner without any delay; such a data delivery is called real time transmission of data.
- Jitter: It is the variation in the packet arrival time. Uneven Jitter may affect the timeliness of data being transmitted.
