Introduction to Communication Systems

Introduction to Communication Systems

1. What is a communication system?

   • A way to route something from point A to point B
   • Message
     • Text
     • Audio
     • Video
   • Transmission medium
     • The physical path over which the message travels
   • Sender
     • Device that is sending the data
   • Reciever
     • Device that receives the data
   • Protocol
     • A set of rules that govern data communication

2. Media types

   • Wired
     • Electrical signals down a cable
   • Wireless
     • Electromagnetic waves through space
   • Optical
     • Light sent down a fiber optic cable/through space

3. Serial or parallel

   • Serial
     • 1 wire
     • Sends bits one at a time
   • Parallel
     • Multiple wires
     • Costly
     • Faster
     • Sends bits in groups - 1 or 2 whole bytes