DATA COMMUNICATION Main Components of a computer communications

DATA COMMUNICATION : Main Components of a computer communications network

Main Components of a computer communications network A computer network is composed of a number of independent components. Three main components are: The Computer System The Communications System The Networking System

Main Components of a computer communications network Data Networks There is a myriad of terms used to describe a computer communications network. Computer Networks, Communications Networks, Telecommunications Networks, Packet Switched Networks, Networking Systems and Data Networking Systems are all among the terms used. The terms data network used to be more descriptive when live speech and video could not be transmitted over such networks. At that time, data meant store and forward type of information that had no real-time content. Examples of such information are file, email and logon programs. With time, definition of data has changed (see Chapter 3), and so has the definition of data networks. A data network now includes all of the above. The telephone network could be seen as an exception, even though it is also been used as data network in many of its applications. However, due to its circuit-switched nature, it is not projected to belong to computer networks.

REFERENCES • Ahmad A. - Data Communication Principles. For Fixed and Wireless Networks • Cornelius T. Leondes - Database and Data Communication Network Systems, Three-Volume Set_. . -Academic Press