Chapter 1: Introduction (Summary)

Question 1

What are data communications?

Answer 1

Data communications are the transfer of data from one device to another via some form of transmission medium.

Question 2

An effective data communications system must?

Answer 2

For a data communications system to be considered effective, it must be able to transmit data to the correct destination in an accurate and timely manner.

Question 3

What are the five components of a data communication system?

Answer 3

The message, sender, receiver, medium and protocol

Question 4

What are the different forms of information?

Answer 4

text, numbers, images, audio and video are different forms of information

Question 5

Data flow between two devices can be?

Answer 5

Simplex, half-duplex or full-duplex

Question 6

What is a network?

Answer 6

A network is a set of communication devices connected by media links.

Question 7

Differentiate point-to-point connection and multipoint connection.

Answer 7

In a point-to-point connection, two and only two devices are connected by a dedicated link. In a multipoint connection, three or more devices share a link.

Question 8

Describe the term topology, what are the different types of topologies?

Answer 8

Topology refers to the physical or logical arrangement of a network. Devices may be arranged in a mesh, star, bus or ring topology.

Question 9

What are the two categories of a network based on area?

Answer 9

Local area network and wide area network

Question 10

Differentiate LAN and WAN.

Answer 10

A LAN is a data communication system within a building, plant, or campus or between nearby buildings. A wan is a data communication system spanning states, countries or the whole world.

Question 11

Differentiate internet from Internet.

Answer 11

An internet is a network of network, The Internet is a collection of many separate networks.

Question 12

Internet Service Providers or ISPs can be?

Answer 12

Local, regional, national or international

Question 13

What is protocol?

Answer 13

A protocol is a set of rules that govern data communications; the key elements of a protocol are syntax, semantics and timing.

Question 14

What are the use of standards?

Answer 14

Standards are necessary to ensure that products from different manufacturers can work together as expected.

Question 15

What are some organizations involved in standards creation?

Answer 15

ISO, ITU-T, ANSI, IEEE, and EIA

International Organization of Standardizations, International Telecommunications Union-Telecommunications Standards Sector, American National Standards Institute, Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers and Electronic Industries Association.

Question 16

What are forums?

Answer 16

Forums are special-interest groups that quickly evaluate and standardize new technologies.

Question 17

What is A Request for Comment?

Answer 17

A Request for Comment is an idea or concept that is a precursor to an Internet standard.

Question 18

What does ARPA stand for?

Answer 18

Advanced Research Projects Agency

Question 19

What doe ASCII stand for?

Answer 19

American Standard Code for Information Interchange

Question 20

What is a Metropolitan Area Network? How does it differ from LAN and WAN?

Answer 20

A metropolitan network is a network with a size between a LAN and WAN. It normally covers the area inside a town or a city.

Question 21

Differentiate de facto from de jure standards

Answer 21

De facto standards are standards that have not been approved by an organized body but have been adopted as standards through widespread use. De facto standards are often established originally by manufacturers who seek to define the functionality of a new product or technology.

De jure standards are standards that have been legislated by an officially recognized body.