Week-1

Question 1

What is computer communication?

Answer 1

The process of exchanging digital data between two or more computers, often over a network.

Question 2

Define a computer network.

Answer 2

A system of interconnected devices through a transmission media to communicate between the devices.

Question 3

What is a communication model?

Answer 3

A simplified representation of the communication process used to understand how communication will take place.

Question 4

What is the role of the source in a communication model?

Answer 4

Generates the data to be transmitted; examples include telephones and personal computers.

Question 5

What is the function of a transmitter in a communication model?

Answer 5

Encodes data into a form that can be transmitted across a transmission medium.

Question 6

What is a transmission system?

Answer 6

A single transmission line or a complex network connecting source and destination.

Question 7

What does the receiver do in a communication model?

Answer 7

Decodes the data into its original form that can be handled by the receiving device.

Question 8

What is transmission system utilisation?

Answer 8

The need to make efficient use of transmission facilities that are typically shared among communicating devices.

Question 9

What is multiplexing?

Answer 9

Allocating the same transmission medium to different devices.

Question 10

What is congestion control?

Answer 10

Techniques implemented to assure that the system is not overwhelmed by incoming transmissions.

Question 11

What is the significance of synchronization in communication?

Answer 11

Ensures that the transmitter and receiver are in agreement on timing for data exchange.

Question 12

What is exchange management?

Answer 12

Cooperation between two parties for data exchange, including practices like transmission mode and packet size.

Question 13

What is error detection?

Answer 13

Techniques such as checksums and CRC used to identify errors in data transmission.

Question 14

What is flow control?

Answer 14

Methods like stop-and-wait and sliding window to prevent the source from overwhelming the destination.

Question 15

What is addressing in a communication system?

Answer 15

Assigning unique identifiers to each device sharing a transmission facility.

Question 16

What does routing involve?

Answer 16

Choosing the best path for data transmission between source and destination.

Question 17

What are recovery techniques?

Answer 17

Methods used to restore communication and ensure data integrity after a failure.

Question 18

What is message formatting?

Answer 18

An agreement on the form of the data to be exchanged or transmitted.

Question 19

What is the OSI model?

Answer 19

A conceptual framework used to understand network interactions in seven layers.

Question 20

What is the function of Layer 1 (Physical) in the OSI model?

Answer 20

Transmission of raw bits over a medium.

Question 21

What is the main responsibility of Layer 2 (Data Link) in the OSI model?

Answer 21

Framing, MAC addressing, error detection/correction, and flow control.

Question 22

What does Layer 3 (Network) handle in the OSI model?

Answer 22

Logical addressing, routing, and congestion handling.

Question 23

What is the role of Layer 4 (Transport) in the OSI model?

Answer 23

Reliable data transfer, segmentation, flow and error control.

Question 24

What is the main responsibility of Layer 5 (Session) in the OSI model?

Answer 24

Connection setup, maintenance, and termination.

Question 25

What does Layer 6 (Presentation) focus on in the OSI model?

Answer 25

Data formatting, encryption, and compression.

Question 26

What is the role of Layer 7 (Application) in the OSI model?

Answer 26

User interface and network services.

Question 27

Define LAN.

Answer 27

Local area network interconnecting devices in a small area, like a home or building.

Question 28

What are typical transmission rates for LANs?

Answer 28

10 to 100 Mbps.

Question 29

What is a MAN?

Answer 29

Metropolitan Area Network that spans a city or large area, interconnecting several LANs.

Question 30

What is a WAN?

Answer 30

Wide Area Network covering large areas, connecting offices in different cities or countries.

Question 31

What is circuit switching?

Answer 31

A method where a dedicated communications path is established between two stations through intermediate nodes.

Question 32

What is packet switching?

Answer 32

Data is sent in small chunks called packets, which are routed through the network from node to node.

Question 33

What is Frame Relay?

Answer 33

A high-speed, packet-switching technology that transmits data in small units called frames.

Question 34

What distinguishes ATM from Frame Relay?

Answer 34

ATM uses fixed-length packets called cells, while Frame Relay uses variable-length packets called frames.

Question 35

What is a protocol?

Answer 35

A set of rules that define how data is formatted, transmitted, and understood between devices.

Question 36

What are the key features of a protocol?

Answer 36

* Syntax: Format of data blocks * Semantics: Control information for coordination and error handling * Timing: Speed matching and sequencing

Question 37

What are design issues for layers in protocol architecture?

Answer 37

* Addressing * Data Transmission Direction * Error Control * Flow Control * Sequencing and Ordering * Multiplexing * Routing * Fragmentation and Reassembly

Question 38

What is protocol architecture?

Answer 38

The layered structure of hardware and software that supports the exchange of data between systems.

Question 39

What is the Network Access layer responsible for?

Answer 39

Exchange of data between computer and the network, interfacing with network hardware.

Question 40

What does the Transfer layer provide?

Answer 40

Reliable end-to-end communication between devices.

Question 41

What is the function of the Application layer?

Answer 41

Provides services like email, file transfer, and web browsing.