Table of Contents
Data communication involves the exchange of signals between computing devices or nodes. Data transfer occurs through either a point-to-point or multipoint communication channel. There are three main types of data communication modes:
1. Simplex Communication:
Simplex communication is a one-way or unidirectional interaction between two devices, where one device serves as the sender, and the other as the receiver. In this mode, the entire link capacity is utilized for transmitting data. It resembles a one-way street, allowing communication only in a single direction. Examples include data input from a keyboard or audio output to a speaker. An illustration of simplex communication is controlling home appliances through IoT, such as managing fans, lights, and other devices remotely.
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| Simplex One Direction |
2. Half-duplex Communication:
Half-duplex communication enables bidirectional data exchange between two devices. Both devices can send and receive data or control signals, but not simultaneously. It operates like sharing a one-way narrow bridge, allowing traffic in both directions but not simultaneously. An example is a walkie-talkie, where pressing the push-to-talk button enables transmission while disabling reception, allowing others only to listen. The direction of transmission can be switched in this type of communication.
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| Half-duplex Communication |
3. Full-duplex Communication:
Full-duplex communication allows bidirectional data exchange between devices simultaneously. It resembles a two-way road where vehicles can travel in both directions simultaneously. This communication mode is commonly employed in mobile phones and landline telephones. The transmission link's capacity is shared between signals moving in both directions. This can be achieved using two physically separate simplex lines—one for sending and another for receiving—or by sharing the capacity of a single channel between signals in different directions.
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| Full-duplex Communication |
