ITT 036: Data Communication (Autumn 2026)

Class Timings: Section A: Monday, Wednesday (12:20 - 1:10 pm) and Tuesday (11:30 - 12:20 pm) 

  Section B: Monday, Wednesday (11:30 - 12:20 pm) and Tuesday (12:20 - 1:10 pm) 

Venue: PF3

Piazza page: ITT 036/Autumn2026/home 

Course Overview

In this course, we will focus on covering the basics of data communication and the first two layers of the TCP/IP Model in detail. The objective of this course is to familiarise students with the underlying ideas of the physical aspects of Networks.

Course Outline

• DATA COMMUNICATION NETWORK: Data communication concept, Basic concept of network, Types of networks (LAN, MAN and WAN), Different network topologies like star, ring, hybrid, tree. Network models (OSI and TCP/IP).

• TRANSMISSION MEDIA: Guided and unguided media, twisted wire pair, co-axial cable, optical fibre, microwave links, satellite microwave link, their characteristic features and applications for data transmission.

• DATA AND SIGNALS: Data, Signals, Types of Signals, Bandwidth, spectrum, transmission impairments, Shanon capacity.

• DIGITAL TRANSMISSION TECHNIQUES: Digital-to digital conversions: NRZ, RZ, Biphase, Manchester coding, AMI. Analog-to-digital conversions: Nyquist sampling theorem, quantization, Pulse code modulation.

• ANALOG TRANSMISSION TECHNIQUES: Digital-to-analog conversion: ASK, FSK, PSK, QAM. Signal constellation. Analog-to-analog conversion: amplitude modulation, frequency modulation, phase modulation.

• BANDWIDTH UTILIZATION TECHNIQUES: Frequency Division Multiplexing, Time Division Multiplexing, Wavelength division Multiplexing, Spread Spectrum.

• ERROR DETECTION AND CORRECTION: Errors in data communication: Types of errors, error detection and correction techniques, simple parity check, computation of CRC, Checksum, Hamming code.

• ACCESS CONTROL(*subject to time constraints) : Random access, Controlled access, channelization protocols.

References: We will refer to multiple books and lectures over the duration of this course, some of them are as follows:

• Text Book (TB):

  1. Behrouz A. Forouzan, Data Communications and Networking, 4th Edition [BAF]

• Other References (R):

  1. D. Bertsekas and R. Gallager, Data Networks [BG]

  2. William Stallings, Data & Computer Communications, 8th Edition [WS]

  3. Andrew Tanenbaum, Computer Networks [AT]

  4. Ajit Pal, Data Communications (NPTEL Course) [AP]

Grading Policy:

• Major exam - 50%

• Mid-Term exam - 26%

• Internal Assesment - 24%

  • Quizzes - 12%

  • Programming Assignment - 10%

  • Tutorials - 2%

Here are the topics we covered in the class and the reference material we used.

1. Lec 1 (Jul 15): General Introduction. Introduction to the course, course objectives, policies, and motivation. 

2. Lec 2 (Jul 20): Concept of data communication, components of a basic communication system, characteristics of a communication system.  (Source: Chapter 1 [BAF])

3. Lec 3 (Jul 21): Types of data flow, what is a Network? various network criteria: performance (transit, response time, throughput, delay), security, reliability. (Source: Chapter 1 [BAF])

4. Lec 4 (Jul 22): Types of connections, types of network topologies - Mesh, star, bus. (Source: Chapter 1 [BAF], Section 15.2 [WS]).

5. Lec 5 (Jul 27): Types of network topologies - ring, hybrid, wireless. Classification of Networks - based on the architecture. (Source: Chapter 1, 2 [BAF], Lecture 2 [AP])

6. Lec 6 (Jul 28): Classification of Networks - based on the architecture and size, comparison of LAN and WAN, the Internet (overall structure). (Source: Chapter 1, 2 [BAF], Lecture 2 [AP])

7. Lec 7 (Jul 29): Need for layering, layered Architecture, physical and logical communication, introduction to the TCP/IP and OSI Models, layers in the OSI model, their classification, and their smallest data units. (Source: Chapter 2 [BAF], Lecture 2 [AP])

8. Lec 8 (Aug 3): Devices found at different layers, encapsulation, OSI Model Layers, and their functionalities - Physical, Data link. (Source: Chapter 2 [BAF], Lecture 2 [AP])

9. Lec 9 (Aug 4): OSI Model Layers and their functionalities - Network (Logical addressing, routing), Transport (process to process delivery, segmentation and reassembly, flow and error control), Session and Presentation layer. (Source: Chapter 2 [BAF], Lecture 2 [AP])