Components of a communication system

A communication system is a system that enables the exchange of information or data between two or more devices. There are several components that are typically found in a communication system.

The basic components of a communication system are.

Sender

Receiver

Message

Protocol

Transmission Medium

A. Sender

The sender is the device or person that initiates the communication and sends the message.

A device used in a communication system to send or transmit data to another device

is called Sender, or Transmitter or Source. A sender may be a computer, workstation,

telephone handset, video camera, mobile phone, radio and tv stations..

B. Receiver

The receiver is the device or person that receives the message.

A device used in a communication system to receive messages from another device

(sender) is called Receiver or Sink. A receiver may be a computer, workstation

telephone handset, mobile phone, television set, printer, fax machine, and radio set

C. Message

The message is the information or data that is being transmitted.

The message is the information or data that is to be transferred from one location to

another. It may consist of text, numbers, pictures, sounds, Videos or any combination

of these.

D. Protocol

A set of rules that guides (or governs) data communication is called protocol. It

represents an agreement between the communicating devices. Without a proper

protocol, the devices. may be connected but they cannot communicate with each

other. For example, a person whose mother language is English cannot communicate

with a person who can speak only Urdu without protocol.

E. Transmission Medium

Transmission Medium is a path or channel through which message is transmitted

(Sent) or received from one location to another in a communication system. The

Twisted wire, fiber optic, microwave, satellite system etc. are used as medium.

Figure 4.2 shows all the components of a communication system.

F. Encoding:

 Encoding is the process of converting the message into a form that can be transmitted over the channel.

G. Decoding:

 Decoding is the process of converting the encoded message back into its original form at the receiver.