1. Conceptual & Logical Questions

Q1: Why do we need protocols in communication? Can two devices communicate without a protocol?

Answer:

Protocols ensure that communication happens in an organized manner by defining rules for data exchange. Without a protocol, devices may be physically connected but won’t understand each other—just like two people speaking different languages without a common understanding.

Q2: If you are designing a high-speed, reliable communication system, which transmission medium would you choose and why?

Answer:

Fiber-optic cable would be the best choice because it provides high bandwidth, low latency, and minimal interference. Unlike copper cables, fiber-optic transmission is immune to electromagnetic interference, making it more reliable for high-speed data transmission.

Q3: Why does jitter affect video calls but not email delivery?

Answer:

Jitter causes variation in packet arrival time, which affects real-time applications like video calls because delayed packets create lags, stutters, or loss of synchronization. However, email delivery is not time-sensitive, so a slight delay does not impact the overall communication.

Q4: What will happen if the transport layer fails in the OSI model?

Answer:

The Transport Layer ensures reliable data transfer. If it fails:

• Data may be lost, arrive out of order, or get duplicated.
• End-to-end communication between sender and receiver may break down.
• Applications like video streaming, online gaming, and financial transactions may experience data corruption or fail completely.