Role of Communication Systems

There will be a need for communication within any organisation. Communication will be either internal, e.g. between sales and production departments, or external e.g. between stock control and external suppliers.

There are a variety of mechanisms that are available to communicate information. The oldest is the postal system. This is still used where it is important for an original document such as a signed contract to be transferred from one party to another. However it is slow, comparatively expensive and the destination has to be a single physical location.

Electronic communication systems are rapidly developing to produce an improved and expanding range of services. These are based on telecommunications links provided in this country by British Telecom, NTL and others who supply both public and private lines.

In addition a microwave network is provided for mobile phones and for specialised data communication such as electronic route planning. Cable companies are currently installing a cable network that will carry a wide variety of information including TV programmes. Satellite and undersea cables provide links between countries.

A telecommunications link may be one to one as in a simple telephone connection or one to many or even many to many. These notes distinguish between Data Communication systems and Data Distribution systems. The distinction is somewhat arbitrary. But by the former I mean one where the primary intention is to communicate with a single person where both people are involved. By the latter I mean systems where the main intention is to pass lots of information in one direction to users who are mainly passive.

In practice nearly all of these systems overlap the distinction.

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