Network Protocols

For devices to communicate, they first need to mutually decide on a set of rules for how the communication will take place.

Network protocols

A network protocol is a set of rules that define how data is transmitted between connected devices.
Protocols exist for any data exchange between two devices.

What is in a protocol?

Common decisions made in a protocol are:
- How communication should start and end (handshaking).
- How data should be structured.
- Which network port communication should be over.
- How to check if the received data is correct.
- What to do if something goes wrong.

Transmission Protocols

In any network, we need a set of protocols which determine how data will be transmitted and how it will be structured.

Ethernet

Ethernet is a protocol that defines how data should be physically transmitted between network hardware.
Ethernet is used in wired networks.

WiFi

WiFi (802.11x) is a set of protocols defining how data should be transmitted using radio waves.
WiFi is used in wireless networks.

Transmission Control Protocol

Transmission Control Protocol (TCP) splits data from applications into small pieces called 'packets'.
Each packet has a header and a payload.
- The header is data about how the packet should reach its destination.
- The payload is the actual data that needs to be sent.

Internet Protocol

Internet Protocol (IP) defines how data packets should be sent between networks.
An IP header is added to each packet with the source and destination IP address.
- Routers use this information to deliver the packet to the correct network.

1Components of a Computer

1.1Structure & Function of the Processor

1.1.1Structure of the CPU

1.1.2Fetch, Decode, Execute Cycle

1.1.3Factors Affecting CPU Performance

1.1.4CPU Architecture

1.2Types of Processors

1.2.1CISC & RISC

1.2.2Multicore & Parallel Cores

1.3Input, Output & Storage

1.3.1Computer Systems

1.3.2Magnetic Storage

1.3.3Optical Storage

1.3.4Types of Optical Storage

1.3.5Types of Memory

1.3.6Flash Memory

1.3.7Virtual Memory

2Software & Software Development

3Exchanging Data

4Data Types, Data Structures & Algorithms

4.1Data Types

4.1.1Data Types

4.1.2Arrays & Strings

4.1.3Representing Numbers

4.1.4Binary Arithmetic

4.1.5Hexadecimal

4.1.6Converting Binary Numbers

4.1.7Floating Points in Binary

4.1.8Floating Point Arithmetic

4.1.9Bitwise Manipulation

4.1.10Character Sets

4.2Data Structures

4.2.1Arrays, Linked Lists & Queues

4.2.2Graphs, Hash Tables & Stacks

4.2.3Trees

4.3Boolean Algebra

4.3.1Computational Logic

4.3.2Boolean Logic

4.3.3Karnaugh Maps

4.3.4Boolean Identities

4.3.5Flip Flops & Adder Circuits

5Legal, Moral, Cultural & Ethical Issues

5.1Computing Related Legislation

5.1.1Data Protection Act (1998)

5.1.2Computer Misuse Act (1990)

5.1.3Copyright Designs and Patents Act (1988)

5.1.4Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act (2000)

5.2Moral & Ethical Issues

5.2.1Online Activity Tracking

5.2.2Censorship

5.2.3Cultural Issues

5.2.4Environmental Issues

5.2.5Layout, Colour Paradigms & Character Sets

6Elements of Computational Thinking

6.1Thinking Abstractly

6.1.1Abstraction

6.2Thinking Procedurally

6.2.1Decomposition

6.3Thinking Logically

6.3.1Pseudocode & Flow Diagrams

7Problem Solving & Programming

7.1Programming Techniques

7.1.1Programming Fundamentals

7.1.2Modularity

7.2Programming Construction

7.2.1Integrated Development Environments

7.2.2Testing

8Algorithms

8.1Algorithms

8.1.1Interpreting, Correcting & Completing Algorithm

8.1.2Sort Algorithms

8.1.3Insertion & Merge Sort

8.1.4Search Algorithms

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