How Error Correction is Done?
Answer: Error correction is extremely important in computer networks since it guarantees that the data transmitted is dependable and has not been tampered with. This procedure identifies and rectifies mistakes which occur during the transmission of information thus preventing corruption or loss of files.
Key Points
- Error Detection: Discrepancies in transmitted data can be detected using different techniques like parity check, checksum and cyclic redundancy check where extra bits are added to the data.
- Automatic Repeat request (ARQ): This method requires the receiver to ask for a packet resent when it has been found corrupt or lost. The receiver reports back errors to the sender who then resends until there is no single error detected during transmission.
- Forward Error Correction (FEC): Instead of sending again, FEC adds redundancy into transmitted data enabling receivers correct mistakes on their own. Reed-Solomon codes and Hamming codes are some examples of FEC methods.
- Acknowledgment and Retransmission: Messages like Acknowledgment (ACK) and negative acknowledgment (NAK) play a big role here. When receivers successfully receive any given information they send ACKs, if none of these is received or instead NAK is received then sender will resend data.
- Error Correction Algorithms: The Viterbi algorithm for convolutional codes and the Reed-Solomon algorithm for block codes, among others, are used to mathematically recover data from damaged transmissions.
Conclusion
In summary, error correction in computer networks is a complex process that includes error detection, retransmission and proactive correction methods. These techniques help improve network reliability and data integrity.