Error is a condition when the receiver’s information does
not match the sender’s. Digital signals suffer from noise
during transmission that can introduce errors in the
binary bits traveling from sender to receiver. That means
a 0 bit may change to 1 or a 1 bit may change to 0.
Error Detection in Computer
Networks
REASONS OF ERROR
There are many reasons such as
noise, cross-talk etc., which may
help data to get corrupted during
transmission
CONT..
Toprevent such errors, error-
detection codes are added as extra
data to digital messages. This helps
in detecting any errors that may
have occurred during message
transmission.
Types of Errors
Single-Bit Error
A single-bit error refers to a type of
data transmission error that occurs
when one bit (i.e., a single binary
digit) of a transmitted data unit is
altered during transmission, resulting
in an incorrect or corrupted data
unit.
Single-Bit Error
Multiple-Bit Error
A multiple-bit error is an error type that
arises when more than one bit in a data
transmission is affected. Although
multiple-bit errors are relatively rare
when compared to single-bit errors,
they can still occur, particularly in high-
noise or high-interference digital
environments.
Multiple-Bit Error
Burst Error
When several consecutive bits are
flipped mistakenly in digital
transmission, it creates a burst error.
This error causes a sequence of
consecutive incorrect values.
Burst Error
Error Detection Methods
To detect errors, a common
technique is to introduce redundancy
bits that provide additional
information. Various techniques for
error detection include:
Simple Parity Check
Two-Dimensional Parity Check
Checksum
Cyclic Redundancy Check (CRC)
Simple Parity Check
Simple-bit parity is a simple error detection
method that involves adding an extra bit to
a data transmission. It works as:
1 is added to the block if it contains an odd
number of 1’s, and
0 is added if it contains an even number of
1’s
This scheme makes the total number of 1’s
even, that is why it is called even parity
checking.
Simple Parity Check
Advantages of Simple Parity Check
Simple parity check can detect all single bit error.
Simple parity check can detect an odd number of errors.
Implementation: Simple Parity Check is easy to
implement in both hardware and software.
Minimal Extra Data: Only one additional bit (the parity
bit) is added per data unit (e.g., per byte).
Fast Error Detection: The process of calculating and
checking the parity bit is quick, which allows for rapid
error detection without significant delay in data
processing or communication.
Single-Bit Error Detection: It can effectively detect
single-bit errors within a data unit, providing a basic
level of error detection for relatively low-error
environments.
Disadvantages of Simple Parity Check
Single Parity check is not able to detect even no.
of bit error.
For example, the Data to be transmitted
is 101010. Codeword transmitted to the
receiver is 1010101 (we have used even parity).
Let’s assume that during transmission, two of
the bits of code word flipped to 1111101.
On receiving the code word, the receiver finds
the no. of ones to be even and hence no
error, which is a wrong assumption.
Two-Dimensional Parity Check
Two-dimensional Parity
check bits are calculated for each
row, which is equivalent to a simple
parity check bit. Parity check bits are
also calculated for all columns, then
both are sent along with the data. At
the receiving end, these are
compared with the parity bits
calculated on the received data.
Two-Dimensional Parity
Check
Advantages of Two-Dimensional Parity
Check
Two-Dimensional Parity Check can
detect and correct all single bit error.
Two-Dimensional Parity Check can
detect two or three bit error that
occur any where in the matrix.
Disadvantages of Two-Dimensional Parity Check
Two-Dimensional Parity Check can
not correct two or three bit error. It
can only detect two or three bit error.
If we have a error in the parity bit
then this scheme will not work.
Checksum
Checksum error detection is a method used
to identify errors in transmitted data. The
process involves dividing the data into
equally sized segments and using a
1’s complement to calculate the sum of
these segments. The calculated sum is
then sent along with the data to the
receiver. At the receiver’s end, the same
process is repeated and if all zeroes are
obtained in the sum, it means that the data
is correct.
Checksum – Operation at Sender’s Side
At the receiver’s end, all received
segments are added using 1’s
complement arithmetic to get the
sum. The sum is complemented.
If the result is zero, the received data
is accepted; otherwise discarded.
Checksum – Operation at Receiver’s Side
Cyclic Redundancy Check (CRC)
Unlike the checksum scheme, which is based on
addition, CRC is based on binary division.
In CRC, a sequence of redundant bits, called cyclic
redundancy check bits, are appended to the end of
the data unit so that the resulting data unit becomes
exactly divisible by a second, predetermined binary
number.
At the destination, the incoming data unit is divided
by the same number. If at this step there is no
remainder, the data unit is assumed to be correct
and is therefore accepted.
A remainder indicates that the data unit has been
damaged in transit and therefore must be rejected.
Cyclic Redundancy
Check (CRC)
CRC Working
We have given dataword of length n and divisor of
length k.
Step 1: Append (k-1) zero’s to the original message
Step 2: Perform modulo 2 division
Step 3: Remainder of division = CRC
Step 4: Code word = Data with append k-1 zero’s +
CRC
Note:
CRC must be k-1 bits
Length of Code word = n+k-1 bits
Example: Let’s data to be send is 1010000 and
divisor in the form of polynomial is x 3+1. CRC
method discussed below.
CRC Working
CRC
Advantages of Error Detection
Increased Data Reliability: Error detection
ensures that the data transmitted over the network
is reliable, accurate, and free from errors. This
ensures that the recipient receives the same data
that was transmitted by the sender.
Improved Network Performance: Error detection
mechanisms can help to identify and isolate network
issues that are causing errors. This can help to
improve the overall performance of the network and
reduce downtime.
Enhanced Data Security: Error detection can also
help to ensure that the data transmitted over the
network is secure and has not been tampered with.
Disadvantages of Error Detection
Overhead: Error detection requires additional
resources and processing power, which can lead to
increased overhead on the network. This can result in
slower network performance and increased latency.
False Positives: Error detection mechanisms can
sometimes generate false positives, which can result
in unnecessary retransmission of data. This can
further increase the overhead on the network.
Limited Error Correction: Error detection can only
identify errors but cannot correct them. This means
that the recipient must rely on the sender to
retransmit the data, which can lead to further delays
and increased network overhead.
SHORT QUESTIONS
How many types of error detection are there?
There are several types of error detection methods commonly used in
computer networks. Some common error detection methods are:
Simple Parity Check
Two-Dimensional Parity Check
Checksum
Cyclic Redundancy Check (CRC)
Which is the best method of error detection?
Cyclic Redundancy Check (CRC) is often considered one of the best
and most widely used methods due to its high effectiveness and
efficiency.
How many types of computer errors are there?
There are three types of error in transferring the data. These are:
Single bit error
Multiple bit error
Burst error
.
ERROR
CORRECTION
Error Correction
In the digital world, error correction can be done
in two ways:
Backward Error Correction When the receiver
detects an error in the data received, it requests
back the sender to retransmit the data unit.
Forward Error Correction When the receiver
detects some error in the data received, it
executes error-correcting code, which helps it to
auto-recover and to correct some kinds of errors.
