ECE 436 Syllabus

ECE 436: Computer Communication Networks II (Spring '14) Lectures: TR 11:00am 12:15pm

Room SES 230

General Information

Instructor: Hulya Seferoglu

Office: SEO 1037

Phone: (312) 413-7573

Email: [email protected] (This is the best way to contact me)

TA: Yasaman Keshtkar, Email: [email protected]

Yuxuan Xing, Email: [email protected]

On the Web: Black Board

Office Hours: Hulya Seferoglu: T (12:30pm- 1:30pm) and R (9:30am-10:30am), in SEO 1037

Yasaman Keshtkar: R (2pm 4pm), in SEO 1339

Yuxuan Xing: W (3pm 5pm), in SEO 1337

Prerequisites: ECE 333 or equivalent class in computer networks

Textbook:

- James F. Kurose and Keith W. Ross, Computer Networking: A Top-Down Approach, 6th Edition,

Addison-Wesley, 2013.

Supplementary Texts & References:

- Andrew. S. Tanenbaum and David J. Wetherall, Computer Networks, 5th Edition, Prentice Hall,

2010.

- Dimitri P. Bertsekas and Robert G. Gallager, Data Networks, 2nd Edition, Prentice Hall, 1992.

Course Description: In this course, we will learn about computer networks, in general, and the Internet

in particular. One goal will be to give some insight into the rationale of why networks are structured the

way they are today and to understand the issues facing the designers of next-generation data networks.

Topics will include: layered network architecture, protocols and algorithms at the physical, link and

MAC, network, and transport layers. Time permitting; we may also cover selected topics on multimedia

networking, mobile networks and network security.

Deliverables and Grading:

What Grade

Homework 20%

Midterm I 15%

Midterm II 15%

Project 20%

Final Exam 30%

Homeworks are ~bi-weekly and involve calculations and some programming (wireshark labs, socket

programming, etc.).

Project: The class project will involve reading one to two important research papers ad reporting on

them.

General Policies:

Late policy: No late homeworks, project proposals, and project reports will be accepted. Homework

solutions will be posted online shortly after the deadline. Homeworks, project proposals, project

reports not submitted by the deadline will get zero points. However, to accommodate for unforseen

circumstances, your homework with the lowest grade (including 0 for a missing one) will be

dropped. This means that you can skip one homework without asking permission. This does not

apply to your project proposals and project reports.

Collaboration on homeworks: You are allowed to discuss with your classmates, but you are

supposed to do your homework individually. If we notice that two homeworks are identical, both

students will get 0 grade; they will also be subject to the rules of UIC Academic Integrity Policy.

Attendance is not mandatory. It is up to you to keep up with the materials.

Exam Policy:

1) All the exams, i.e., Midterm I, Midterm II, and Final Exam, are open book, closed notes. You can

access the textbook and reference books during the exam, but you cannot access your slides, notes,

etc. Your book will be checked by the instructor before the beginning of the test. You will not be

allowed to use any textbooks which have any written notes on them.

2) You will be given the opportunity to take a make-up exam only in cases of medical or personal

emergencies, which must be verified. If such an emergency occurs, call me or leave a note (or phone

message) with the department secretary as soon as possible. If you will be out of town when an

exam is scheduled, I must be told in advance and may require you to take the exam early.

Otherwise, if you miss an exam you will receive 0 points.

Grading Policy: 90-100 (A), 80-89 (B), 65-79 (C), 50-64 (D), Below 50 (F).

Religious Holidays: Students who wish to observe their religious holidays should notify instructor by

the tenth day of the semester of the date when they will be absent unless the religious holiday is

observed on or before the tenth day of the semester. In such cases, the students should notify the

instructor at least five days in advance of the date when he/she will be absent. Every reasonable

effort will be made to honor the request.

Academic Integrity: Dishonest actions by students including plagiarism will result in appropriate

disciplinary action. Intentional use or attempt to use unauthorized assistance, materials,

information, or people in any examination, quiz, or assignment may lead to penalties such as a

failing grade. UIC Academic Integrity Policy will be followed.


Room SES 230

Tentative Lecture Schedule

Weeks Date Description

1

T - 01/14 Introduction, Physical Layer R - 01/16

2

T - 01/21 Physical Layer, Link Layer I R - 01/23

3

T - 01/28 Link Layer I and Link Layer II Project proposal deadline is 11:59pm CST on 01/30. R - 01/30

4

T - 02/04 Link Layer II, Link Layer III R - 02/06

5

T - 02/11 Cont. R - 02/13 Midterm I

6

T - 02/18 Network Layer I, Network Layer II R - 02/20

7

T - 02/25 Cont. R - 02/27

8

T - 03/04 Transport Layer I, Transport Layer II R - 03/06

9

T - 03/11 Cont. Project report I submission deadline is 11:59pm CST on 03/11. R - 03/13

10

T - 03/18 Transport Layer II, Application Layer R - 03/20 Midterm II

-

T - 03/25 Spring Break R - 03/27

11

T - 04/01 Application Layer cont. R - 04/03

12

T - 04/08 Mobile Networks R - 04/10

13

T - 04/15 Cont. Project report II submission deadline is 11:59pm CST on 04/17. R - 04/17

14

T - 04/22 Cont. R - 04/24 Project Presentations

15

T - 04/29 Project Presentations R - 05/01

16

M - 05/05 10:30am-12:30pm

Final Exam


Room SES 230

Project Details

The class project will involve reading one to two important research papers ad reporting on them.

Project steps are summarized in the following.

1) Project Proposal: You are to select a topic and one-two papers from the list below.

Project proposal (selecting a topic and papers) is due on 01/30.

This step will be 1% of your grade.

2) Project Report I: You should study the papers you selected in the first step and write a 3-page

(single column 10pt) report. Your report should summarize the papers you studies and explain

how they relate to each other.

Project Report I is due on 03/11.


3) Project Report II: You should write a 3-page (single column 10pt) report. This report should be

devoted to identifying an open problem (in the area you studied in the first two steps) and

attempting to formulated and solve the problem.

Project Report II is due on 04/17.


4) Project Presentation: You will need to prepare 10-min oral presentation on the project. Project

presentation should include your motivation to choose the topic, summary of the papers, and

the open problems in the area and your approach. Presentations will be scheduled in the last

two weeks of classes.


Note I: If you wish to research a topic that is not on the list, that would be ok, but you should seek my

approval for your plan.

Note II: Projects can be conducted as a team of up to three students. Multiple people projects should

select the number of papers according to their size. That is 2-people team should select at least two

papers to study, 3-people tem should select at least three papers to study.

Note III: Different projects and teams may select the same/similar papers. Each team is responsible for

their independent project. If we notice that multiple projects on the same topic are identical, both

teams will get 0 grade from their project. They will also be subject to the rules of UIC Academic Integrity

Policy.

Project Topics: See Project Topics file on Blackboard.

Documents

ECE 436 Syllabus