1

Syllabus

•Network functions and structures; message, circuit & packet switching; technology, regulation, standards and market forces

•Applications and Layered architectures; OSI reference model; the TCP/IP architecture

•Transmission fundamentals; communications channels; fundamental limits; properties of media; time-division, frequency-division and code-division multiplexing

•SONET; circuit switches; signalling; congestion control

•Peer-to-Peer protocols; ARQ protocols; adaptation functions

•Packet-switched networks; virtual circuits; routing algorithms;

•TCP/IP networks; IPv4 & IPv6; Voice over IP

•ATM networks; traffic management; Quality of Service

•Wireless networks; 802.11; Bluetooth; GSM/GPRS/UMTS

2

Coursework

•(Individual) Technical Report

–an in-depth report on an assigned topic

»Firewalls, Virtual Private Networks, In-Flight Entertainment networks, Home Interoperability Framework, Powerline networks, Network processors, Instant Messaging systems, Automotive Controller Area Networks, Mesh Broadband networks etc.

–deadline : end of week 5 (7th November)

•Individual Essay

–probably entitled : “Computer Communications Networks in the year 2013”

–deadline : end of term (12th December)

3

Textbook

Communications Networks, Fundamental Concepts and Key Architecture

Alberto Leon-Garcia & Indra Widjaja

International Edition 2003

McGraw-Hill : 0-07-242349-8

(2000 Edition, 0-07-022839-6, almost identical)