Syllabus for EE4272 - Computer Networks

Syllabus for EE4272 - Computer Networks

Spring, 2004

Instructor:

Tricia Chigan
Office: EERC 712; Phone: 487-2494; Email:

Lectures:

TuTh 8:05-9:20am, EERC 218
Office hours: TuTh. 9:30-10:30am, or by appointment
Course Homepage:
Course Mailing List:

Required Text:

Computer Networks – A System Approach,3nd edition, by Larry L. Peterson & Bruce S. Davie, 2003

Reference Texts:

1)Data & Computer Communications, 6th edition, by William Stallings, 1999;

2)Communication Networks – Fundamental Concepts and Key Architectures, by Alberto Leon-Garcia & Indra Widjaja, 2000;

3)Computer Networks, 4th edition, by Andrew S. Tanenbaum, 2002

Course Objective:

This is not a system administrator training course;It focuses on the principles underline instead of the knowledge of network applications.The goal of this course is to introduce the fundamental network architecture concepts and their core principles/issues in the emerging Communication/Data Networks.The course intends to give the students a complete picture of the data and computer networks systematically.The course emphasizes the concepts and issues underlying the design and implementation of communication networks.

After taking this course, you should have a good understanding of:
- The Basic Principles of Data Communications;
- Communication Protocols and Protocol Architectures;
- Alternative Design Approaches;
- Standards in Data Communications.
Course Outline:

The coursework will include reading, homework & Quizzes, programming-based project/term paper, and two exams. As a senior level course, in addition to the basic material covered in the lectures, the course project and term paper are designed to motivate the students' further interests on some state-of-the-art technologies and research topics within the current network community. The required text "Computer Networks – A System Approach" covers most of the lecture and homework material.The supplemental material related to the course projectand term paper will be provided via the course webpage.

Tentative Course Schedule:
This Course Schedule is preliminary and subject to change.

Week / Topics / References / Assignments
(1)1/12/04 - 1/16/04 / Overview of Computer Networks:
Introduction: Communication Model, Protocols & Protocol Architecture; Standards / Chapter 1
Part of Chapter 2 / Course Survey
(2) 1/19/04 - 1/23/04 / Protocols & Architecture: OSI Model; TCP/IP
Data Transmission: Analog & Digital Data Transmission; Transmission Impairments / Part of Chapter2
Chapter 3 / HW#1
(3) 1/26/04 - 1/30/04 / Transmission Media: Guided Transmission Media; Wireless Transmission
Data Encoding: DDDS; DDAS / Chapter 4
Part of Chapter 5 / HW#2
(4) 2/02/04 - 2/06/04 / Data Encoding: ADDS; ADAS; Spread Spectrum
Data Link Control: Flow Control; Error Detection; Error Control / Part of Chapter 5
Chapter 7 / HW#3
(5) 2/09/04 - 2/13/04 / Multiplexing: FDM; Synchronous TDM; Statistical TDM; DSL
No class on Thursday, 2/13/03 (Winter Carnival Recess) / Chapter 8 / Project/
Term Paper
(Phase 1)
(6) 2/16/04 - 2/20/04 / Circuit Switching: Circuit Switching Concept; Routing in Circuit Switch; Control Signaling
Packet Switching: Principles; Routing; (Midterm will be held on Friday Afternoon?) / Chapter 9
Chapter 10 / HW#4
(7) 2/23/04 - 2/27/04 / Project related problem solving;
ATM Network: ATM Logical Connection; ATM Cells; ATM Service Categories / Chapter 11 / HW#5
(8) 3/01/04 - 3/05/04 / Spring Break
(9) 3/08/04 - 3/12/04 / Take-home Problems (No Class) / Project/
Term Paper
(phase 2 & 3)
(10) 3/15/04 - 3/19/04 / Congestion Control in Data Network / Part of Chapter 12 / HW#6
(11) 3/22/04 - 3/26/04 / Problem Solving Session
LAN Technologies: LAN Architecture; Bus/Ring/Star; Wireless LAN / Project; Homework
Chapter 13 / HW#7
(12) 3/29/04 - 4/02/04 / LAN System: Ethernet; Token Ring & FDDI; Fiber Channel / Chapter 14
(13) 4/05/04 - 4/09/04 / Internet Protocols: Connectionless Internetworking; Internet Protocol / Chapter 15 / HW#8
(14) 4/12/04 - 4/16/04 / Internetwork Operation: Routing Protocols; Differentiated Services / Chapter 16 / HW#9
(15) 4/19/04 - 4/23/04 / Transport Protocol: TCP; TCP Congestion Control; UDP / Chapter 17 / HW#10
(16) 4/26/04 - 4/30/04 / Problem Solving Session
(17) 5/03/04 - 5/07/04 / Final Exam Week / Final Exam

Evaluation/Grading:

Homework & Quizzes: 25% (At most8 homework sets will be assigned throughout the Semester).
Midterm Exam: 25%.
Final Exam: 25% (The exams will be comprehensive and closed book/notes).
Project/Term paper: 25% (3 work stages will contribute to the total of 25 points. Each of the first two stages contributes to 5 points).

Notes:

• Pop Quiz will be given about once a week at the mid of lecture time. It generally has one or two short questions related to the previously assigned HW problems and the lecture materials.
• HW is not purposed on preparing the exams, but helping you on studying the course material. Therefore the problems in the mid and final exams do not have to be similar to the HW problems. In general, the exam problems are less difficult than the HW problems.

More on Project/Term paper:

Students are required to choose working on a programming based course project, or an academic term paper. The finalized projects and the suggested term paper topics will be distributed bythe 10th of Feb. Basic/Medium level Java/C/C++ programming skill are expected to work on the course project. The term paper requires literature study on the latest development/research issues and technologies within the coverage of this course. Up to 2 students can group into one team for the course project; the term paper has to be done individually. You can choose to work on either the course project or term paper before the due date of “phase 1" of the course project/term paper assignment.Check out at for the most updated information.

Course Policies & Notices:

• Attendance of the lectures is strongly recommended. The instructor is not responsible for the material covered in your absence. If you have a legitimate reason for the absence of any lecture session, please let me know before the lecture session.
• The course mailing list is . All registered students should be able to access this mailing list. Course announcements such as schedule changes and problem discussions will be posted through this mailing list. It is the students’ responsibilityto keep up to the most updated announcements.
• Homework assignmentand due date will be distributed via mailing list and posted on the course webpage. Late assignment will be penalized 30% of the earned points for each class day.
• I will answer questions regarding assignment in office, lecture and via email. However, I will cease to respond to an assignment 24 hours prior to the due date.
• Discussions on the assignments are allowed, however, copying or representing someone else’s work orany forms of cheating may cause a grade of F as the penalty.