The University of Wolverhampton

School of Computing and Information Technology

CP4022 - Research Topics in Networks and Distributed Systems.

Assessment 1. (60%)

You should prepare a research bibliography and critical review of a topic to be decided after consultation with the module leader. Typical length of the review would be between 5000 and 10000 words and should include a bibliography of 20 –50 academic journal and conference papers. (Please note that coverage and content are the criteria used for assessment and not the length of the review.)

Available topic areas are:

1. Approaches to context awareness in mobile networks / 6. Application layer or overlay multicasting
2. Multimedia delivery via Bluetooth / 7. Security in e-voting
3. Agents in dependable sensor networks / 8. Secure document transmission techniques
4. Analysing content of online discussion forums / 9. Energy saving in wireless networks
5. Modelling and simulation of streamed services / 10. Concurrent multipath transport

Assessment 2. (20%)

You should present your findings to the rest of the group in a research seminar. Preparation of a PowerPoint (PPT) slide show is compulsory. This should be made available in ePortfolio for the rest of the group and the module team to access before the time of your presentation.

Assessment 3. (20%)

You should prepare a critical review of all the topics covered by the seminars given by ALL the students on the module. This will take the form of an essay (1500 words max.) that highlights the various topics and fits them into the wider research context of the subject. You should concentrate on trends and issues rather than the individual topics.

Assessment hand-in

You should file your PowerPoint slideshow in ePortfolio before your presentation slot.

You should file both of your reports on or before Friday 2nd May 2008

Presentations will be assessed in the lecture slot for the module.

Outline assessment criteria

Distinction

An outstanding piece of work of publishable quality.

Pass

Work which covers all the relevant points but lacks the critical insight required for a distinction. Some errors are acceptable.

Marginal Fail

Work where the quality of presentation or content are below an acceptable standard or where important findings have been omitted.

Fail

Work that does not address any of the relevant issues.