CS6286 Topics on Computer Communications

Course Aims & Objectives:
This course covers selected areas in computer communications that are experiencing rapid development in recent years. The objective is to develop an understanding of advances in some areas of computer communications and the ability to evaluate the applicability of new communication technologies in designing networks and distributed systems.

Units: 3

Level: P6

Medium of Instruction: English

Keyword Syllabus:
Integrated services, ISDN, transmission structure, user-network interface and interworking. Signaling System, broadband ISDN, Data and Voice PABX as an alternative to service integration. High Speed Networks. Fast Ethernet, FDDI, ATM. bandwidth allocation strategies, call admission control, congestion and flow control at cell, burst and call levels, fast buffer reservation schemes, LAN performance, internetworking, repeaters, bridges, gateways, routers, routing in the Internet. ATM LANs, LAN emulation, Wireless LANs, Secure communication, authentication protocols and services, electronic commerce communications, network management, the OSI network management model, fault, configuration, performance, accounting and security management. Definition of managed objects and models of their relationships, network management as special case of system management and distributed object management, network conformance and performance testing.

Teaching Pattern:
Duration of course: 1 semester
Suggested lecture/tutorial/laboratory, other: 2 hrs. lecture, 1 hr. tutorial.

Assessment Pattern:
Examination duration: 2 hours
Percentage distribution of marks for coursework, examination, other: 30% CW; 70% Exam
Grading pattern: Standard (A+AA-...F)
For a student to pass the course, at least 30% of the maximum mark for the examination must be obtained.

Pre-requisite(s):
CS5222 Computer Networks and Internets or CS 6223 Distributed Systems

Pre-cursor(s):
Nil