ECSE-414: Introduction to Telecommunication Networks

September 2003

(3 credits, Tues. & Thurs. 10:05-11:25, Room ENGTR 1080)

 

Course Outline

General Information

Prerequisites:                   undergraduate courses in signals and systems (ECSE-304), computer engineering (ECSE-222), and probability and random signals or equivalent relevant experience.

                                          Basic knowledge of programming techniques (Matlab or C can be used).

 

Instructor:                        Prof. Mark Coates

                                          Room 759 McConnell Engineering Building

                                          Phone:        398-7137

                                          Fax:            398-4470

                                          e-mail:        coates@ece.mcgill.ca

                                          TAs:           Garrick Ing, Tarem Ahmed (contact details to be announced).

 

                                          Office Hours:          Tues., Thurs.: 2-4

                                                                        Other times by appointment.

 

 

Course Content

 

The course provides an introduction to telecommunication networks. The focus is primarily on data (computer) networks, but components of the course also examine telephone network principles. ECSE-414 strives to provide students with an understanding of networking fundamentals, focusing on key concepts of network analysis and design. The course explores in detail the concepts of layering, routing, congestion control, and medium access control. In keeping with the nature of the textbook, the course follows a top-down approach, commencing with networking applications to motivate the study of networking protocols, architectures and principles.   

 

 

Course Component

Approximate No. Lectures

 

 

Introduction

1

Overview

(Network structure; circuit versus packet-switched networks, history of telephone network and Internet, layering principles)

1

Application Layer Protocols

(principles, examples: http, mailing protocols, DNS, web-caching and peer-to-peer file sharing, intelligent network and GSM)

2

Transport Layer

(Multiplexing in time and frequency, connectionless transport: UDP, connection-oriented transport: TCP, Congestion control, digital synchronous hierarchy, SONET, Wavelength Division Multiplexing, ATM as a transport technology)

6

Network Layer and Routing

(Network service models, routing principles, Internet Protocol, Routing in the Internet, Switches, Multicast, Resource Allocation, Dynamic Routing, Mobility and MPLS)

6

Data-Link Layer and LAN Technologies

(Error-detection and correction, Multiple Access Protocols, LAN addressing, Ethernet, Token Ring and FDDI, Hubs and Bridges.)

4

Multimedia Networking

(Applications, Streaming, ATM, Best-effort service, Quality-of-service, Integrated Services, RSVP, Differentiated Services)

2

Network Security

2

 

Course Materials

 

Required Text:           James F. Kurose and Keith W. Ross, “Computer Networking: A Top-Down Approach Featuring the Internet,” (2nd Edition) Addison-Wesley, 2002, ISBN 0-201-97699-4

                                    (in bookshop and on reserve)

 

Reference Texts:       Alberto Leon-Garcia and Indra Widjaja, “Communication Networks: Fundamental Concepts and Key Architectures,” McGraw-Hill, 2000, ISBN 0-07-242349-8. (on reserve)

 

                                    Andrew Tanenbaum, “Computer Networks,” (3rd Edition), Prentice Hall, 1996, ISBN 0-13-349945-6.

 

                                    Dimitri Bertsekas and Robert Gallagher, “Data Networks,” (2nd Edition), Prentice Hall, 1992, ISBN 0-13-200916-1.

 

 

                                   

Assignments and Evaluation

 

Evaluations

Description

Contribution to Final Grade

 

 

 

Programming Assignments

2 Programming Exercises

15 %

Term Paper

Abstract and a 5 page report

15 %

Mid-term Exam

(1 hour in class); numerical problems and short answers

20 %

Final Exam

Exam period; numerical problems, short answers and longer descriptive answers.

50 %

 

Homework questions are provided but are not evaluated. They are to be used as a study tool. Solutions will be provided, some questions will be examined in class, and optional tutorials will be conducted. The method of evaluation and the format of the exams may have to be changed in the event of circumstances beyond the instructor’s control. Every effort will be made to consult the class if changes are needed.

 

                                   

Course Readings and Homeworks

 

There are 3 lecture hours and 6 homework hours each week associated with the course. Listed below are the course readings and the suggested allocation of the six hours over the 14 week semester. There are approximately 80 homework hours allocated to the course. According to the assignment breakdown, an approximate allocation of these hours is: reading, study, homework questions and revision, 56 hours (assessed by exams); term paper, 12 hours; and programming exercises, 12 hours.

 

For reading, I assume 20 pages per hour for descriptive material and 12 pages per hour for more complicated material. Reading should be completed before the associated lecture. During the course, students will be asked to indicate the amount of time they are devoting to the course each week, so minor adjustments to assigned material can be made. My allocation of homework hours assumes substantial multi-tasking and careful planning. You may choose, for example, to do all the work for programming assignment 1 in week 6, but please do not then complain to me about work overload because all your courses have assignments due and you have midterms to study for….

 

Week

Lecture Material

Reading and Study

 

( 51 hours)

Programming Assignments

(12 hours)

Term Paper

 

(12 hours)

1 half-week, Sep 1

Introduction

Textbook, Chap.1, 64 pages, 3 hours.

 

Topics handed out

2 Sep. 8

Overview, Application Layer

Textbook, Sections 2.1-2.5, 40 pages,  2 hours.

Web reference, 1 hour.

Revision questions, 1 hour.

 

 

Preliminary reading and abstract, 2 hours

3 Sep. 15

Application Layer

 

Transport Layer

Textbook, Sections 3.1-3.3, 15 pages, 1 hour.

Revision questions, 1.5 hours

Assignment 1,

2 hour.

Preliminary reading and abstract, 1 hours.

4 Sep. 22

Transport Layer

Textbook, Sections 3.4, 20 pages, 1.5 hours

Handout 1, 10 pages, 1 hour.

Revision questions, 1 hour

Assignment 1, 1.5 hours.

Preliminary reading and abstract, 1 hour.

5 Sep. 29

Transport Layer

Textbook, Section 3.5, 20 pages, 1 hour.

Revision questions, 1 hour.

Assignment 1,

2.5 hours.

Abstract due (200 words).

6 Oct. 6

Transport Layer

 

Routing Layer

Textbook, Sections 3.6-3.7, 30 pages, 2 hours

Textbook, Sections 4.1-4.3

25 pages, 1.5 hours

Revision for midterm, 2 hours.

Assignment 1 due Oct. 7.

Paper, 1 hour

7 Oct. 13

Routing Layer

Revision for midterm, 3 hours.

Midterm exam, Oct. 14.

Handout 2, 20 pages, 1.5 hours.

Assignment 2,

1.5 hour

 

8 Oct. 20

Routing Layer

Textbook, Sections 4.4-4.5,

30 pages, 2 hours.

Revision questions, 1.5 hours

Assignment 2, 1.5 hours

Paper, 1 hour

9 Oct. 27

Routing Layer

Textbook, Sections 4.6-4.8, 30 pages, 2 hours.

Revision questions, 1 hour.

Assignment 2, 3 hours

 

10 Nov. 3

Data-link Layer

Textbook, Sections 5.1-5.3, 30 pages, 1.5 hours.

Handout 3, 10 pages, 1 hour.

Assignment 2, due Nov. 4

Paper, 3 hours

11 Nov. 10

Data-link Layer

Textbook, Sections 5.4-5.6. 30 pages, 2 hours.

Revision questions, 1 hour

 

Paper, 3 hours

12 Nov. 17

Physical Layer

Multimedia

Textbook, Section 5.9, 10 pages, 1 hour

Handout 4, 20 pages, 1 hour.

Textbook, indicated reading from Chapter 6, 30 pages, 1 hour.

Revision questions, 2 hours.

 

Term paper, due Nov. 18

13 Nov. 24

Multimedia

Security

Textbook, Indicated reading from Chapters 6 and 7, 30 pages, 1.5 hours.

Exam revision 4.5 hours

 

 

14 half-week, Dec. 1

Review

Exam revision 3 hours