Computer Science Department

Syllabus

Communication Networks

CS4316, Fall 2010

Joint lectures with EE3354

There is substantial overlap of content between EE33534 and CS4316 and many lectures will be held jointly in room E113 of the (old) Engineering building.

Join the email listserv

It is critical that students join and use the course listserv. Announcements will regularly sent using this listserv. See http://listserv.utep.edu/mailman/listinfo/cs-datacom.

Course Outcomes

• Students who attend this course will be able to understand and apply concepts in new contexts related to:
  1. Separation of communication abstractions into logical layers with specific properties
  2. ISO layered model
  3. Significant properties of IP protocols and algorithms used to implement them
  4. Routing
  5. Thread- and event-driven communication programming models
  6. Abstractions provided by Berkeley sockets
  7. Classes of security properties and how they are commonly achieved
• Students who attend this course will be able to define and will understand the implications of:
  1. Common modulation and coding techniques
  2. Characteristics of common physical media (Ethernet, WiFi, BT, ...)
  3. Bandwidth, latency, reliability metrics
  4. Error detection, correction,
  5. Properties of cryptographic hashes and cyphers.

Planned sequence of topics

Grading

Course grades will be converted to a 50-100 scale, and then linearly combined. Approximate breakdown:

• 1/3 midterms
• 1/3 lab assignments
• 1/3 final exam

For more information, see Grading Policy

TEAM Policies

• Some labs may be reported in teams. However there is always an individual evaluation for each activity.
• Teams could be self selected according to each assignment.  Additional instructions will be given in later.
• All members must contribute for each assignment and need to show their own part in the team's report.
• Is strongly recommended that the team members have the following roles that shall be rotated each time:
  • The scheduler / tracker must distribute the tasks fairly among the members and will verify that each member submits their own part on time. If needed will contact members that are delayed
  • The recorder will consolidate all results and will submit the final report
  • The reviewer must check all contributions from the team.
• The lab problems require the collaboration of the whole team to arrive to the proper solution. Therefore they might require several iterations to arrive to a proper conclusion.

Lab Policies

• You will be required to design and implement several lab assignments over the course of the semester, although there is no need to sign up for an additional lab session.
• Lab assignments may be written in any langauge (though it's easiest in Python)
• A printed lab report will be required for the review.
• Each report must have a typed cover page. The report is composed of several sections. A sample format will be available later.
• Lab reports will be turned in to the professor before each deadline. However each member might be evaluated individually regarding the simulation and report.
• The Lab gradeing criteria is approximately split equally among: function, design, and presentation (including documentation).
• Additional requirements may be stated in the assignments.

Academic Honesty

It is expected that the students will conduct with integrity in all course areas. Do not attempt to engage in a dishonest activity such as copying, plagiarism, falsifying information, etc. The professor will take measures to prevent such instances and will bring a case to the authorities.

Information about University wide policies could be found in the Dean of Students Web page at http://studentaffairs.utep.edu/Default.aspx?alias=studentaffairs.utep.edu/dos