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525.441 - Computer and Data Communication Networks I Course Homepage

Instructor Information

Nasser Nasrabadi

Email: nnasraba@arl.army.mil
Work Phone: (301) 394-0806

Course Information

Course Description

This course provides a comprehensive overview of computer and data communication networks, with emphasis on analysis and modeling. Basic communications principles are reviewed as they pertain to communication networks. Networking principles covered include layered network architecture, data encoding, static and multiaccess channel allocation methods (for LAN and WAN), ARQ retransmission strategies, framing, routing strategies, transport protocols, and emerging high speed networks.

Prerequisites

525.414 Probability and Stochastic Processes for Engineers and 525.416 Communication Systems Engineering, or equivalents.

Course Goal

Comprehensive overview of computer and data communication networks, with emphasis on analysis and modeling. Complete investigation of the performance of application layer protocols, transport protocols, IP routing, multimedia, and data link level issues.  Review of circuit and packet switching. Wide area networks such as ATM and Frame Relay will be covered. Overview of SONET will be provided.

Course Objectives

  • Students will gain basics of knowledge about data communications and the protocols used in a typical speech and data comunication network.  Students will understand the technology behind the local area networks and wide area networks.

When This Course is Typically Offered

Spring Semester - APL Campus

Syllabus

Topics Covered

  • OSI Layers, TCP/IP Protocol Suite
  • Analog and Digital Data
  • Error Detection and Correction
  • Circuit and Packet Switching
  • Data Link Layer (HDLC)
  • Flow and Error Control
  • Medium Acess Control Protocols (IEEE 802.3)
  • Routing Techniques in Packet Switching
  • Frequency and Time Division Multiplexing
  • ATM and Frame Relay networks
  • Wireless Communication Networks
  • Intelligent Hubs, Bridges
  • Ethernet and Lan Switches

Student Assessment Criteria

EXAM1 30%
EXAM2 30%
Take Home Project 20%
HWs 20%

There will be 6-7 homework sets, each due the week after it is assigned. All the homework sets are distributed with the course syllabus on the first day of class. The in-class exams will be open book, open notes exams. Forming study groups is encouraged.

Textbooks

Textbook information for this course is available online through the MBS Direct Virtual Bookstore.

Course Notes

There are notes for this course.

(Last Modified: 04-09-2009 at 12:19:56 PM)