Computer Communications

Here are links to the course home page and the formal TQA description.

Introduction

Historically, computing and telecommunications were viewed as distinct technical entities. Now, with the advent of cheap computers, mobile devices and sophisticated computer networks, these have merged to provide a set of information resources and facilitaters which pervade almost all aspects of our lives. The course examines the fundamental techniques used to implement the sharing of information between computers, and applies them to all levels of communication, from the transmission of bits along physical connections to the distribution of computations over many processors.

Context

The course requires a general knowledge of how computers work and how humans communicate. A formal requirement is programming expertise. The course is a precursor for the final-year Computer Networking module which covers more recent developments and future trends in computer networking.

Syllabus

Introduction and overview

information, time, space, protocols;

Information

sharing information in a distributed system;

Time

achieving synchronisation in a distributed system;

Space

achieving connectivity in a distributed system;

Message broadcast networks

characteristics, architectures, standards;

Message switching networks

characteristics, architectures, standards;

Inter-networks

characteristics, architectures, standards;

Case studies

perhaps two reasinably sized examples;

Real world issues

Internet, OSI, social implications, local experience.

Activities

The method of delivery is two lectures per week. There are no formal tutorials.

Assessed Coursework

There is a piece of assessed coursework to implement components of an internationally standard connection-oriented protocol during the second half of the term; a set of short exercises in the first half of the term are used as a basis for this work. The coursework involves understanding a protocol specification, and then the design and implementation of software modules to complete a software system that simulates real-time communication with a trusted implementation over a channel with non-ideal properties.

The short exercises count for 20% of the overall coursework mark; they are promulgated at the beginning of week 3 of term, must be submitted at the beginning of week 5 of term, and are returned at the end of week 5 of term.

The main exercise counts for the remaining 80% of the overall coursework; it is promulgated during week 6 of term, must be submitted by the end of term, and is returned at the beginning of the next term.

References:

** Andrew Tanenbaum Computer Networks (4th edition), Prentice Hall 2003.

** William Buchanan Distributed Systems and Networks, McGraw Hill, 2001.

Gordon Brebner Computers in Communication, McGraw Hill, 1997. Book out of print, but electronic copy will be available.

Douglas Comer Computer Networks and Internets with Internet Applications (3rd edition), Prentice Hall 2001.

Fred Halsall Data Communications, Computer Networks and Open Systems (4th edition), Addison Wesley 1996.

William Stallings Data and Computer Communications (6th edition) Prentice Hall, 2000.