Faculty Contact Information:
Prior to the start of class contact is via email at the address shown above.
Phone number and snail-mail address will be provided in the Tycho classroom. | |
Consultation:
Primary means of contact is within the Tycho classroom.
Contact via phone and email is possible to discussion of personal issues. | |
Required Texts and Readings:
| Leon-Garcia, Alberto, & Widjaja, Indra. (2004). Communication Networks: Fundamental Concepts and Key Architectures. Boston, MA: McGraw-Hill. ISBN 0-07-119848-2. | |
Supplementary Readings:
The standard for papers in the graduate program is the APA style. All participants in this course and all graduate MSIT, INSS, MGMT, PUAD, and ECON courses should have a copy of the style guide:
American Psychological Association. (2001). Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association (5th edi.). Washington DC: Author.
All graduate students should be prepared to utilize theUMUC online library. The library contains a large number of full text academic journals that are free of charge and immediately available. The library homepage also contains a number of links related to improving students' research and writing skills. | |
Recommended Journals:
| Publications of the various professional societies (such as ACM -- the Association for Computing Machinery, the IEEE Computing Society, and the various management professional societies) are strongly recommended. In addition, there are many trade journals (such as eWEEK) that IT professionals should become familiar with, many of these being published both weekly and on-line. | |
Course Description:
| The course begins with a study of data communication fundamentals. These include digital and analog signals; modulation; circuit and packet switching; multiple access schemes such as Frequency Division Multiple Access (FDMA), Time Division Multiple Access (TDMA) and Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA); and telecommunication standards such as the Open System Interconnect (OSI) Model. The course then moves to telecommunications networks with a review of Local Area Networks (LANs) including topologies; contention access methods; and internetworking devices such as bridges, routers and gateways. Also covered are Wide Area Networks (WANs) including the Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN), wireless networks such as cellular, Personal Communication Systems, and wireless data; the Integrated Services Digital Network (ISDN); X.25; Frame Relay; and Asynchronous Transfer Mode (ATM). Finally, the course examines the network convergence issue; that is, one network for data, voice, images, and video. | |
Course Goals:
Upon successful completion of this course, the student should understand and be able to apply knowledge concerning:
- Underlying fundamentals of data communication.
- Network topologies and protocols.
- Telecommunication standards.
- Hardware and software supporting networks and data communications.
- Current and emerging issues and trends in networks and communications.
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Course Objectives:
Upon successful completion of this course, the student should be able to:
- Describe fundamental concepts of network architecture and essential functions common to all networks.
- Identify and delineate transmission systems, new access network technologies, and different types of networks.
- Define, evaluate, and compare major technological and scientific developments in network systems.
- Compare and assess methods in network management and network security.
- Apply concepts and techniques to specific network environments.
- Evaluate trends in network technology and their impact on the future of network development.
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Grading Information:
Grading Information:
Final grades will be calculated as follows:
20% - Mid-term Examination
20% - Final Examination
30% - Weekly Exercises and Research Assignments
30% - Conference Participation and Focus Questions Discussions
Note that the last day to withdraw from the course is Friday, 20 April.
According to the Graduate School grading policy, the following symbols and scale are used:
A = excellent (90-100)
B = good (80-89)
C = passing (70-79)
F = failure (less than 70)
The grade of "B" represents the benchmark for the Graduate School. It indicates the student has demonstrated competency in the subject matter of the course, i.e., has fulfilled all course requirements on time, has a clear grasp of the full range of course materials and concepts, and is able to present and apply these materials and concepts in clear, reasoned, well-organized and grammatically correct responses, whether written or oral.
Only students who full meet this standard and, in addition, who demonstrate exceptional comprehension and application of the course subject matter, merit an "A."
Students who do not meet the benchmark standard of competency fall within the "C" range or lower. They, in effect, have not met graduate level standards. Where this failure is substantial, they earn an "F." | |
Course Requirements:
Course Requirements:
1. Examinations: The mid-term and final examinations will be open books, notes, and research materials. You will be expected to work on your own, without consulting other people (except to ask questions of the professor). These examinations will consist of several smaller (short answer) questions, and at least one large essay question.
2. Weekly Exercises and Research Assignments: These activities will be focused on the specific material to be covered within the week. These are submitted in the Assignments Folder (not visible to other student in the WebTycho classroom), and are graded for accuracy and content, with individual feedback from the professor.
3. Conference Participation and Focus Questions Discussions: These activities are also assigned weekly, and will be focused on the material to be covered within the week and on topics of current interest. These provide your opportunity for public discussion these activities will take place via postings in the Conference section of the WebTycho classroom, visible to all students in the class). These postings are evaluated on the bases of timeliness and relevance. | |
Description of Course Requirements:
Successful graduate students in American universities dedicate approximately three hours of preparation/study time for every hour spent in the face-to-face classroom. Thus, the following course requirements were developed on the assumption that students would be prepared to spend approximately 150 hours of their own time working on them. In an 8-week term, that is the equivalent of a half-time job. Most 14-week graduate distance education courses require at least 10 hours per week of dedicated time, plus time spent in the virtual classroom.
STATEMENT ON WRITING REQUIREMENTS:
Effective managers and leaders are also effective communicators. Written communication is an important element of the total communication process. The Graduate School recognizes and expects exemplary writing to be the norm for course work. To this end, all analyses and papers must demonstrate graduate level writing ability and comply with the format requirements of the Publications Manual of the American Psychological Association. All writing assignments will be graded on the basis of content, logic, analysis, mechanics, organization, and research. Careful attention should be given to source citations, proper listing of references, the use of footnotes, and the presentation of tables and graphs. Work submitted online should follow standard procedures for formatting and citation.
POLICY ON ACADEMIC INTEGRITY:
Academic integrity is central to the learning and teaching process. Students are expected to conduct themselves in a manner that will contribute to the maintenance of academic integrity by making all reasonable efforts to prevent the occurrence of academic dishonesty. Academic dishonesty includes (but is not limited to) obtaining or giving aid on an examination, having unauthorized prior knowledge of an examination, doing work for another student, and plagiarism of all types.
PLAGIARISM:
Plagiarism is the intentional or unintentional presentation of another person's idea or product as one's own. Plagiarism includes, but is not limited to the following: copying verbatim all or part of another's written work; using phrases, charts, figures, illustrations, or mathematical or scientific solutions without citing the source; paraphrasing ideas, conclusions, or research without citing the source; and using all or part of a literary plot, poem, film, musical score, or other artistic product without attributing the work to its creator. Students can avoid unintentional plagiarism by following carefully accepted scholarly practices. Notes taken for papers and research projects should accurately record sources of material to be cited, quoted, paraphrased, or summarized, and papers should acknowledge these sources in footnotes. The penalties for plagiarism include a zero or a grade of F on the work in question, a grade of F in the course, suspension with a file letter, suspension with a transcript notation, or expulsion. Resubmission of course work from previous classes (whether or not taken at UMUC, UMUC-Europe or BSU), partially or in its entirety, is not acceptable in this course and will result in an automatic failure on the assignment.
DISABLED STUDENTS:
Students with disabilities who need to register or request services should contact the Staff Support Team four to six weeks in advance of registration to request and register for services.
COURSE EVALUATIONS:
Feedback on each graduate course and instructor is important to the university, your professor, and to all UMUC students. UMUC has the responsibility to assess the effectiveness of classroom instruction, and each student has the responsibility to provide accurate and timely feedback through completion of the course evaluation form. This is a shared obligation for us all. It is therefore important that you complete the evaluation form for each course you attend. This should be viewed as an additional course and program requirement. | |
Course Schedule:
Please note that this is a projected schedule. Readings, exercises, and discussions will include, but are not limited to, the topics listed below.
Note also that there will be supplementary readings in addition to the textbook.
week of 29 Jan: Introduction to Communication Networks
- Overview of the Course
- Communication Networks and Services
- Approaches to Network Design
- Layered Architectures
- Application Protocols
Reading: Leon-Garcia, Chapters 1-2
week of 5 Feb: Data Transmission Fundamentals
- Digital Representation of Information
- Characterization of Communication Channels
- Fundamental Limits in Digital Transmission
- Line Coding
- Modems and Digital Modulation
- Properties of Media
- Error Detection and Correction
Reading: Leon-Garcia, Chapter 3
week of 12 Feb: Transmission Systems and the Telephone Network
- Multiplexing
- SONET (Synchronous Optical Network)
- Wavelength Division Multiplexing
- Circuit Switches
- The Telephone Network
- Cellular Telephone Networks
- Satellite Cellular Networks
Reading: Leon-Garcia, Chapter 4
week of 19 Feb: Peer-to-Peer Protocols
- Peer-to-Peer Protocols
- ARQ (Automatic Repeat Request) Protocols
- Other Adaptation Functions
- Data Link Controls
- Link Sharing using Packet Multiplexers
Reading: Leon-Garcia, Chapter 5
week of 26 Feb: Local Area Networks
- LAN (Local Area Network) Structure
- The MAC (Media Access Control) Sublayer
- The LLC (Logical Link Control) Sublayer
- Random Access
- Scheduling Approaches to Medium Access Control
- Channelization
- LAN Standards
- LAN Bridges
- LAN Switching
- Virtual LANs
Reading: Leon-Garcia, Chapter 6
week of 5 Mar: Packet-Switching Networks
- Packet Network Topology
- Datagrams and Virtual Circuits
- Routing in Packet Networks
- Shortest Path Algorithms
- ATM (Asynchronous Transfer Mode) Networks
- Traffic Management and Quality of Service
- Congestion Control
- Routing Protocols
- Configuring Routers with Different Routing Protocols
Reading: Leon-Garcia, Chapter 7
due not later than 11 Mar: Midterm Exam
course break is 12-18 Mar
week of 19 Mar: TCP/IP
- The TCP/IP (Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol) Architecture
- IP Addressing
- Subnet Addressing
- IP Routing
- IPv6
- TCP and UDP (User Datagram Protocol)
- DHCP (Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol) and Mobile IP
- Internet Routing Protocols
- Multicast Routing
Reading: Leon-Garcia, Chapter 8
week of 26 Mar: ATM Networks
- BISDN (Broadband-Intergrated Services Digital Network) Reference Model
- ATM Layer
- ATM Adaptation Layer
- ATM Signaling
- PNNI (Private Network-to-Network Interface) Routing
Reading: Leon-Garcia, Chapter 9
week of 2 Apr: Advanced Network Architectures
- IP Forwarding Architectures
- Overlay Model
- MPLS (Multi-Protocol Label Switching)
- Integrated Services
- RSVP (Resource Reservation Protocol)
- Differentiated Services
Reading: Leon-Garcia, Chapter 10
week of 9 Apr: Security Protocols
- Security Protocols
- IPSec (IP Security)
- Secure Socket Layer and Transport Layer Security
- Cryptographic Algorithms
- DES (Data Encryption Standard)
- The RAS Algorithm (Rivest, Shamir, and Adleman)
Reading: Leon-Garcia, Chapter 11
Note that the last day to withdraw from the course is Friday, 20 April.
week of 16 Apr: Multimedia Information and Networking
- Lossless Data Compression
- Huffman Codes
- Run-Length Codes
- Adaptive Codes
- Techniques for Increasing Compression
- The Real-Time Transport Protocol
- Session Control Protocols
Reading: Leon-Garcia, Chapter 12
week of 23 Apr: Network Management
- Network Management Overview
- SNMP (Simple Network Management Protocol)
- Structure of management Information
- Management Information Base
- Remote Network Monitoring
- Network Traffic Monitoring and Trouble-shooting with some Management Tools
Reading: Leon-Garcia, Appendix B
due not later than 29 Apr: FINAL EXAM | |
Academic Policies:
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The University has a license agreement with Turnitin.com, a service that helps prevent plagiarism from internet resources. I may be using this service in this class by either requiring students to submit their papers electronically to Turnitin.com or by submitting questionable text on behalf of a student. If you or I submit part or all of your paper, it will be stored by Turnitin.com in their database throughout the term of the University's contract with Turnitin.com. If you object to this temporary storage of your paper, you must let me know no later than two weeks after the start of this class. Please Note: If you object to the storage of your paper on Turnitin.com, I may utilize other services to check your work for plagiarism
The official university policy on Plagiarism and Academic Dishonesty can be found at http://www.umuc.edu/policy/aa15025.shtml. Section I.C. states: "Faculty may determine if the resubmission of course work from previous classes (whether or not taken at UMUC), partially or in its entirety, is acceptable when assigning a grade on that piece of course work. Faculty must provide this information in their written syllabi. If the resubmission of course work is deemed to be unacceptable, a charge may not be brought under this Policy and will be handled as indicated in the written syllabi."
Please refer to Description of Course Requirements for specific information on how resubmissions will be treated in this course.
Students with disabilities should contact the appropriate support office at UMUC-Europe.
Jan Keller, Director of Student Services
UMUC-Europe, Heidelberg
Phone: +49-6221-378299
Email: edstudent_svc@ed.umuc.edu
Mailing Address: Unit 29216, APO AE 09102 OR Im Bosseldorn 30, D-69126 Heidelberg, Germany
Please refer to the UMUC-Europe Graduate Catalog for information on the following:
Academic Integrity
Course Load
Exception to Policy
Grade Appeal Process
Make-up Examinations
Nondiscrimination
Code of Civility
Hard copies of the catalog are available at your local Education Center. | |
Faculty Bio:
Dr. Dean earned the BA in Mathematics from Vanderbilt University, and the MS and PhD in Computer Science from the University of Alabama at
Birmingham. She has worked at various times as a programmer, programmer/analyst, systems analyst, and project manager in the areas of
medical information systems, small business support, and life insurance. Since 1975, she has been involved in teaching and curriculum development
in computing, most recently at Samford University in Birmingham, AL, prior to joining UMUC - Europe. She has served for several years on the
Board of Directors, and currently serves as President, of the Consortium for Computing Sciences in Colleges (CCSC). She serves on the Regional
Board of the CCSC Southeastern Conference, and as Associate Editor of the Journal for Computing Sciences in Colleges. Her areas of interest include curriculum development, database management systems, programming languages, networks, and information security. | |