Postgraduate Course: Computer Networking (Level 11) (INFR11049)

Course Outline
School	School of Informatics	College	College of Science and Engineering
Course type	Standard	Availability	Available to all students
Credit level (Normal year taken)	SCQF Level 11 (Year 4 Undergraduate)	Credits	10
Home subject area	Informatics	Other subject area	None
Course website	http://course.inf.ed.ac.uk/cn	Taught in Gaelic?	No
Course description	Computer networking is a major area of interest in practical computer science. This course aims to give students a perspective on the many and diverse techniques and structures used in communications networks. Additionally it covers recent developments in the area and future trends.

Entry Requirements (not applicable to Visiting Students)
Pre-requisites	It is RECOMMENDED that students have passed Computer Communications and Networks (INFR09027)	Co-requisites	It is RECOMMENDED that students also take Distributed Systems (Level 11) (INFR11022)
Prohibited Combinations	Students MUST NOT also be taking Computer Networking (Level 10) (INFR10011)	Other requirements	This course is open to all Informatics students including those on joint degrees. For external students where this course is not listed in your DPT, please seek special permission from the course organiser. Students are also assumed to have basic knowledge of Java programming.
Additional Costs	None

Information for Visiting Students
Pre-requisites	None
Displayed in Visiting Students Prospectus?	Yes

Course Delivery Information

Delivery period: 2013/14 Semester 1, Available to all students (SV1)			Learn enabled: No	Quota: None
Web Timetable	Web Timetable
Course Start Date	16/09/2013
Breakdown of Learning and Teaching activities (Further Info)	Total Hours: 100 ( Lecture Hours 20, Summative Assessment Hours 2, Programme Level Learning and Teaching Hours 2, Directed Learning and Independent Learning Hours 76 )
Additional Notes
Breakdown of Assessment Methods (Further Info)	Written Exam 75 %, Coursework 25 %, Practical Exam 0 %
Exam Information
Exam Diet	Paper Name	Hours:Minutes
Main Exam Diet S2 (April/May)		2:00

Delivery period: 2013/14 Semester 1, Part-year visiting students only (VV1)			Learn enabled: No	Quota: None
Web Timetable	Web Timetable
Course Start Date	16/09/2013
Breakdown of Learning and Teaching activities (Further Info)	Total Hours: 100 ( Lecture Hours 20, Summative Assessment Hours 2, Programme Level Learning and Teaching Hours 2, Directed Learning and Independent Learning Hours 76 )
Additional Notes
Breakdown of Assessment Methods (Further Info)	Written Exam 75 %, Coursework 25 %, Practical Exam 0 %
Exam Information
Exam Diet	Paper Name	Hours:Minutes
Main Exam Diet S1 (December)		2:00

Summary of Intended Learning Outcomes
1 - Be able to describe different types of internet applications (including delay sensitive multimedia applications) and their associated transport and network resource allocations issues. 2 - Be able to contrast between different types of wireless networks in terms of their application scenarios, architectures, resource allocation problems as well as describe cross-cutting issues such as mobility support. 3 - Be able to describe various network performance metrics and their measurement methodologies and techniques. 4 - Be able to grasp the research on advanced topics in networking and summarise it in writing. 5 - Have obtained hands-on experience in simulation based performance study of networks. 6 - Have developed an insight into cutting edge issues in the field of networking.

Assessment Information
Written Examination 75 Assessed Assignments 25 Oral Presentations 0 Assessment Two assignments. One will be on writing a survey based on set of papers on a cutting edge research topic in networking. Other will be a simulation based performance study of network protocols.

Special Arrangements
None

Additional Information
Academic description	Not entered
Syllabus	* Introduction: overview of current network structures; message, circuit and packet switching. Influencing factors: technology, regulation, standards and market forces. * Applications and layered architectures: web browsing, email; the OSI Reference Model. * Properties of media: twisted pair, co-axial cable, optical fibre, radio. Multiplexing: frequency-division; time-division, CDMA, WDM. * SONET. Telephone network switches and signalling. Traffic and routing control. Cellular & Satellite phone networks. * Peer-to-Peer protocol service models; ARQ protocols: Stop & Wait, Go-Back-N, Selective Repeat; transmission efficiency. * Routing algorithms: static and dynamic; centralised and distributed; link state and distance vector routing; Bellman-Ford; Dijkstra; Flooding. Interior and Exterior Internet routing protocols. * Traffic Management and Congestion control. * TCP/IP architecture; IP packets, addressing, routing; IPv4 & IPv6. Voice over IP. * ATM Networks: Adaptation Layers; Quality of Service parameters. Network management. * Wireless networks: 802.11, Bluetooth, GSM/GPRS/UMTS. Relevant QAA Computing Curriculum Sections: Computer Communications, Computer Networks
Transferable skills	Not entered
Reading list	* James Kurose, Keith Ross, "Computer Networking: A Top-Down Approach", 6th Edition, Pearson Education 2012 * L.Peterson and B Davie, "Computer Networks: A Systems Approach", 5th Edition, Morgan Kaufmann 2011 * A. Tanenbaum and D. Wetherall, "Computer Networks", 5th Edition, Pearson Education, 2013 * Additional readings in the form of other reference texts and research papers as needed
Study Abroad	Not entered
Study Pattern	Lectures 20 Tutorials 0 Timetabled Laboratories 0 Non-timetabled assessed assignments 30 Private Study/Other 50 Total 100
Keywords	Not entered

Contacts
Course organiser	Dr Mary Cryan Tel: (0131 6)50 5153 Email: mcryan@inf.ed.ac.uk	Course secretary	Miss Kate Farrow Tel: (0131 6)50 2706 Email: Kate.Farrow@ed.ac.uk