CSCE 462/862 – Communication Networks
Spring 2017, MWF 2:30PM – 3:20PM
Room 106, Avery Hall
Instructor
Dr. Massimiliano Pierobon
Assistant Professor
Department of Computer Science and Engineering
University of Nebraska-Lincoln
Lincoln, NE 68588
Office: 107 Schorr Center
Office Hours: M W 3:30PM – 4:30PM or by appointment.
Tel: (402) 472-5021
Fax: (402) 472-7767
Web: http://cse.unl.edu/~pierobon/
E-mail: [email protected]
Teaching Assistant
Description
This course will introduce the students to the architecture of
communication networks, a voyage to the heart of our cyber
society, revealing the under-the-hood secrets of one of the
largest and most complex systems ever engineered: the Internet.
We will delve into the fascinating world of the latest internet
applications (VoIP, YouTube, Netflix) and see how they
actually work. We will uncover the secrets of a transport
protocol: how two entities can communicate reliably over a
medium that may lose and corrupt data. Then, we will look at
how a piece of information (packet) from your home can take
an intricate route around the world to go to your friend down
the road. We will then study how a many computers connected
to the same link can diligently transmit messages without
interfering, and how a corrupted message can be restored to its
original state through both simple and sophisticated techniques.
We will finish by studying how a message is physically
propagated between a transmitter and a receiver, and some of
the principles of Wireless, Mobile, and Sensor Networks (WiFi,
3G, and 4G), keeping always an eye to everyday practical use
cases.
Prerequisites
• Computer Organization (CSCE 230/230H) or Foundations
of Computer Systems (RAIK 284/284H, JDEP 284/284H)
• Data Structure and Algorithms (CSCE 310/310H) or
Foundations of Computer Science (RAIK 283/283H, JDEP
283/283H)
Or consult with the course instructor by email or appointment.
Required Textbook
Computer Networking: A Top-Down Approach
6
th
Edition, by James F. Kurose and Keith W. Ross
(ISBN-10: 0132856204 • ISBN-13: 9780132856201)
Optional Textbooks
Communication Networks: Fundamental Concepts and Key
Architectures
by Alberto Leon-Garcia and Indra Widjaja
Computer Networks
by Andrew S. Tanenbaum, David J. Wetherall
Computer Networks: A Systems Approach
by Larry L. Peterson and Bruce S. Davie
Course Topics
1. Introduction to Communication Networks and the Internet
2. The Application Layer
3. The Transport Layer
4. The Network Layer
5. The Link Layer
6. The Physical Layer
7. Advanced Communication Network Topics
a. Wireless Networks
b. Multimedia Networking
Course Organization
• TWO Exams
o Midterm Exam
o Final Exam
• 4 Homework Assignments
o To be solved individually
• 2 Programming assignments (optional for undergrads)
o Based on the ns-3 simulation environment
o To be solved individually
o Will help you consolidate the concepts seen in class
in a more practical and engaging way
Grade Distribution
Graduate Students:
Homeworks Assignments: 20%
Laboratory Projects: 15%
Midterm Exam: 30%
Final Exam: 30%
In-class Participation and Professionalism: 5%
Undergraduate Students:
Homeworks Assignments: 25%
Midterm Exam: 35%
Final Exam: 35%
In-class Participation and Professionalism: 5%
For undergraduate students who turn in lab project assignments,
the final grade will be the best between the two distributions
Attendance Policy
Although attendance is not strictly enforced, the instructor will
periodically check the class attendance with an attendance
sheet. If not properly justified, repeated absence from the class
lectures will impact the “In-class Participation and
Professionalism” scores.
Additional Materials
All the following additional materials will be available in
Blackboard Learn:
• Lecture notes
• Additional reading resources
• Homework assignments
• Laboratory Project task assignments and software
Homeworks
Homework submissions will be through the web handing
system.
Late homework is penalized 10% per day, and no homework
will be accepted after the solution is posted online
Academic Integrity
All homework assignments, quizzes, exams, etc. must be your
own work. No direct collaboration with fellow students, past or
current, is allowed unless otherwise stated. The Computer
Science & Engineering department has an Academic Integrity
Policy:
http://cse.unl.edu/ugrad/resources/academic_integrity.php
All students enrolled in any computer science course are bound
by this policy. You are expected to read, understand, and follow
this policy. Violations will be dealt with on a case-by-case basis
and may result in a failing assignment or a failing grade for the
course itself.
Students with
Disabilities
Students with disabilities are encouraged to contact the
instructor for a confidential discussion of their individual needs
for academic accommodation. It is the policy of the University
of Nebraska-Lincoln to provide flexible and individualized
accommodations to students with documented disabilities that
may affect their ability to fully participate in course activities or
to meet course requirements. To receive accommodation
services, students must be registered with the Services for
Students with Disabilities (SSD) office, 132 Canfield
Administration, 472-3787 voice or TTY.
Suggestion Box
The CSE Department has an anonymous suggestion box
(http://cse.unl.edu/department/suggestion.php) that you may use
to voice your concerns about any problems in the course or
department if you do not wish to be identified.
Stay Up-to-date
It is CSE Department policy that all students in CSE courses are
expected to regularly check their email so they do not miss
important announcements.
CSE Resource
Student Center
The CSE Student Resource Center (Avery Hall 13A) is intended
to provide UNL Computer Science and Computer Engineering
majors who are new to the program with a set of resources that
will help them assimilate to college life and encourage them to
continue their study of Computer Science and Computer
Engineering (http://cse.unl.edu/src).
This syllabus will be updated and expanded as the semester progresses.
