Course Overview
This course offers an in-depth coverage of the architecture, interfaces, protocols, and technologies of high-speed broadband networks. Topics include broadband wide-are network (WAN) technologies such as gigabit routers with IP switching, MPLS, ATM and Frame Relay; broadband LAN technologies: Fast Ethernet and Ethernet Switching, Gigabit Ethernet, and FDDI; broadband access technologies: DSL and Cable modems, as well as discussion of congestion control and traffic management, provision of different levels of quality of service (QoS), resource reservation, unicast and multicast routing, and multimedia compression and security of broadband networks. 4 cr In the past few years, we have seen a historical phenomenon -the Internet and therefore the usage of computers have grown from an obscure technical infrastructure to a public communication media with millions of users allover the world. This growth, supported by the phenomenal success of the WWW, has not only forced the development of new communication protocols (IPv6, routing, mobile protocols) and services (active networks, network security), but it has encouraged the proliferation of new application types (e.g., live audio and video) that lead to new requirements to the underlying protocols and services (resource reservation, real-time support). This course presents design and implementation principles of high-speed networks and Internet. The focus is on the concepts and fundamental design principles that have contributed to the global Internet's scalability and robustness. Furthermore, This course deals with the hierarchical design and analysis of high-speed packet networks. It covers a plethora of high-speed network technologies from fast Gb Ethernets, Frame Relay, ATM to ones emploing the Internet Protocol (IP) at the network layer and the Transmission Control Protocol (TCP) at the transport layer. Issues related to implementation are discussed in detail. Topics covered include: the data link layer, local area networks, ATM networks, switching and bridging, the network layer, addressing and routing, sockets, reliable, connection-oriented and unreliable, connectionless transport protocols, mobile IP , IP telephony, and real-time services

Prerequisites
CS 535 or consent of instructor. The students should have a basic knowledge of computer networks and only a small fraction of lecture time is spent reviewing introductory material

Learning Objectives
The course is designed to provide students with an opportunity to develop the skills necessary to follow the cutting edge technologies in the field of broadband high-speed computer networks, including:

· Understand the technologies, interfaces, and protocols used for broadband access networks · Understand the most successful protocols, implementations, and technologies for broadband Local Area Networks · Analyze and compare the competing architectures, protocols, and technologies used for building broadband Wide Area Networks · Analyze Performance issues in Broadband Networks · Identify the quality of service (QoS) issues in broadband networks and present potential solutions · Discuss special issues and trends in the implementation of broadband networks in the form of research papers · Propose, complete and present a research projects in the area of broadband networks

As a result of completion of this course, the students are expected to be familiar with current approaches to the design and implementation of broadband high-speed packet networks. Using the knowledge that they receive during the course, they should be capable of designing a a network architecture, select optimal protocols. They should understand how to decide which services to implement on each connected computer, and how to do troubleshooting and a performance analysis of a network.. Also, students who complete this course should understand basic design issues in interconnecting high-speed networks of different types, and should have a functional understanding of main factors affecting Internet performance.

Methods of Instruction
The method of instruction includes both face-to-face and web-based components: The face-to-face component includes
. Lectures that are typically used for presenting new material; a variety of teaching approaches are used in the lectures, including traditional problem solving on the blackboard, PowerPoint slide presentations, video, interactive learning with Personal Response Systems;
. Discussions of exercises, homework and reviews for exam and projects;
. Laboratory sessions for initial tutorials in the software environment (e.g. how to edit, compile, run programs in a specific Integrated Development Environment), or work with technologies not available on an individual basis, (e.g. hand, signature, fingerprint recognition in the biometrics lab).
. Teamwork on projects and in-class presentation and discussion of the project results.

The web-based component is managed through a course companion web site in CourseInfo that includes . lecture notes,
. references, library and other institutional resources, links to Internet resources;
. homework assignments and solutions;
. on-line homework submission;
. grade management: remote private access to grading information for the student, spreadsheets and grade statistic functions for the instructor;
. a wealth of communication types: chat (individual or groups), threaded discussion, e-mail (individual or groups), bulleting board;

Evaluation and Grading
One project, several assignments, a midterm and a final examination will provide the basis for the grade.. The final grade will be assigned based on the following scale:

· 5% Homeworks
· 5% Quizzes
· 10% Lab
· 30% Midterm Exam
· 50% Project, broken down as shown below
. Annotated bibliography part (5 pts)
. Research proposal (5 pts)
. Survey Paper (25 pts)
. Research and Presentation (15 pts)


Academic Honesty
The course is governed by the Academic Conduct Committee policies regarding plagiarism (any attempt to represent the work of another person as one's own). This includes copying (even with modifications) of a program or segment of code. You can discuss general ideas with other people, but the work you submit must be your own. Collaboration is not permitted.

Instructor Information
Lubomir Todorov-Citkusev, Ph.D.
Associate Professor of Computer Science
Computer Science Department
Metropolitan College, Room 250
Boston University
808 Commonwealth Ave
Boston, MA 02215
Phone: 617-353-6771; fax: 617-353-2367
E-mail: LTC@bu.edu

Lab
Laboratory exercises based on OPNET simulation tool have to be successfully completed in this class. Some of the classes will meet in the Computer Science Telecommunication Lab (Lab 2) at MET Computer Science department at 808 Commonwealth Avenue, Rm-264.

Homework
Mandatory homework assignments are assigned in this class, usually after a completion of a chapter. The students are required to solve and submit the homework problems in timely manner.

References
Required Testbook
High-Speed Networks and Internets: Performance and Quality of Service, 2/E Quality of Service, 2/E (ISBN: 0-13-032221-0, Publisher: Prentice Hall)
In addition, there are assigned readings from journal articles and conference papers. Optional Textbooks
1. TCP/IP Illustrated. Volume 1: The Protocols, by W. Richard Stevens.

 

Schedule

1. Introduction. A Brief Networking History. The Need for Speed and Quality of Service. Advanced TCP/IP and ATM Networks. Outline of the Book.
2. Protocols and Architecture. The Need for a Protocol Architecture. The TCP/IP Protocol Architecture. The OSI Model. Internetworking.
3. TCP and IP. Transmission Control Protocol (TCP). User Datagram Protocol. The Internet Protocol (IP). IPv6.
4. Frame Relay. Packet-Switching Networks. Frame Relay Networks.
5. Asynchronous Transfer Mode (ATM). ATM Protocol Architecture. ATM Logical Connections. ATM Cells. ATM Service Categories. ATM Adaptation Layer (AAL).
6. High-Speed LANs. The Emergence of High-Speed LANs. Ethernet. Fibre Channel. Wireless LANs.
7. Congestion Control in Data Networks and Internets. Effects of Congestion. Congestion and Control. Traffic Management. Congestion Control in Packet-Switching Networks. Frame Relay Congestion Control.
8. Link-Level Flow and Error Control. The Need for Flow and Error Control. Link Control Mechanisms. ARQ Performance. Recommended Reading. Appendix 11A: High-Level Data Link Control.
9. TCP Traffic Control. TCP Flow Control. TCP Congestion Control. Performance of TCP Over ATM.
10. Traffic and Congestion Control in ATM Networks. Requirements for ATM Traffic and Congestion Control. ATM Traffic-Related Attributes. Traffic Management Framework. Traffic Control. ABR Traffic Management. GFR Traffic Management.
11. Exterior Routing Protocols and Multicast. Path-Vector Protocols: BGP and IDRP. Multicasting.
12. Integrated and Differentiated Services. Integrated Services Architecture (ISA). Queuing Discipline. Random Early Detection. Differentiated Services.
13. Protocols for QOS Support. Resource Reservation: RSVP. Multiprotocol Label Switching. Real-Time Transport Protocol (RTP).