17928 - Telecommunication Networks L-A

Learning outcomes

The aim of the course is to provide students with a knowledge of telecommunication networks operation and dimensioning, with particular emphasis on computer networks.

Course contents

Introduction to telecommunication networks.
Legacy networks and services. Telegraph, telephon and radio communications.
Evolution of  Telecommunication scenarios, computer and networks, ISDN.
Telecom scenarios in the past: subscribers, operators, market, industry; standardization, ITU.
Broadband ISDN, transfer modes, ATM.
Modern scenarios: deregulation, new operators, mobile networks, Internet. Possible future scenarios.

Computer networks.
Examples of legacy computer networks, proprietary networks, ITU networks, ARPANET.
Computer network architectures: layering and the ISO-OSI Reference Model. Terminology and functions of the different OSI layers.
Others layered models.

Teletraffic problems.
Teletraffic defitions, Erlang.
Little's theorem.
Queueing systems, Kendall's notation, arrival process, service process.
The traffic in a queueing system, loss system with no queue and system with unlimited queue.

Phisical layer problems.
Point-to-point and point-to multipoint connections.
Standard EIA/TIA RS 232. Application scenario, modem, DTE, DCE. Mechanical, electrical, functional and procedural characteristics. Standard evolutions: RS 422, 423, 449.
Phisical layer standards according to ITU-T. Raccomandations V24, X21 and X21 bis.
Modern modems for telephon network, RJ11 connector. x-DSL connections.
USB standard for serial ports.

Data link layer problems.
Synchronization problems, asynchronous protocols for character terminals.
Exemple of data link protocols: the HDLC protocol. Frame format, dialog procedure. Error recovery, sliding window protocol, flow control.
Error detection codes. Parity bit. Polynomial codes and related detection capacity.
Evaluation of the throughput for a data link layer protocol. Optimization without and with transmission errors.

Local Area Networks (LAN)
LAN topology alternatives. Distributed control and multiple access protocols.
example of contention protocols. The Aloha protocol; analysis of efficiency and stability problems. The CSMA protocol with and without Collision Detect. Manchester encoding.
The Ethernet LAN.
Collision free access protocols. The token ring and token passing protocols.
IEEE 802 project. General architecture, LLC and MAC. Documents of IEEE 802 commissions.
Evolution of the standard IEEE 802.3 (Ethernet). Switched Ethernet, Fast Ethernet, Gigabit Ethernet.
Wireless local area networks, IEEE 802.11, IEEE 802.15 and IEEE 802.16.
LAN interconnection: hub and repeaters, bridges and routers.

Network layer problems.
Addressing problems.
Principle of circuit switching, message and packet switching.
Routing function, routing tables.
Routing algorithms. Shortest path routing: the Dijkstra algorithm.
Routing protocol classification. Flooding, Hot potato. Distance Vector and Link State protocols.

The Internet
Short history. Internetworking. The TCP/IP protocol family.
The IP protocol: functions and pcket format. IP addressing, subnetting, supernetting.
The ARP protocol.
Routing in the Internet. Authonomous systems. Interior gateway protocols: RIP, OSPF. Exterior gateway protocols: BGP.
Introduction to Internet transport protocols: UDP, TCP.

Readings/Bibliography

A. S. Tanenbaum, 'Computer networks', 4th edition,  Prentice Hall PTR, 2002.
D. E. Comer, 'Computer Networks and Internets', 4th edition, Prentice Hall, 2004.
J. F. Kurose, K. W. Ross, 'Computer Networking: A Top-Down Approach Featuring the Internet', 3rd eedition, Addison Wesley,  2005

Teaching methods

Lectures presenting theoretical topics as well as practical case studies. 

Assessment methods

Test with multiple choices questions and open questions.
During the course the exam will be split in a mid term test concerning the first half of the program and a final test about the second half.
The test aims at proving that the student understands the principle of operation of modern telecommunication networks and knows the characteristic of the most common protocols.

Teaching tools

Slides provided by the teacher, available at:

http://elearning.ing.unibo.it/corso.php?id_autore=&id_insegnamento=349&aa=2007&RIL=A-Z&IDCDS=26.

Links to further information

http://deisnet.deis.unibo.it/Didattica/CorsiBO/RetiLA/

Office hours

See the website of Giorgio Corazza