CSC4992: Introduction to Computer Networks (Fall 2008)

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Instructor: Dr. Hongwei Zhang                   hzhang AT cs.wayne.edu                     +1 313 577 0731 Class timings: MW 3:00pm - 4:20pm in State Hall 314  Office hours: MW 4:30pm - 5:30pm in 454 State Hall, or by appointment Class webpage: http://www.cs.wayne.edu/~hzhang/courses/4992/4992.html

Teaching Assistant: Yuan Gan (dz0667@wayne.edu) TA Office hours: by appointment

This course is designed for undergraduate students who are interested in the fundamentals of computer networks. Topics include network architecture, multiple access control, packet switching, routing and flow control, congestion control and quality-of-service, Internet protocols (e.g., IP, TCP, and BGP), network security, network management, and elements of distributed computing (e.g., naming, caching, and replication). We examine these topics from the perspectives of both the Internet and emerging networking technologies (such as wireless sensor networks, mobile ad hoc networks, and disruption tolerant networks).

In short, the objective of this course is to help students appreciate the underlying principles of computer networks, to help students build the foundation for understanding advanced topics in networked systems (such as those that will be covered in CSC 6290 and CSC 7290), and to help students build up their skill set necessary for making innovative contributions to both networking technologies and applications.

Undergraduate courses in algorithms, operating systems, and computer architecture (e.g., CSC 3100, CSC 3110, CSC 4420, or equivalent); or consent of instructor.

[R0] Larry Peterson and Bruce Davie, Computer Networks: A Systems Approach (4th edition), Morgan Kaufmann, ISBN: 0123705487.

[R1] Jim Kurose and Keith Ross, Computer Networking: A Top-Down Approach Featuring the Internet (4th edition), Addison-Wesley, ISBN: 0321497708.
[R2] Srinivsan Keshav and S. Keshav, An Engineering Approach to Computer Networking: ATM Networks, the Internet, and the Telephone Network (1st edition), Addison-Wesley, ISBN: 0201634422.
[R3] Mohamed G. Gouda, Elements of Network Protocol Design (1st edition), John Wiley & Sons, ISBN: 0471197440.
[R4] Anurag Kumar, D. Manjunath, Joy Kuri, Communication Networking: An Analytical Approach, Morgan Kaufmann, 2004. ISBN: 0124287514.
[R5] Dimitri Bertsekas and Robert Gallager, Data Networks (2nd edition), Prentice Hall, ISBN: 013200916.
[R6] Sheldon M. Ross, Introduction to Probability Models, 9th edition, Academic Press, 2006.

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Additional reading: Leonard Kleinrock's vision | Leonard Kleinrock's Keynote speech at INFOCOM'06 
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Homework#0 is due on Sept. 29th. (solution)
Homework#1 is due on Oct. 8th.   (solution)
Homework#2 is due on Oct. 15th.  (solution)
Homework#3 is due on Oct. 27th.   (solution)
Homework#4 is due on Nov. 24th.  (solution)
Homework#5 is due on Dec. 8th.  (solution)

Literature review of one of the following fields: 

• Wireless, embedded networking technologies and applications in
• vehicles: V2V, V2I, sensing and control, infotainment, etc.
• industrial control: feedback control, machine health monitoring, etc.

• Sensor network applications and protocol design in
• Healthcare: http://www.agingtech.org/browse.aspx?CA=1
• Engineering: structural health monitoring, factory automation & industrial control, etc.
• Scientific study: environmental engineering, social sciences, etc.
• Homeland security and military, or
  
• Daily life: urban sensing (http://research.cens.ucla.edu/portal/page?_pageid=56,948798&_dad=portal&_schema=PORTAL), security monitoring, etc.
  

• Mobile network applications and protocol design in
• traffic control: real-time road traffic condition detection and control, etc.
  
• auto safety: DSRC, etc.
• homeland security, or
  
• social networks
  

• Heterogeneous network applications and protocol design in
  
• integrated wireless networks (sensor networks, WiFi, cellular) and the Internet etc.
  

• Networking technologies for emerging economies
• network properties: wireless, mobility, intermittent connectivity ...
  
• network services: telemedicine, mobile banking, e-retailing, stored data and voice messaging, remote education, local content and news, security, policing, etc.
  

• Other topics of your choice (with conscent of instructor)
  

Rules:

• Each student should first choose one of the above research fields, and then start surveying the literature to understand the state of the art in the field. You should first understand the major challenges of each field, and then focus your attention on one of the challenges to explore in depth.
• Report the history, development, and open issues of your chosen topic(s)/challenge(s). It will be great if you can form your own opinions of the research topic you have chosen.
• It is required that, in your project report, you present whether and how the basic challenges (such as media access control, routing, and congestion control) in your chosen research field remain the same as or differ from what we have discussed in class.
  

• Students are allowed to form groups in doing projects, but the number of students per group should be no more than 3.
  

Deliverables:

• Written project report. Project report should be in the form of a survey paper. (You can check the survey paper "A Survey on Sensor Networks" for an example.)
• In-class presentation. The slides for your presentation should be sent via email to the class at least one day before your presentation, so that everyone can go over your slides before coming to class.
  

Timeline:

• Select the topic and form your project group by 09/21/2008.
• Detailed project report outline & list of references are due on 10/31/2008.
  
• Present your project in class according to the schedule described here. 
• Presentations: 0   1      
  
• Submit your project report electronically by midnight 12/14/2008.
  

Evaluation criteria:

Your performance in project will be evaluated based on the following metrics:

• Breadth and depth of your understanding of the literature, as evidenced by your project report and presentation.
  
• Presentation quality (e.g., clarity, readability, and conciseness) of your project report and in-class talk.
  

Some data:

Lecture: Attendance is required. Advance notice and permission are required if students cannot attend certain lectures due to hard constraints.

Homework: Homework assignments will be designed to stimulate independent thinking among the students. They will be due at the beginning of class, usually a week after they are given.  Homework assignments will not be accepted after the due date. An exception to this rule is that you give in advance a strong and convincing reason.

Exam: Exams will be scheduled in advance. Unless prior arrangements are made, a grade of zero will be recorded for missed exams.

Grading: The tentative grade weighting for the semester will be:

• Letter grades will be assigned based on performance relative to other students. A tentative grading scale is as follows:

• A regrading request will cause the entire exam/homework/project to be regraded, and thereby the overall grade can increase or decrease.