CNT 4704: Analysis of Computer Communication Networks

Fall 2015

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Instructor: Dr. Cliff Zou (HEC 243), 407-823-5015, czou@cs.ucf.edu

Course Time: MoWe 9:00am – 10:15am , ENG1-384

Office Hour: MoWe 10:15am-11:45am

Course Webpage: http://www.cs.ucf.edu/~czou/CNT4704-15/

Prerequisites:

STA 2023 and (COT 3100 or MAD 2401)

Programming knowledge on C (or C++)

Basic knowledge on Algorithms and Operating systems

 

Online Video Streaming:

We will use UCF Panopto video recording system. You can find the link to the Panopto video on webcourse left side main course menu panel.  Each lecture’s video will be posted online about two hours after the corresponding face-to-face lecture time. We will also use WebCourse for student discussions, questions and answers, homework/project assignment and submission.

Textbooks:

Computer Networking: A Top Down Approach Featuring the Internet (6th edition), J.F. Kurose and K.W. Ross, Addison-Wesley Longman, 2013. (4th or 5th edition of this book is also OK)

Course catalog description and credit hours:

This 3 credit course is titled " Analysis of Computer Communication Networks." From the University of Central Florida Catalog: "PR: (COT 3100C or MAD 2104) and STA 2023 each with grades of ""C"" (2.0) or better. Network design using layering. Introduces cabling, topology, architecture, hardware and software. Includes performance and control issues such as congestion control, error control, contention resolution."

 

Course Learning Objectives:

This course introduces the fundamental concepts in computer communication networks, their protocols, and applications. Examples will be drawn from the Internet (e.g., TCP, UDP, and IP) protocol suite, Wifi protocols, and from many real world cases.

In current world, almost everything is computerized and everything is connected. Knowledge on networking becomes as indispensable to Computer Science students as Algorithms or Operating Systems. Network related jobs compose a large portion of the job market in IT industries. Therefore, computer networking knowledge and skill will be critical for Computer Science students in their future career.

 

Planned Outline of Topics:

  1. Course outline and introduction (1 week)
  2. Internet application layer (4 weeks)
    1. Web application and HTTP protocol (learn how to use wireshark for network traffic monitoring as a lab assignment)
    2. Socket programming (programming assignment on coding a client and a server code running on two machines to communicate with each other)
    3. Email and SMTP protocol (learn how to manually send a spam email as a lab assignment)
    4. DNS, peer-to-peer networking  (homework assignment on application layer)
  3. Internet transport layer (2 weeks)
    1. Reliable data transfer principles (programming assignment on reliable data transfer between two nodes on an emulated unreliable channel)
    2. TCP protocol
  4. Internet network layer (2 weeks)
    1. IP protocol and addressing
    2. Network routing principle
    3. NAT and DHCP protocols  (homework assignment on transport and network layer)
  5. Internet data link layer and Wifi protocol (1.5 weeks)
    1. Error correction coding; multiple access protocols
    2. Wifi protocols
  6. Cellular and mobile technologies (2 weeks)
    1. Overview of smart phone technologies
    2. Overview of IOS and Andriod operating systems
    3. Mobile protocols
    4. Mobile logical channel descriptions, registration procedures, encryptions standards
    5. Mobile identifiers, and Location-based Services (homework assignment on cellular and mobile technologies)
  7. Network and wireless security (2.5 weeks)
    1. Classical and modern cryptography
    2. Public key cryptography and its applications
    3. Cellular network vulnerabilities and security protocols
    4. Wifi vulnerabilities and security protocols (learn how to conduct Wifi disassociation attack as a lab assignment)

 

Grading Policy:

The final grade will use +/- policy, i.e., you may get A, A-, B+, B, B- … grade. Because this class has online session, the two exams are open book and similar to all regular homework assignments, except that they have a 24-hour submission constraint.

 

Coursework

Approximate amount

approximate percentage

 

Written homework

27%

 

Programming projects

  2

26%

Lab assignments

2

18%

  Midterm exam

1

14%

  Final exam

1

15%

 

Attention to students who receive federal student aid: As of Fall 2014, all faculty members are required to document students' academic activity at the beginning of each course. In order to document that you began this course, please complete the first homework assignment on WebCourse by the end of the first week of classes, or as soon as possible after adding the course, but no later than August 28. Failure to do so will result in a delay in the disbursement of your financial aid.  This first homework assignment will not be graded or counted in final grading.