CPS 470/570 Data Communications

This course will teach the fundamentals of data communications. This is a senior/graduate level course that is part of a two part series in computer communications. This first course introduces the problems and solution techniques of the communications field. It focuses primarily on the ``lower-layer'' protocols: physical, data-link, and network. The second course, CPS 472/572 Computer Networking, focuses on the ``upper-layer'' protocols.

Instructor

Available Documents

Fall 1996

• Course Syllabus
• Homework 1
• Homework 2
• Homework 2 Source Code
  • Unix Source Code
  • DOS Source Code
• Homework 3

Fall 1995

• Examination 1
• Examination 2
• Final Examination

Prerequisites

Textbook

Fred Halsall, Data Communications, Computer Networks and Open Systems 4th Edition, Addison-Wesley, 1996.

Course Objectives

My primary objectives for the students in this class are:

• To learn the terminology of networking/communications.
• To understand the fundamental problems and solution techniques that arise in the physical, data-link, and network layers.
• To understand the details of some specific protocols. This includes identfying which fundamental solutions techniques are incorporated into these protocols.
• To evaluate different protocol solutions using performance evaluation techniques.

Grading

Grades will be computed on a 90-80-70-60 scale. The weights assigned to various items are:

• Programs/Homework: 100 points
• 2 Exams: 200 points
• Final Exam: 200 points

Topics Covered

• Overview, terminology, standards
• Data Transmission, Data Encoding
• Digital Communications: Sync, Async
• Errors and Error Control
• Flow control: link utilization
• Data Link Protocols: HDLC
• Multiplexing: FDM, TDM
• Circuit Switching Architectures: Telco
• Packet Switching Architectures: X.25
• LAN Technologies
• MAC Protocols: ALOHA, CSMA/CD, Token
• Performance Analysis
• Integrated Digital Networks