Carleton University
SYSC4602
Department of Systems and Computer Engineering
Introduction to Computer Communications
Fall 2000
Instructors:
Professor Ioannis Lambadaris, Room 4442 ME, 520-1974, Email: ioannis@sce.carleton.ca,
http://www.sce.carleton.ca/faculty/lambadaris.html
Professor Sami Aly, Room ME4230 Email: saly@sce.carleton.ca,
http://www.sce.carleton.ca/faculty/aly.html
Course Web Page: We will have two web pages, which should be regularly consulted by
the students from BOTH sections.
Web page no. 1: http://www.sce.carleton.ca/faculty/lambadaris/94_462.htm
Web page no. 2: http://www.sce.carleton.ca/courses/94462/f02/
(user: sysc4602
pw:Everest_02May)
Note the change of the folder name, user ID and PW. The course official number is now
SYSC4602 not 94.462. Any changes in web pages will be communicated to the students during
the lectures.
Teaching Assistants:
Siddiqi Amir
asiddiqi@sce.carleton.ca
Tang Yiqun
yhtang2000@hotmail.com
Tao Xiaojing
xiaojing@sce.carleton.ca
Zhu Jie
jzhu@sce.carleton.ca
Course Objectives:
To provide an introduction to telecommunication networks and computer
communications. Emphasis will be given on principles of operation and elementary
performance analysis Finally some emerging technologies will be introduced and
discussed.
Lectures/Laboratories
Section 1, Professor Lambadaris:
101AT Tue 11:30 1.5 hours, Thu 11:30 1.5 hours
Section 2, Professor Sami Aly
329PA Tue 11:30 1.5 hours, Thu 11:30 1.5 hours
Laboratory: 507A, 508A, Thursday 8:30, 3 hours ; every second week
Office Hours:
Professor Lambadaris: 1:30-2:15pm on Tuesdays and Thursdays (i.e. after lectures).
Other times can be arranged by appointment only
Sami Aly: 1:30-2:15pm on Tuesdays and Thursdays (i.e. after lectures). Other times can
be arranged by appointment
Tutorials for labs etc. may be arranged at a later time.
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Carleton University
SYSC4602
Department of Systems and Computer Engineering
Introduction to Computer Communications
Fall 2000
Textbook:
Mandatory Text:
Computer Communications and Networking technologies, M.A. Gallo, W. M. Hancock,
Brookes/Cole, ISBN: 0-534-37780-7
Recommended Text:
Communication Networks: A First Course, J. Walrand, Second Edition, McGraw-Hill, 1998,
ISBN= 0-256-17404-0,
Additional References:
1. Computer Networking: A Top-Down Approach Featuring the Internet, Addison
Wesley 2001
1. Communication Networks: A First Course, J. Walrand, Irwin, 1991, TK5105.5.W35.
2. Data Networks, D. Bertsekas and R. Gallager, 2nd edition, Prentice-Hall, 1992,
K5105.B478 1992.
3. Data and Computer Communications, W. Stallings, 5th edition, Prentice-Hall, 1997,
TK5105.S73 1996.
4. Computer Networks, A. S. Tanenbaum, 3rd edition, Prentice-Hall, 1996,
TK5105.5.T36 1996.
5. High-Speed Networks: TCP/IP and ATM Design Principles, W. Stallings, PrenticeHall, 1998, TK5105.585.S73.
6. An Engineering Approach to Computer Networking: ATM Networks, the Internet,
and the Telephone Network, S.Keshav, Addison-Wesley, 1997, ISBN #0-201-634422.
7. Broadband Integrated Networks, M. Schwartz, Prentice-Hall, 1996, TK5103.75.S38.
8. Computer Networks and Internets, D. E. Comer, Prentice-Hall, 1997,
TK5105.5.C5897.
9. Networking Standards, W. Stallings, Addison Wesley, 1993, TK5105.5.S788.
10. Probability and Random Processes for Electrical Engineering, A. Leon-Garcia,
Addison Wesley, 1989, TK153.L425
11. Queueing Systems, L. Kleinrock, vol. 1, John Wiley, 1975, T57.9.K6.
Prerequisites:
Fourth-year registration in Electrical or Computer Systems Engineering. Undergraduate
preparation in probability theory, including functions of a random variable.
Exams:
There will be one midterm exam and a final exam.
Midterm will be closed book. Calculators are allowed. You are also allowed to have a double
sided page (8.5X11) page with notes (the instructors may prepare a page with formulas for the
students, details will be posted in due time). The date of the midterm is Thursday October 22.
The University will schedule the final exam and it will be closed book as the midterm. A
page with formulas will be allowed. The final examination is for evaluation purposes
only and will not be returned to the student.
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Carleton University
SYSC4602
Department of Systems and Computer Engineering
Introduction to Computer Communications
Fall 2000
Furthermore we will have 4 mini-tests, two of which will be given before the midterm.
All mini-tests will be formally announced before they are given.
Marking:
Assignments (4-5 total) and mini-tests: 20% total weight towards final grade
LATE ASSIGNMENTS WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED.
The class is relatively big and tolerance to late assignments/labs may create significant
overhead.
Laboratory: 10% total weight towards final grade (2 labs on network simulation)
Mid-term: 30% total weight towards final grade
Final: 40% total weight towards final grade
A passing mark in the final exam and midterm is required to pass this course.
Students may form groups of up to 3 persons/group for labs and assignments. In this case
the group grade will be the same grade for each student in the group! The groups
formation will not change during the course.
Solutions to the assignment problems are given to the IEEE office and the Library
Reserves.
Week by week outline:
(Week 1) Course arrangements and introductory material. Course logistics and quick
overview of contents of the course.
(Week 2) Physical Layer
(Week 3) Data Link layer and protocols.
(Week 4-5) Network Layer
(Week 6-7) Transport Protocol (introduction to TCP)
(Week 7-8) Local Area Networks and LAN Interworking
(Week 9) Wide Area networks and Introduction to Frame Relay
(Week 10) Asynchronous Transfer Mode (ATM)
(Week 11) Advanced Topics: Traffic Management and Quality of Service
(Week 12) Internetworking, Router Architectures, MPLS
(Week 13) Overview and discussion/questions from students prior to course completion
Preparation for final exam: Requests for correction of possible errors must be received
before final exam.
Students with Disabilities:
Students with disabilities requiring academic accommodations in this course are
encouraged to contact a co-ordinator at the Paul Menton Centre for Students with
Disabilities to complete the required letters of accommodation. After registering with the
PMC, make an appointment to meet and discuss your needs with us at least two weeks
prior to the first in-class test or itv midterm exam. This is necessary in order to ensure
sufficient time to make the necessary arrangements. Please note the following deadlines
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Carleton University
SYSC4602
Department of Systems and Computer Engineering
Introduction to Computer Communications
Fall 2000
for submitting forms to the PMC for formally scheduled exam accommodations:
November 1 for fall courses.
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