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COMP5213: Computer and Network Organisation (2015 - Semester 1)

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Unit: COMP5213: Computer and Network Organisation (6 CP)
Mode: Normal-Day
On Offer: Yes
Level: Postgraduate
Faculty/School: School of Computer Science
Unit Coordinator/s: Dr. Taheri, Javid
Session options: Semester 1
Versions for this Unit:
Site(s) for this Unit: http://www.it.usyd.edu.au/~comp5213/
Campus: Camperdown/Darlington
Pre-Requisites: None.
Brief Handbook Description: This unit of study provides an introduction to computer organisation and network protocols. It covers a broad range of topics including computer hardware, software architecture (operating systems, compilers, etc), and principles of communication network protocols. It is designed to give students an understanding of how software programs operate and run inside the computer hardware, and therefore the knowledge how to use computers most effectively.
Assumed Knowledge: None.
Lecturer/s: Associate Professor Zhou, Bing Bing
Dr. Taheri, Javid
Timetable: COMP5213 Timetable
Time Commitment:
# Activity Name Hours per Week Sessions per Week Weeks per Semester
1 Lecture 2.00 1 13
2 Tutorial 1.00 1 11
3 Independent Study 8.00 13

Attributes listed here represent the key course goals (see Course Map tab) designated for this unit. The list below describes how these attributes are developed through practice in the unit. See Learning Outcomes and Assessment tabs for details of how these attributes are assessed.

Attribute Development Method Attribute Developed
Students will design and implement a simple reverse Polish notation (RPN) calculator in IJVM assembly language using the stack principle. Design (Level 3)
Students will learn fundamental concepts of computer architecture and network organisation and will be exposed to the latest developments in such fields. Engineering/IT Specialisation (Level 3)
For each assessment item, a significant level of documentation and demonstration is required Communication (Level 3)
The research report assessment item in the course has an option to work in pairs. In such a case, two students will design and implement a cache simulator and conduct a simulation study to make their research findings and results more solid Professional Conduct (Level 2)

For explanation of attributes and levels see Engineering & IT Graduate Outcomes Table.

Learning outcomes are the key abilities and knowledge that will be assessed in this unit. They are listed according to the course goal supported by each. See Assessment Tab for details how each outcome is assessed.

Design (Level 3)
1. Familiarizing different number representations (i.e., binary, hexadecimal and decimal) and make use of these in the assembly language level
Engineering/IT Specialisation (Level 3)
2. Understanding the architecture of computer, especially instruction set, memory hierarchy and processor architecture through the introduction of a simplified processor that can run Java bytecode;
3. Understanding network architecture and protocols (especially application level protocols and TCP/IP) and making effective use of a network tool and programming interface.
Communication (Level 3)
4. Ability to study technical concepts and details, and present research reports (e.g., cache replacement policies and their advantages and disadvantages).
Assessment Methods:
# Name Group Weight Due Week Outcomes
1 Assignment No 10.00 Week 6 1,
2 Assignment No 15.00 Week 9 2,
3 Assignment No 15.00 Week 12 3, 4,
4 Final Exam No 60.00 Exam Period 1, 2, 3, 4,
Assessment Description: Assignment: Assignment 1 (Data Representation)

In this assignment, students are asked to write a C++ code to perform basic bitwise operations.

Assignment: Assignment 2 (IJVM Assembly Programming)

In this assignment, students are ask to write an assembly program using the IJVM simulator that will be introduced in the course.

Assignment: Assignment 3 (Cache Management)

In this assignment, students are ask to write a report about different caching policies and how they may effect performance of a system.

They will be using cachesim, another tool that will be introduced during the course.

Final Exam: Final Exam

Final exam will cover all materials of the course. it will measure how students learned the taught materials.
Grading:
Grade Type Description
Standards Based Assessment Final grades in this unit are awarded at levels of HD for High Distinction, DI (previously D) for Distinction, CR for Credit, PS (previously P) for Pass and FA (previously F) for Fail as defined by University of Sydney Assessment Policy. Details of the Assessment Policy are available on the Policies website at http://sydney.edu.au/policies . Standards for grades in individual assessment tasks and the summative method for obtaining a final mark in the unit will be set out in a marking guide supplied by the unit coordinator.
Minimum Pass Requirement It is a policy of the School of Computer Science that in order to pass this unit, a student must achieve at least 40% in the written examination. For subjects without a final exam, the 40% minimum requirement applies to the corresponding major assessment component specified by the lecturer. A student must also achieve an overall final mark of 50 or more. Any student not meeting these requirements may be given a maximum final mark of no more than 45 regardless of their average.
Policies & Procedures: IMPORTANT: School policy relating to Academic Dishonesty and Plagiarism.

In assessing a piece of submitted work, the School of IT may reproduce it entirely, may provide a copy to another member of faculty, and/or to an external plagiarism checking service or in-house computer program and may also maintain a copy of the assignment for future checking purposes and/or allow an external service to do so.

Other policies

See the policies page of the faculty website at http://sydney.edu.au/engineering/student-policies/ for information regarding university policies and local provisions and procedures within the Faculty of Engineering and Information Technologies.
Prescribed Text/s: Note: Students are expected to have a personal copy of all books listed.
Recommended Reference/s: Note: References are provided for guidance purposes only. Students are advised to consult these books in the university library. Purchase is not required.
Online Course Content: http://www.it.usyd.edu.au/~comp5213/

Note that the "Weeks" referred to in this Schedule are those of the official university semester calendar https://web.timetable.usyd.edu.au/calendar.jsp

Week Description
Week 1 Introduction
Week 2 Bits and bytes
Week 3 Machine-Level-Programming-1
Week 4 Machine-Level-Programming-2
Week 5 Processor-Architecture-1
Week 6 Processor-Architecture-2
Assessment Due: Assignment
Week 7 Processor-Architecture-3
Week 8 Memory-Hierarchy
Week 9 Cache-Memory
Assessment Due: Assignment
Week 10 Virtual-Memory-Concepts
Week 11 Virtual-Memory-System
Week 12 Internetworking
Assessment Due: Assignment
Week 13 Internet-Services
Exam Period Assessment Due: Final Exam

Course Relations

The following is a list of courses which have added this Unit to their structure.

Course Year(s) Offered
Software Mid-Year 2016, 2017
Software 2015, 2016, 2017
Software / Arts 2016, 2017
Software / Commerce 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019
Software / Music Studies 2016, 2017
Software / Project Management 2016, 2017
Software / Science 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019
Software / Science (Health) 2018, 2019
Software / Law 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019
Software Engineering / Arts 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014
Software Engineering / Commerce 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014
Software Engineering / Medical Science 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014
Software Engineering / Project Management 2012, 2013, 2014
Software Engineering / Science 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014
Graduate Certificate in Information Technology 2015
Graduate Certificate in Information Technology Management 2015
Graduate Diploma in Computing 2015
Graduate Diploma in Information Technology 2015
Graduate Diploma in Information Technology Management 2015
Master of Information Technology 2015
Master of Information Technology Management 2015
Master of IT/Master of IT Management 2015
Software / Science (Medical Science Stream) 2018, 2019

Course Goals

This unit contributes to the achievement of the following course goals:

Attribute Practiced Assessed
Project and Team Skills (Level 2) No 0%
Maths/Science Methods and Tools (Level 3) No 0%
Design (Level 3) Yes 25%
Engineering/IT Specialisation (Level 3) Yes 52.5%
Communication (Level 3) Yes 22.5%
Professional Conduct (Level 2) Yes 0%

These goals are selected from Engineering & IT Graduate Outcomes Table which defines overall goals for courses where this unit is primarily offered. See Engineering & IT Graduate Outcomes Table for details of the attributes and levels to be developed in the course as a whole. Percentage figures alongside each course goal provide a rough indication of their relative weighting in assessment for this unit. Note that not all goals are necessarily part of assessment. Some may be more about practice activity. See Learning outcomes for details of what is assessed in relation to each goal and Assessment for details of how the outcome is assessed. See Attributes for details of practice provided for each goal.