Note: This unit is an archived version! See Overview tab for delivered versions.
ELEC3506: Data Communications and the Internet (2011 - Semester 2)
| Unit: | ELEC3506: Communications Networks (6 CP) |
| Mode: | Normal-Day |
| On Offer: | Yes |
| Level: | Senior |
| Faculty/School: | School of Electrical & Computer Engineering |
| Unit Coordinator/s: |
Professor Jamalipour, Abbas
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| Session options: | Semester 2 |
| Versions for this Unit: | |
| Site(s) for this Unit: |
http://www.eelab.usyd.edu.au/ELEC3506 |
| Campus: | Camperdown/Darlington |
| Pre-Requisites: | None. |
| Prohibitions: | NETS2150. |
| Brief Handbook Description: | Students undertaking this unit should be familiar with fundamental digital technologies and representations such as bit complement and internal word representation. Students should also have a basic understanding of the physical properties of communication channels, techniques and limitations. Furthermore, students should be able to apply fundamental mathematical skills. The unit will cover the following specific material: Communication reference models (TCP/IP, ATM and OSI). Circuit switched and packet switched communication. Network node functions and building blocks. LAN, MAN and WAN technologies. ATM systems. Protocols fundamental mechanisms. The TCP/IP core protocols (IP, ICMP, DHCP, ARP, TCP, UDP etc.). Applications and protocols (FTP, Telnet, SMTP, HTTP etc.). |
| Assumed Knowledge: | None. |
| Lecturer/s: |
Dr Munsinghe, Kumudu
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| Timetable: | ELEC3506 Timetable | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Time Commitment: |
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| T&L Activities: | Laboratory: The labs are designed to greatly deepen students` understanding of network protocols by seeing them in action. The labs cover various layers of internet protocols and give students the opportunity to observe the sequence of messages exchanged between two protocol entities and even to try different parameters in some protocols and watch the effects. Tutorial: Tutorials are designed to help student understand the materials from the lectures as well as the textbook. Independent Study: The introductory nature of this UoS means that students will encounter various pieces of knowledge in networking areas. Therefore, independent study is essential for a success completion. |
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 |
| The tutorials and laboratories are prepared to encourage ability of problem formulation and solving. The examinations are also taking design and problem solving as one of the major assessment elements. | Design and Problem Solving Skills (Level 4) |
| Specialised skills in data communications will be developed during the T&L process. Key concepts in data communications and networking will be introduced and the state-of-art techniques studied. | Discipline Specific Expertise (Level 5) |
| Intermediate level of mathematics are involved in the T&L process of this UoS in order to understand different network protocols and algorithms. | Fundamentals of Science and Engineering (Level 3) |
| Different network analytical tools will be used in the laboratories and students need to conduct tests and experiments and perform analysis to the observations based on the theory learned from the text. | Information Skills (Level 2) |
| Laboratory reports are assessed with clarity, conciseness, accuracy and persuasiveness as the main assessment elements. The open questions in the examinations also assess the ability of effective communications. | Professional Communication (Level 2) |
| Team work in pairs in the laboratories. | Teamwork and Project Management (Level 2) |
For explanation of attributes and levels see Engineering/IT Graduate Attribute Matrix 2009.
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 and Problem Solving Skills (Level 4)| Assessment Methods: |
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| Assessment Description: |
Log Book: This logs the attendance of tutorial classes. Lab Report: Students need to submit an independent report for each laboratory. |
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| Grading: |
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| Policies & Procedures: | Policies regarding academic honesty and plagiarism, special consideration and appeals in the Faculty of Engineering and Information Technologies can be found on the Faculty's policy page at http://www.eng.usyd.edu.au/policies Faculty policies are governed by Academic Board resolutions whose details can be found on the Central Policy Online site at http://www.usyd.edu.au/policy/ Policies regarding assessment formatting, submission methods, late submission penalties and assessment feedback depend on the unit of study. Details of these policies, where applicable, should be found above with other assessment details. |
| Prescribed Text/s: |
Note: Students are expected to have a personal copy of all books listed.
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| 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.
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| Online Course Content: | http://www.eelab.usyd.edu.au/ELEC3506 |
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 | Background and preview: an introduction to the Internet |
| Week 2 | Physical layer |
| Week 3 | Data link layer |
| Week 4 | Local area networks |
| Week 5 | Wireless networks |
| Week 6 | Wide area networks |
| Week 7 | IP networks |
| Week 8 | IPv6 and routing |
| Week 9 | Mid-semester examination |
| Assessment Due: Mid-Sem Exam | |
| Week 10 | Transport layer |
| Week 11 | Quality of service in IP networks |
| Week 12 | Application layer |
| Week 13 | Mobile IP, multimedia communications protocols |
| Exam Period | Assessment Due: Final Exam |
Course Relations
The following is a list of courses which have added this Unit to their structure.
Course Goals
This unit contributes to the achievement of the following course goals:
| Attribute | Practiced | Assessed |
| Design and Problem Solving Skills (Level 4) | Yes | 24.2% |
| Discipline Specific Expertise (Level 5) | Yes | 48.4% |
| Fundamentals of Science and Engineering (Level 3) | Yes | 21% |
| Information Skills (Level 2) | Yes | 0% |
| Professional Communication (Level 2) | Yes | 3.2% |
| Professional Values, Judgement and Conduct (Level 2) | No | 0% |
| Teamwork and Project Management (Level 2) | Yes | 3.2% |
These goals are selected from Engineering/IT Graduate Attribute Matrix 2009 which defines overall goals for courses where this unit is primarily offered. See Engineering/IT Graduate Attribute Matrix 2009 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.
