Course Number:

Credit Hours:

4

Course Title:

Network Communications and Performance Engineering

Course Description:

Presents principles for the design and analysis of modern communications networks. Emphasis is on theoretical and practical concepts. Uses the concept of a layered network architecture as a framework for understanding the functions and services of reliable end-to-end communications. Analyzes different switching and multiplexing techniques within the context of network session requirements and network traffic characterization. Introduces performance modeling with intermediate-level problems in queuing theory including MG1 queues, simple queuing networks, the IPP, and the MMPP. Discusses models for transmission, encoding, and fundamental limitations of physical channels as motivation for the development of data-link-layer services. Presents correctness and performance analysis with respect to framing, error detection, and ARQ schemes. Discusses host-to-host communications as a problem of routing and addressing. Discusses routing, emphasizing correctness, stability, and performance of fundamental algorithms. Students gain insight into the problems of adapting traditional routing strategies to high-speed and wireless environments. Considers flow and congestion control strategies within the context of end-to-end session requirements and global network performance.