ECS 152C: Advanced Topics in Computer Networks

Summary of Course Content

1. Wireless Networks
   1. Wireless LANs
   2. Cellular networks
   3. Ad hoc and sensor networks
   4. Routing and transport layer protocols
   5. Standards LTE and IEEE 802.11
2. Multimedia Networking
   1. Protocols
   2. Adaptive streaming
   3. Multicasting
   4. Video standards, quality and adaptations
3. Network and Traffic Models
   1. Poisson, self-similarity, heavy-tailed distributions
   2. Properties of large networks
4. Network measurement, design, and management
   1. Control plane vs. data forwarding plane
   2. Simple Network Management Protocol (SNMP)
   3. Capacity planning and provisioning
   4. Load balancing
5. Simulation and Performance Analysis
   1. Queuing models
   2. Discrete-event simulator
   3. Traffic traces Computer Usage: The class requires extensive use of UNIX workstations. Laboratory Projects: The course contains a series of design projects with 2-3 students per team. The projects are designed to reinforce certain concepts and to familiarize the students with network measurement/management tools and simulators. Example projects include: (1) Design active and passive network measurement tools; (2) Traffic analysis based on packets captured from the network and/or publicly available traffic traces; (3) Configuration of PC-based or commercial routers; (4) Designing protocols for and programming wireless sensor nodes; (5) Design new wireless protocols and evaluate their performance via network simulators.

Illustrative Reading
• J. Kurose and K. Ross, Computer Networking: A Top-Down Approach Featuring the Internet, 6th Edition, Pearson/Addison Wesley, 2012. • J. Richard Burke, Network Management: Concepts and Practice: A Hands-on Approach, Prentice Hall, 2004 • Instructor’s notes, research papers, lab manuals, and online references.

Potential Course Overlap
This is a follow-up course with emphasis on advanced topics not covered in ECS152A/EEC173A or ECS152B such as wireless sensor networks, network simulation, performance analysis, and traffic modeling. In addition, it has an extensive lab component, which involves Internet measurement, simulations or prototyping.