Study Plan

Networking and Communication

The Internet is not a single network, it is a huge collection of many different and heterogeneous networks that are interconnected. A good understanding of these different technologies is crucial for Internet related research and application development.The key topic "Communications and Networking" covers a broad range of network related issues from aspects of different transmission media (such as optical and wireless) to protocol and application specific problems of multimedia services in communication systems (such as compression and synchronization). Advanced aspects and new topics of computer networks are taught, which includes the latest network technology, as well as its management and simulation aspects. Mobility and security issues are discussed for different wireless systems (such as UMTS, WiMAX, Bluetooth). The following shows a sample study plan for the "Networking and Communication" research focus. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Theoretical Foundations Efficient Algorithms Data and Information Internet Technologies Physical and Data Link Layers in Networks Optical networks Business & Law Multimedia and Telecommunication Law Information and Coding Data and Information Intelligent Internet Algorithms Networking and Communication Mobile Communication Real-Time Networks

The importance of information technology (IT) is that it transmits information as well as stores and analyzes information. Because of its

functions, IT has become a crucial part of modern life. Network systems and data communication analysts help organizations and individuals both store and share information through computer systems and networks such as computer databases and the Internet.Network systems and data communications analysts can include telecommunications specialists, web administrators, and web developers.The role of a telecommunications specialist is to focus on the interaction between a computer and communications equipment. They will design video, voice, and datacommunication systems as well as supervise installation of such systems and provide maintenance once the systems have been installed. Telecommunications specialists can also oversee equipment repair, maintain and compile system record, and test lines.Web administrators are those who are responsible for maintaining websites and overseeing issues such as how quickly the web site can be accessed for user availability. They may also be responsible or approving content on the website as well as collecting and analyzing data to support web traffic, activity, and metrics. Web administrators may also be responsible for responding to user feedback.Those responsible for the technical aspects of creating a web site are known as web developers. The job of a web developer is to create applications for the site using software languages and tools. By identifying the users of the website and overseeing its production and completion, web developers can decide what information will be in the website as well as how it is organized. The visual aspect of the website may also be the responsibility of the web developer which may require the use of design software to create appealing pages.Many network systems and data communications analysts, including telecommunications specialists, web administrators, and web developers, work more than 50 hours a week. Some even need to be on call in case of system failure.More and more network systems and data communications analysts are able to perform duties from remote locations as computer networks begin to expand. The need to travel to a customers workplace is also limited by such expansion.Injuries at the workplace for network systems and data communications analysts are uncommon though eyestrain, back discomfort, and hand or wrist problems can occur after sitting at the computer for long periods of time.

Introduction to Telecommunications
Introduction to telecommunications for non-telecom majors. Top-down orientation relates networking technologies to organizational goals and

needs. Data communications and Internet technologies and basic system performance analysis. TCP/IP, LANs, WANs, internetworking, and signals and communications media. (Prerequisites: algebra, advisors approval) 1 Fundamentals of Telecommunications Fundamentals of network technology based on a layered protocol stack. Telephone network and Internet architecture. Summary of upper layer protocols (http, smtp), transport protocols (UDP, TCP), and network protocols (IP). Analysis of link layer protocols and their performance. Overview of local area networks (CSMA/CD and CSMA/CA). Introduction to cables and signals. (Prerequisites: calculus, probability, computer systems) 2 Network Design Methods and techniques for the design of computer/telecommunication networks. Management and business perspectives on network design, estimation of traffic demand and application requirements, network cost analysis, topological design, capacity assignment, graph theory and optimization based design algorithms, virtual network design, network design tools, wireless network design issues, availability analysis and survivable network design. (Prerequisites: TELCOM 2000/2100) 3 Network Performance Introduction to techniques for performance modeling and analysis of computer systems and communication networks. Analysis of measurements, discrete event simulation and queuing theory. (Prerequisites: Calculus, Probability, Programming, TELCOM 2000/2100) 4 Network Management Techniques of planning, controlling, organizing and decision making for a telecommunications network; accounting, security, fault management, configuration, and maintenance. Protocols and architectures for network management. (Prerequisites: TELCOM 2000/2100) 5 Telephone System Management Telephone system administration and the application of telephone systems to assist user organizations in achieving their goals, presented from the user organization's telecommunication manager's perspective. Management of premise equipment, costs, staffing, departmental structure and management, and the services provided by a telephone company's central office.

(Prerequisites: TELCOM 2000/2100) 6 Network Science and Analysis: Networks, Crowds, and Interconnected Worlds This course explores networks as a primary metaphor and mechanism for a variety of information-related phenomena. The advancement of interconnected information and communication technologies has made networks one of the dominant ways of analyzing the use and flow of information among individuals, institutions, and societies. The course starts with the basis of graph theory and moves to understand network structures such as social networks, ecological webs, IT and infrastructure systems, telecommunications networks, and market distribution and allocation structures. As a prerequisite, students should have a command of mathematics through linear and matrix algebra at the undergraduate level. 7 Queuing Theory Development and application of the mathematical techniques used for analyzing the performance of communications networks. Topics include: Markovian queues, Non-Markovian queues, product form networks, approximation techniques, non-stationary queues. (Prerequisites: TELCOM 2120, 2310)

Communication Systems
1 Mathematical Foundations Topics in advanced mathematics that are relevant to telecom research. Topics are selected from discrete math, linear systems, and advanced probability. Students will also independently read selected topics in computer programming techniques and write programming assignments. Strongly recommended to all Telcom PhD students. (Prerequisites: Calculus and Linear Algebra, TELCOM 2120, TELCOM 2210, TELCOM 2310) 2 Physical Layer of Communications 2 Electronic communications sequel to TELCOM 2200. Bandwidth, spectrum, noise, and channel capacity, and covers practical issues such as link power budgets and bit-error rates. Broad scope of physical-layer technologies, fundamental concepts, and techniques used in transmitting information over wire-line, optical, and wireless networks. (Prerequisites: Calculus, Probability, TELCOM 2000/2100, TELCOM 2200)

3 Unified Communications After describing how humans communicate orally and visually, this course goes on to describe the technology and network architectures that provide audio and video telecommunications using conventional circuit-switched telephony, newer packet-switched "Internet Telephony" (VOIP), and streaming video over the internet. Basic knowledge of the physical layer is helpful, but students must be familiar with TCP/IP. 3 Digital Transmission Principles of digital transmission encountered in common carriers and in private networks. Architectures and formats of digital transmission systems, especially the asynchronous and synchronous digital hierarchies. Discusses signal-to noise ratio, link power budget, analog-to-digital conversion, data compression, digital modulation, and facility switching. (Prerequisites: TELCOM 2210, Programming) 4 Photonic Communications Overview of optics. Fiber-Optic Transport including optical fiber, sources and photo-detectors, optical couplers and switches, photonic signal transport principles for the practical design of fiber-optic links, and an in-depth discussion of the limits of wavelength multiplexing. Review of switching theory and photonic switching including photonic switching devices and corresponding architectures for switching fabrics, photonic switching in space, time, wavelength, and all combinations, and optical packet and burst switching. 5 Switching Systems Public switched telephone network, the telephone and the local loop architecture, inter-exchange networks, and signaling. Evolution of switching technology and architectures and a comparison of various systems. Traffic statistics and the theory of space-division and time-division switching networks. (Co-requisite: TELCOM 2210) 6 Intelligent Networks Overview of intelligent network (IN) environments, including evolving national private- and public- switched networks as well as computers and databases united with switch process ORS to provide new features and services. Survey of switching software, with the IN as a natural step in the evolution. Emphasis on major changes in intelligent networks and in

broadband and wireless networks. (Prerequisites: TELCOM 2000/2100, 2300) 7 Internet Telephony Technology for offering telephony over an internet including: voice-over-IP end points and protocols, end-to-end delay, telephony signaling protocols, gateways and network components, telephone service provision, multi-point, network issues, and the future. Presents market, policy, and economic issues; differentiates VOIP on public or private internets. (Prerequisites: TELCOM 2000/2100, 2200) 8 Digital Communications: Modulation and Coding Concepts in digital modulation and coding theory with emphasis on techniques employed in a variety of communication systems, including equalization, detection of signals in noise, spread spectrum communications, modulation and coding, and MIMO. (Prerequisite: TELCOM 2210) 9 Random Signals and Noise Random variables, their expected values and probability distributions. Conditional probability, estimation, sampling, and decision theory. Functions of random variables, random processes, convolution, and power density spectrum. Applications in statistical design, reliability, coding, signal detection, and noise discrimination. (Prerequisite: TELCOM 2120, 2210)

Computer Communications
1 Computer Networking Laboratory The objective of this lab-based course is to gain knowledge of fundamental computer networking issues through hands-on experiments with network equipment and services. The sequence of labs start at the physical layer and progress up the protocol stack to the application layer. Topics covered are: Signal generation and analysis at the physical layer; Ethernet and WLAN performance and management; IP address planning and management; IP router generation including RIP, OSPF, BGP, MPLS protocols, TCP connection control; Stateful packet filtering; Network monitoring and management; Signaling protocols for VOIP services, and Web-based services configuration. 2 Software Tools and Techniques

For students who are not computer science or information science graduates. Builds upon the two programming courses required for admission and presents concepts, algorithms, and methodologies related to data structures, file systems, and operating systems essential to other courses in the MST curriculum. (Prerequisites: Structured Programming Language) 3 Computer Networks Foundational principles, architectures, and techniques employed in computer networks. Protocols and mechanisms used in the Internet TCP/IP protocol suite, including the operation of both wide-area and local-area networks . Special emphasis on analysis of network and transport layer protocols. (Prerequisites: TELCOM 2000/2100, 2300; Corequisites: TELCOM 2200) 4 Local Area Networks Analysis of legacy LANS (ethernet, token ring, token bus). Description and analysis of high speed LANS, wireless LANs, sensor networks, and metropolitan area networks. LAN internetworking. (Prerequisites: TELCOM 2310; Corequisites: TELCOM 2120) 5 Wide Area Networks Basic principles of broadband networks. Protocols suitable for broadband networks, with emphasis on ATM. Other technologies, such as frame relay and SMDS. Design issues for high speed networks including network characterization, application performance guarantees, traffic policing and congestion control. (Prerequisites: TELCOM 2310; Corequisites: TELCOM 2120) 6 Distributed Multi-Media Systems Modeling and design of distributed multimedia systems. A framework is presented for data management, multimedia information management, knowledge management, communication management, activities management, interface management and applications to distributed systems, real-time systems, multimedia systems and information retrieval systems design. (Prerequisites: INFSCI 2710) 7 Distributed Databases Basic concepts in distributed databases and transaction processing technology. Concepts such as concurrency control, replication management, and failure recovery. (Prerequisites: TELCOM 2300; INFSCI 2710,

Advanced Standing