INSS 538

DATA COMMUNICATIONS SYSTEMS & NETWORKS

UNIVERSITY SYSTEM OF MARYLAND Term V 2000-2001
Graduate Programs             Tuesdays and Thursdays 18:45 to 21:45

Heidelberg
Lecturer: Manfred Trostmann
Phone 06171 78194 or +491715496690
Mail trostmann@rz.uni-frankfurt.de

PREREQUISITE. All undergraduate prerequisites or permission of professor.

CREDIT. Three (3) semester hours.

PURPOSE. This course provides analysis of data communication technology and the application of data communication technology within the public and private sector enterprise.

Course Objective. This course enables students to understand:
1.The concepts and terminology of data communications
2.Network design and distributed information systems
3.Equipment, protocols and architectures and transmission alternatives
4.The communications environment, regulatory issues, and network pricing and
  management

Topics

• Communications Environment
• Communications Systems Components
• Networks and Control
• Common Carrier Services
• Design of Communications Networks
• Network Management and Distributed Environment
• Local Area Data Networks
• Wide Area Networks
• Future Networks

Procedures:

The course will consist of a series of lectures, as shown in the outline. Students are expected to read appropriate sections of the text and handouts before coming to class.

Course Requirements.

Examinations: There will be two examinations. These exams will be designed to help you improve your understanding of the basic concepts discussed in the course. As such, these exams will be a mix of short answers as well as essay questions.

Research Project. The class will be organized into teams for the project completion. Both team and individual grades will be awarded for the project. The purpose of the project is to give the student an opportunity to bring the information and concepts learned in the course to bear on a topic of the student's interest.

Text. DATA COMMUNICATION. By White (Thomson Learning)

Grading: Grades for this course will be based on:
Mini Cases .......................................15% Midterm...........................................20%
Project ..........................................30%
Final ............................................35%
and will be assigned as follows:
A 93 to 100
B 84 to <93
C 73 to <84
F Less than 73

Session Schedule

(Each weekend has four sessions)

Session  Subject                          Text Reading

1     Introduction to Computer Networks and Data Communications CH 1

2     Fundamentals of Data and Signals           CH 2

3     The Media: Conducted and Wireless                         CH 3

4     Making Connections                 CH 4

5     Multiplexing: Sharing a Medium                            CH 5

6     Errors, Error Detection, and Error Control             CH 6

7     Local Area Networks: The Basics                           CH 7

8     MIDTERM

9     Local Area Networks: Internetworking CH 8

10    Local Area Networks: Software and Support Systems         CH 9

11 Introduction to Wide Area Networks                 CH10

12    The Internet                 CH11

13    Telecommunication Systems                       CH12

14    Network Security, Design and Management CH13 and 14

15    Presentations

16    Presentations & FINAL