EE450/550: Principles of Networking

Course Syllabus
Instructor
Dr. Josep Miquel Jornet
Assistant Professor
Department of Electrical Engineering
University at Buffalo, The State University of New York
Office: 209 Davis Hall
E-mail: jmjornet@buffalo.edu
Web: http://www.buffalo.edu/~jmjornet/
Office Hours:
Tuesday & Thursday, 11:00 AM - 1:00 PM
209 Davis Hall

Brief Description
Telecommunication networks play a key role in the development of our society. The remote
interconnection of all types of devices, ranging from personal computers, cellphones and tablets, to
data centers or distributed sensors, are at the basis of many of our daily activities. In this course, the
fundamental concepts of telecommunication networks will be introduced. A bottom-up layered
approach will be used to explain how the performance requirements of telecommunication networks
have been traditionally solved. In particular, the functionalities of the physical layer, e.g., information
modulation, coding and transmission; data link layer, e.g., medium access control, error control and
addressing; network layer, e.g., information routing and forwarding; transport layer, e.g., end-to-end
reliable transport and QoS provisioning, and application layer, will be discussed in detail. In addition to
the theoretical lectures, guided experimental assignments with advanced network simulation and
monitoring tools will be conducted to better illustrate the concepts learnt in the class. This course will
provide the students with the necessary knowledge to understand current data communication
networks as well as to contribute to the development of next generation telecommunication systems.

Objectives and Expected Outcomes

By the end of the course, students will be able to:
Identify and describe the main network functionalities at each layer of the protocol stack
Identify and describe different communication solutions and the most common protocols in
telecommunication networks
Analyze and interpret packet traffic from real telecommunication networks by means of
software monitoring tools
Design and simulate simple network architectures by means of software simulation tools
Recognize and describe common telecommunication standards and standardization entities

Contents

Chapter
Chapter
Chapter
Chapter
Chapter
Chapter
Chapter
Chapter

1:
2:
3:
4:
5:
6:
7:
8:

Introduction to Telecommunication Networks

Layered Approaches to Network Design
Physical Layer
Data Link Layer
Network Layer
Transport Layer
Application Layer
Cross Layer Design

Prerequisites

Fundamental concepts of digital logic design (EE 278)

Fundamentals concepts of communication systems (EE 383)

Organization

Exams:
o Open-book
o Midterm Exam
o Final Exam

Homework Assignments
o 3 independent sets of problems
o To be solved individually

Laboratory Project
o 3 guided tasks involving NS-3 and Wireshark
o To be solved in groups of 2 people

Grading Policy
Grade Distribution:
Homework Assignments: 20%
Laboratory Project: 15%
Midterm Exam: 25%
Final Exam: 35%
Professionalism*: 5%
Graduate students will be expected to do a more in-depth analysis and detailed report for the
laboratory assignments as well as additional homework problems.
Make-up exams might be considered in extraordinary situations

Course Materials
All the course materials will be available in UBLearns:

Lecture notes (before the class)

Additional reading materials
Homework assignments
Laboratory assignments & software

Recommended Text Books (not mandatory):

1. Andrew S. Tanenbaum and David J. Wetherall, "Computer Networks," 5th Edition, Prentice Hall,
2010
2. James F. Kurose, Keith W. Ross, "Computer Networking: A Top-Down Approach Featuring the
Internet," 6th Edition, Pearson, 2012
3. William Stallings, "Data and Computer Communications," 9th Edition, Prentice Hall, 2010

Academic Integrity
There will be zero tolerance about:
Plagiarism: Copying or receiving material from any source and submitting that material as
ones own
Cheating: Soliciting and/or receiving information from, another student or any other
unauthorized source while completing an examination or individual assignment
For more information,
Undergraduate Students:
http://undergrad-catalog.buffalo.edu/policies/course/integrity.shtml

Graduate Students:
http://grad.buffalo.edu/Academics/Policies-Procedures/Academic-Integrity.html

Professionalism
As specified in the grading policy, 5% of the grade is based upon the professional behavior and
interaction of the students. For this, please
Use professional style in all communications, including email, with course faculty and
teaching assistants
Refrain from use of cell phones or other electronic devices unless they are clearly linked to
class purposes (e.g., note-taking)