Course Description
ECE 3511 Network Communications and Performance Engineering: Presents basic principles and topics of fundamental importance to the design and analysis of modern communications networks. Emphasis is placed on both theoretical and practical concepts. The objective is to provide students with the necessary analytical tools and intuition for advanced course work and research. The concept of a layered network architecture is used as a framework for understanding the principle functions and services required to achieve reliable end-to-end communications. Analysis of different switching and multiplexing techniques are presented within the context of network session requirements and, hence, network traffic characterization. Performance modeling is introduced with intermediate-level problems in queueing theory including MG1 queues, simple queueing networks, the IPP and the MMPP. Point-to-point communications presents the backdrop for understanding the complexities of networks. Models for transmission, encoding and fundamental limitations of physical channels are discussed as motivation for the development of data-link-layer services. Correctness and performance analysis are presented with respect to framing, error-detection and ARQ schemes. Local-Area-Networks (LANs) are discussed briefly as a special case of multiple access point-to-point communications. Host-to-host communications is presented as a problem of routing and addressing. Routing is discussed in detail, emphasizing correctness, stability and performance of fundamental algorithms. Students should gain insight into the problems of adapting traditional routing strategies to high-speed and wireless environments. Finally, flow and congestion control strategies are discussed and considered in the context of end-to-end session requirements and global network performance. Prerequisites: ECE 3241 and C-Programming. Recommended: statistics, discrete math, knowledge of simulation and an undergraduate networking course.
Possible Text Books