DISS 840 Telecommunications and Computer Networks

Course Description

Recent advances and new applications in the expanding field of telecommunications and computer networks are examined. Strategies, tools, and techniques for network planning, implementation, management, maintenance, and security are delineated. Topics include ATM (Asynchronous Transfer Mode), SONET/SDH, (Synchronous Optical Network/Synchronous Digital Hierarchy), Gigabit Ethernet and 10 Gigabit Ethernet, the OSI (Open Systems Interconnection) Reference Model, transmission media, second-generation and third-generation wireless networks, network topologies, network protocols, and network performance. Trends in standardization, internetworking, and the development of optical networks; WLANs (Wireless Local Area Networks), WMANs (Wireless Metropolitan Networks), and WWANs (Wireless Wide Area Networks); and residential networking solutions that feature cable, DSL (Digital Subscriber Line), powerline, and satellite technologies are examined. DISS 840 is the companion course to DISS 740. The topic selected for the DISS 840 project report must differ from the topic selected for the DISS 740 term paper. Suggested areas for investigation include:
· Grids;
· Satellite networks;
· WPANs, WLANs, WMANs, and/or WWANs;
· 2G and 3G cellular network solutions;
· Internet2 (I2) or GEANT1 (GN1) and GEANT2 (GN2);
· 10 Gigabit Ethernet;
· DWDM;
· Telemedicine;
· E-government;
· Tele-education;
· E-commerce;
· Teleworking; or
· Network security.

Required Textbook

Littman, Marlyn K. (2002). Building Broadband Networks. Boca Raton, FL: CRC Press.

Building Broadband Networks is available at the Barnes and Noble Web site at http://www.bn.com. The content of this text is described at the CRC Press Web site at http://www.crcpress.com/.

Course Outline

DISS 840 is the companion course to DISS 740. The following course outline provisions a framework and foundation for development of the project idea paper and final project report.

An Introduction to the Computer Communications Environment

• Telecommunications and computer networks fundamentals
• Emerging network paradigms
• Information transfer dynamics
• Modes of transmission and transmission media
• Communication techniques
• Response time and QoS(Quality of Service) guarantees

Networking Essentials

• Types of networks
• General applications
• Network configurations and topologies
• Network features and performance
• Internetworking

Standards and specifications

• Standards organizations and forums
• OSI Reference Model

Network Design

• Performance and design considerations
• Network requirements for multimedia deployment
• Traffic characteristics
• User specifications and expectations
• Connectivity, scalability, and reliability
• Administration, maintenance, and expandability
• Systems approach to network design
• Steps in the design process
• Outsourcing versus internal design

Network Configurations

• LANs, MANs, and WANs
• Enterprise-wide networks
• Client/server networks
• Virtual Private Networks (VPNs)

Cellular Communications

• 1G, 2G, and 3G Cellular Communications Solutions
  

Wireless Networks

• Wireless network fundamentals
• IEEE 802.11b Wireless Ethernet LAN
• Bluetooth Wireless Personal Area Networks (WPANs)
  

Wireline and Wireless Broadband Residential Access Networks

• Cable Networks
• DSL Implementations
• Powerline Networks
• VSAT Networks

High-Capacity Broadband Networking Solutions

• ATM
• Gigabit Ethernet
• SONET/SDH
• WDM and DWDM

Next-Generation Networks

• Internet2
• Abilene
• GEANT (GN1) and GEANT2 (GN2)

Network Management

• Network management requirements and techniques
• Disaster planning

Network Applications

• Teleworking
• Tele-Education
• E-Commerce
• Telemedicine
• E-Government

Network Security

• Security Challenges
• Security Mechanisms
• Security Policies
  
  

Exit Competencies

By completion of DISS 840, students will be able to:
1. Describe major telecommunications concepts, principles, tools, and techniques that contribute to the infrastructure of computer networks;
2. Delineate the capabilities, advantages, and limitations of network architectures, topologies, protocols, and configurations;
3. Describe broadband communications services and network solutions such as Internet2 (I2) and GEANT that facilitate connectivity, interoperability, and extendibility for optimizing productivity in the online learning environment;
4. Describe procedures and tactics for designing and deploying a practical network implementation employing broadband technologies;
5. Clarify the role of broadband networks in accommodating goals and objectives in present-day and next-generation networking environments;
6. Explain methods and techniques for development and deployment of advanced wireline and/or wireless networks for facilitating applications in fields such as tele-education, e-commerce, and telemedicine in an in-depth project report.

Assignment Objectives

INSTRUCTION METHODS AND TOOLS
Students must submit assignments through WebCT. Students can contact Dr. Littman directly by email.

Students are expected to do their own work and complete the four assignments on or before the due dates specified in the course study guide. Care should be taken in completing assignments to ensure that they reflect graduate level work and contain appropriate documentation when the work of others is cited. Assignments will be accepted once and with the exception of the idea paper for the project report revisions will not be accepted.

Assignment 1: Project Idea Paper
The field of telecommunications is evolving rapidly, resulting in competing applications Students are required to submit the completed the idea paper for the term report via WebCT.

Assignment 2: Final Project Report
The project report demonstrates the student's problem-solving skills in the field of telecommunications and computer networks and proficiencies in writing. For the project report, students describe procedures and approaches leading to the development and implementation of advanced network technologies, services, and/or solutions in corporate, government, or academic environments that optimize productivity, enrich elearning competencies and technical skills, and/or facilitate transborder telecollaboration. Students are required to submit this assignment via WebCT.

GRADING CRITERIA
The two course assignments provide evidence of student knowledge in the telecommunications and computer networks domain. Assignments submitted for this course must be original products that are created for fulfilling course requirements. As noted in the SCIS Doctoral Catalog, a student may not repeat an examination or do additional coursework to raise a final grade. Course grades are assigned according to the following system:

The grades recorded for each assignment are letter grades as well. The percentage contribution of each assignment grade to the total course grade is as follows:
Assignment 1..... Pass/No Pass
Assignment 2..... 100%

Course Rules

1. Standards of Academic Integrity (For complete policy, see Code of Student Conduct and Academic Responsibility, p. 45. Also see the sections on student misconduct, p. 10, and the NSU Student Handbook.) Each student is responsible for maintaining academic integrity and intellectual honesty in his or her academic work. It is the policy of the school that each student must:

· Submit his or her own work, not that of another person

· Not falsify data or records (including admissions materials)

· Not engage in cheating (e.g., giving or receiving help during examinations, acquiring and/or transmitting test questions prior to an examination)

· Not receive or give aid on assigned work that requires independent effort

· Properly credit the words or ideas of others according to accepted standards for professional publications.*

· Not use term paper writing services or consult such services for the purpose of obtaining assistance in the preparation of materials to be submitted in courses or for theses or dissertations

· Not commit plagiarism (Webster's defines plagiarism as "stealing or passing off ideas or words of another as one's own" and "the use of a created production without crediting the source.")

Crediting the Words or Ideas of Others

· When using the exact words of another, quotation marks must be used for short quotations (fewer than 40 words), and block quotation style must be used for longer quotations. In either case, a proper citation must also be provided. When paraphrasing (summarizing, rewriting, or rearranging) the words or ideas of another, a proper citation must be provided. The Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association, Fifth Edition, (2001, pp. 117 and 292) contains standards and examples on quotation methods.

· When paraphrasing (summarizing or rewriting) the words or ideas of another, a proper citation must be provided. The Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association, Fifth Edition, (2001, pp. 117 and 292) contains standards and examples on citation methods (pp. 207-214) and reference lists (pp. 215-281). The New Shorter Oxford English Dictionary (1993) defines paraphrase as "An expression in other words, usually fuller and clearer, of the sense of a written or spoken passage or text…Express the meaning (of a word, phrase, passage, or work) in other words, usually with the object of clarification…." Changing word order, deleting words, or substituting synonyms is not acceptable paraphrasing-it is plagiarism, even when properly cited. Rather than make changes of this nature, the source should be quoted as written.

2. Writing Skills

Each student must demonstrate proficiency in the use of the English language in all work submitted for this course. Grammatical errors, spelling errors, and statements that do not express ideas clearly will affect your grade. The professor will not provide remedial help concerning writing problems that you might have. Students who are unable to write correctly and clearly are urged to contact their program office for sources of remedial help.

3. Communication by E-mail

Students must use their NSU email accounts when sending email to faculty and staff and must clearly identify their names and other appropriate information, e.g., course or program. When communicating with students via email, faculty and staff members will send mail only to NSU email accounts using NSU-recognized usernames. Students who forward their NSU-generated email to other email accounts do so at their own risk. SCIS uses various course management tools that use private internal email systems. Students enrolled in courses using these tools should check both the private internal email system and NSU's regular email system. NSU offers students Web-based email access. Students are encouraged to check their NSU email account daily.

4. The Temporary Grade of Incomplete (I)

The temporary grade of Incomplete (I) will be granted only in cases of extreme hardship. Students do not have a right to an incomplete, which may be granted only when there is evidence of just cause. A student desiring an incomplete must submit a written appeal to the course professor at least two weeks prior to the end of the term. In the appeal, the student must: (1) provide a rationale; (2) demonstrate that he/she has been making a sincere effort to complete the assignments during the term; and (3) explain how all the possibilities to complete the assignments on time have been exhausted. Should the course professor agree, an incomplete contract will be prepared by the student and signed by both student and professor. The incomplete contract must contain a description of the work to be completed and a timetable. The completion period should be the shortest possible. In no case may the completion date extend beyond 30 days from the last day of the term for master's courses or beyond 60 days from the last day of the term for doctoral courses. The incomplete contract will accompany the submission of the professor's final grade roster to the program office. The program office will monitor each incomplete contract. If a change-of-grade form is not submitted by the scheduled completion date, the grade will be changed automatically from I to F. No student may graduate with an I on his or her record. The grade of I does not apply to master's thesis or doctoral dissertation registrations.

5. Grade Policy Regarding Withdrawals

Course withdrawal requests must be submitted to the student's program office in writing by the student. Requests for withdrawal must be received by the program office at least three weeks prior to the last day of the term. Program offices will publish specific withdrawal deadline dates for each term (see Academic Calendar on page ii of the catalog). Withdrawals sent by email must be sent from the student's assigned NSU email account. Requests for withdrawal received after 11:59 p.m. EST (Eastern Standard Time) on the withdrawal deadline date will not be accepted. Failure to attend classes or participate in course activities will not automatically drop or withdraw a student from the class or the university. Students who have not withdrawn by the withdrawal deadline will receive letter grades that reflect their performance in the course. When a withdrawal request is approved, the transcript will show a grade of W (Withdrawn) for the course. Students with a history of withdrawals risk dismissal.

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