1. 1 Syllabus Network functions and structures; message, circuit & packet switching; technology, regulation, standards and market forces Applications and Layered architectures; OSI reference model; the TCP/IP architecture Transmission fundamentals; communications channels; fundamental limits; properties of media; time-division, frequency-division and code-division multiplexing SONET; circuit switches; signalling; congestion control Peer-to-Peer protocols; ARQ protocols; adaptation functions Packet-switched networks; virtual circuits; routing algorithms; TCP/IP networks; IPv4 & IPv6; Voice over IP ATM networks; traffic management; Quality of Service Wireless networks; 802.11; Bluetooth; GSM/GPRS/UMTS

2. 2 Coursework (Individual) Technical Report –an in-depth report on an assigned topic »Firewalls, Virtual Private Networks, In-Flight Entertainment networks, Home Interoperability Framework, Powerline networks, Network processors, Instant Messaging systems, Automotive Controller Area Networks, Mesh Broadband networks etc. –deadline : end of week 5 (7 th November) Individual Essay –probably entitled : “Computer Communications Networks in the year 2013” –deadline : end of term (12 th December)

3. 3 Textbook Communications Networks, Fundamental Concepts and Key Architecture Alberto Leon-Garcia & Indra Widjaja International Edition 2003 McGraw-Hill : 0-07-242349-8 (2000 Edition, 0-07-022839-6, almost identical)