EE3010 Data Communications and LANs

Course Aims and Objectives: 

The aim of this course is to introduce the concepts, techniques, and structures of data communications; emphasises will be paid to local area networks.  

The objectives of this course include the introduction of necessary knowledge on different components in data communication systems; their structures, techniques as well as some common standards.  In addition, examples of data networks are studied in the course.

Units:  3

Level:  B3

Medium of Instruction: English

Syllabus:

A Model for Data Communications 

A simplified communication model

Definition of data and information

Computer communication protocols and architectures

Protocol functions

Simple 3-Layer example

Motivation, concepts, terminology of OSI Reference Model

Functions of the OSI layer

Data Transmission - terminology and concepts 

Media - guided and unguided, point and multipoint

Continuous and discrete signals, periodic signals, phase difference

Relationship between data rate and bandwidth

Data and signal - analog and digital

Signal strength

Transmission impairments - attenuation, delay distortion, noise channel capacity

Guided transmission media - twisted pair, coaxial, optical fibre

Unguided transmission media - microwave, satellite, radio

Data Encoding 

Digital data, digital signals - NRZ, Multilevel Binary, Biphase Code

Digital data, analog signals - ASK, FSK, PSK

Analog data, digital signals - PAM, PCM A-law and u-law

Analog data, analog signals - AM, FM

Serial Data Communication Techniques 

Serial and parallel, asynchronous and synchronous transmission

Error detection methods - parity, LRC, CRC

Correction block codes

Physical level protocols

EIA-232-D

Data Link Control 

Flow control - Stop-and-Wait, Sliding Window

Error control - Stop-and-Wait ARQ, Go-Back-N ARQ,

                        Selective Reject ARQ

HDLC

Multiplexing 

FDM, TDM, statistical TDM

Local Area Networks 

Network topologies - ring, bus and tree, star

LLC (IEEE Std 802.2) Protocol - format, LLC/MAC interface

CSMA/CD (IEEE Std 802.3) - format, operation, max throughput

Fast Ethernet

Token Ring (IEEE Std 802.5) - format, operation, max throughput

Bridges 

Bridge Operation

Routing with Bridges

Laboratory:i)           Data Link Protocol – Stop and Wait Protocol

ii)         Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA) – first module

Teaching Methods: 

Teaching will be in the form of lectures with complementary tutorials and/or laboratory (laboratories).  Tutorials will be informal, and may include a number of different support methods.  For example:

  • problem solving;
  • general discussions;
  • student presentations;
  • resolving students’ difficulties. 

    The laboratory support, if any, will complement the lecture and reinforce students’ understanding of the material.

    Teaching Pattern

    Duration of course:            1 semesterOffered in:               Semester ASuggested lecture/tutorial/laboratory mix: 

    Total Hours:              Lectures          26 hours

    (Group Size)              Tutorials         8 hours (36)

                                       Laboratories   12 hours (27)

    Assessment Pattern: 

    Examination duration:    2 hours, at the end of the semester

    Percentage of coursework, examination, etc.:   15% CW;     15 % Laboratory

                                                                                 70 % Exam 

    For a student to pass the module, at least 30% of the maximum mark for the examination must be obtained, and a laboratory attendance of at least 75% recorded. 

    Coursework should be based on several different exercises distributed over the period of the semester; examples include homework assignments, short test, mini projects and presentations.

    Pre-requisites: EE2202 (IT2201 old code) or EE3120 (IT3901 old code)

    Pre-cursor: Nil

    Equivalent Courses: Nil

    Equivalent Old Course Code and Title: EE30310 Data Communications and LANs

    Booklist:Essential Reading

    Stallings W: Data and Computer Communications, (5th Edition, Prentice-Hall, 1997)

    Supplementary Reading

    Halsall F: Data Communications, Computer Networks and OSI, (4th Edition, Addison-Wesley, 1996) 

    Tanenbaum A S: Computer Networks, (3rd Edition, Prentice-Hall, 1996) 

    Walrand J: Communications Networks: A First Course, (Aksen Associates, 1991)

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Department of Electronic Engineering