TELECOMMUNICATION NETWORKS

Knowledge of the fundamentals of the network protocols and architectures.

Knowledge of the fundamentals of network performance analysis.

1. Introduction to networking

Historical evolution of networks and telematic systems. Communication protocols and services. Layered architectures. ISO/OSI Reference Model. TCP/IP architecture. Taxonomy of telecommunication networks. Multiplexing techniques. Circuit and packet switching.

2. Data transmission

Encoding and framing techniques. Error control. Retransmission schemes. Sliding window flow control. Examples of data-link protocols.

3. Multiple access networks

Classification of Medium Access Control (MAC) protocols. Random access schemes: ALOHA, Slotted-Aloha. Carrier Sensing Schemes: CSMA, CSMA-CD, CSMA-CA. Token passing schemes. Ethernet. Protocols for wireless local and personal area networks: IEEE 802.11, Bluetooth, IEEE 802.15.

4. Routing and mobility

Taxonomy of routing techniques. Routing algorithms: shortest-path routing, distance vector routing, link state routing. Mobility management issues.

5. Network performance aspects and queueing theory

Network performance metrics. Introduction to queueing theory. Poisson processes. Discrete-time Markov chains. Continuous-time Markov chains. M/M/1 systems. M/M/1/n systems. M/G/1 systems. M/G/1 systems with priority. M/D/1 systems. Introduction to networks of queues. Queueing theory in practice: traffic descriptors, delay and rate guarantees.

6. Congestion control and resource allocation

Classification of resource allocation and congestion control techniques. Queueing management policies. Scheduling strategies. Quality of Service.

7. Security

Classification of network attacks. Principles of cryptography. Securing techniques. Authentication schemes.

- A. Tanenbaum: Computer Networks, Prentice-Hall.
- J. Kurose, K. Ross: Computer Networking, Addison-Wesley.

- D. Bertsekas, R. Gallager: Data Networks, Prentice-Hall.