COMPSCI 315 : Data Communications Technologies

Science

2022 Semester Two (1225) (15 POINTS)

Course Prescription

The structure of data communications and networks, including the internet, covering all levels of the communications architecture. The layered protocol model, data transmission and coding, link-level and local area network protocols, wide-area internet working, routing, transport and security protocols. Basic application protocols as the foundation for distributed computing.

Course Overview

The course focuses on the fundamentals and technologies of data communications and computer networks. Students taking this course will become familiar with the fundamental limits of data communication as well as with the approaches taken in the development of computer networking technologies, along with the challenges, trade-offs, and alternative approaches involved. This course prepares students for the postgraduate course COMPSCI742 and any role in which they may need to assess competing options for computer networking/communication solutions, troubleshoot distributed systems, or choose elements to include in the design of a distributed system or computer networks.  Topics are covered across the various layers of the TCP/IP protocol stack such as the physical layer, transport layer, application layer, and Internet measurements.


Course Requirements

Prerequisite: COMPSCI 210, 215 Restriction: COMPSCI 314

Capabilities Developed in this Course

Capability 1: Disciplinary Knowledge and Practice
Capability 2: Critical Thinking
Capability 3: Solution Seeking
Capability 4: Communication and Engagement
Capability 5: Independence and Integrity
Capability 6: Social and Environmental Responsibilities

Learning Outcomes

By the end of this course, students will be able to:
  1. Explain and apply how signals and data are transmitted over various media, including coding mechanisms, compression techniques, and data integrity (Capability 1, 2 and 3)
  2. Explain and apply how network protocols, especially TCP/IP, are designed and fitted together, and how they form the basis for the Internet and for distributed computing (Capability 1, 2 and 3)
  3. Describe, analyse and consider underlying principles of protocol design for routing, data transport, naming, secure transmission, and elementary applications, illustrated with descriptions of actual protocols and discussion of real-world experience (Capability 1, 2, 3 and 4)
  4. Identify, explain and evaluate how Internet applications function and apply techniques for understanding the functioning of Internet services (Capability 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6)

Assessments

Assessment Type Percentage Classification
Assignments 30% Individual Coursework
Quiz 70% Individual Coursework
Assessment Type Learning Outcome Addressed
1 2 3 4
Assignments
Quiz

Key Topics

Signals, media and systems, modulation, fundamental limits of communication, coding, error correction, clocking, framing, compression, collision detection / avoidance, flow control, Ethernet, IP versions 4 & 6, TCP, UDP, switches and routers, routing algorithms, Internet structure, applications, P2P, streaming and content delivery, Internet measurement tools and approaches.

Special Requirements

The course will be offered both in the form of on campus lectures and in the form of videos, and students may follow the course via either or both offerings at any time. To pass the course, students must achieve at least half the marks in the assignment component and half the marks in the quizzes.

Workload Expectations

This course is a standard 15 point course and students are expected to spend 10 hours per week involved in each 15 point course that they are enrolled in.

For this course, you can expect 33 hours of lectures/videos, [33] hours of reading and thinking about the content and [54] hours of work on assignments and/or quiz preparation.

Delivery Mode

Campus Experience

Lectures will be delivered on campus but will also be available as recordings.
The course may include live online events including tutorials.
The activities for the course are scheduled as a standard weekly timetable.

Learning Resources

Course materials are made available in a learning and collaboration tool called Canvas which also includes reading lists and lecture recordings (where available).

Please remember that the recording of any class on a personal device requires the permission of the instructor.

Computer Networking, 8th or 7th Edition, James F. Kurose and Keith Ross, Pearson

The course will be offered as traditional lectures on campus and, as an alternative, in the form of videos. Students unable to come to the lectures may follow the course online using the videos.

Student Feedback

During the course Class Representatives in each class can take feedback to the staff responsible for the course and staff-student consultative committees.

At the end of the course students will be invited to give feedback on the course and teaching through a tool called SET or Qualtrics. The lecturers and course co-ordinators will consider all feedback.

Your feedback helps to improve the course and its delivery for all students.

Academic Integrity

The University of Auckland will not tolerate cheating, or assisting others to cheat, and views cheating in coursework as a serious academic offence. The work that a student submits for grading must be the student's own work, reflecting their learning. Where work from other sources is used, it must be properly acknowledged and referenced. This requirement also applies to sources on the internet. A student's assessed work may be reviewed against online source material using computerised detection mechanisms.

Class Representatives

Class representatives are students tasked with representing student issues to departments, faculties, and the wider university. If you have a complaint about this course, please contact your class rep who will know how to raise it in the right channels. See your departmental noticeboard for contact details for your class reps.

Copyright

The content and delivery of content in this course are protected by copyright. Material belonging to others may have been used in this course and copied by and solely for the educational purposes of the University under license.

You may copy the course content for the purposes of private study or research, but you may not upload onto any third party site, make a further copy or sell, alter or further reproduce or distribute any part of the course content to another person.

Inclusive Learning

All students are asked to discuss any impairment related requirements privately, face to face and/or in written form with the course coordinator, lecturer or tutor.

Student Disability Services also provides support for students with a wide range of impairments, both visible and invisible, to succeed and excel at the University. For more information and contact details, please visit the Student Disability Services’ website http://disability.auckland.ac.nz

Special Circumstances

If your ability to complete assessed coursework is affected by illness or other personal circumstances outside of your control, contact a member of teaching staff as soon as possible before the assessment is due.

If your personal circumstances significantly affect your performance, or preparation, for an exam or eligible written test, refer to the University’s aegrotat or compassionate consideration page https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/students/academic-information/exams-and-final-results/during-exams/aegrotat-and-compassionate-consideration.html.

This should be done as soon as possible and no later than seven days after the affected test or exam date.

Learning Continuity

In the event of an unexpected disruption, we undertake to maintain the continuity and standard of teaching and learning in all your courses throughout the year. If there are unexpected disruptions the University has contingency plans to ensure that access to your course continues and course assessment continues to meet the principles of the University’s assessment policy. Some adjustments may need to be made in emergencies. You will be kept fully informed by your course co-ordinator/director, and if disruption occurs you should refer to the university website for information about how to proceed.

The delivery mode may change depending on COVID restrictions. Any changes will be communicated through Canvas.

Level 1: Delivered normally as specified in delivery mode.
Level 2: You will not be required to attend in person. All teaching and assessment already has a remote option, which you will be expected to follow at Level 2.
Level 3 / 4: All teaching activities and assessments are delivered remotely.

Student Charter and Responsibilities

The Student Charter assumes and acknowledges that students are active participants in the learning process and that they have responsibilities to the institution and the international community of scholars. The University expects that students will act at all times in a way that demonstrates respect for the rights of other students and staff so that the learning environment is both safe and productive. For further information visit Student Charter https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/students/forms-policies-and-guidelines/student-policies-and-guidelines/student-charter.html.

Disclaimer

Elements of this outline may be subject to change. The latest information about the course will be available for enrolled students in Canvas.

In this course students may be asked to submit coursework assessments digitally. The University reserves the right to conduct scheduled tests and examinations for this course online or through the use of computers or other electronic devices. Where tests or examinations are conducted online remote invigilation arrangements may be used. In exceptional circumstances changes to elements of this course may be necessary at short notice. Students enrolled in this course will be informed of any such changes and the reasons for them, as soon as possible, through Canvas.

Published on 03/11/2021 07:52 p.m.