COM 1337 Computer Communication Networks

Course Format
Course Coordinator
Textbooks and References

Prerequisites by Topic
Major Topics Covered in Course
Laboratory Projects

Course Description

Introduces the underlying concepts and principles of computer networks. Presents the different components of a network and how these components fit together. Emphasizes the design and implementation of network software that transforms  raw hardware into a richly functional communication system. Real networks (such as the Internet, ATM, Ethernet, Token Ring) will be used as examples to reinforce the concepts and demonstrate various protocols. The course also covers applications such as electronic mail and the World Wide Web. Topics include: introduction to communications connectivity and standards; layered architectures: ISO/OSI and TCP/IP reference models; data transmission, synchronization, and multiplexing; error handling, link control, and protocol operation; local area networks; network interconnection; high-speed networks; wide area networks; internetworking;  transport layer services; higher layers and applications.

4 QH credit
Prerequisite: COM 1330.

Course Information

Course is offered during the Fall and Spring quarters. CS majors are guaranteed a place in class.
 
• Fall 2000
• Spring 2001

Course Format

BSCS03 Systems track
BSCS04 elective course
BACS elective course
BSIS required course

This is a System track course for BS CS majors graduating in the year 2003 and before, an elective for BS CS majors and a core course for IS CS majors.

Course Coordinators

Leon Deligiannides
leon@ccs.neu.edu

Textbooks and References

• L. Peterson and B. Davie. Computer Networks: A Systems Approach. Morgan Kaufman.

• Andrew Tanenbaum. Computer Networks, Third Edition, Prentice Hall (ISBN 0-13-349945-6).

 

References
 

• F. Halsall. Data Communications, Computer Networks and Open Systems, Addison Wesley.
• W. Stallings. Data and Computer Communications. Prentice Hall.
• J. Walrand. Communication Networks: A First Course. Aksen Associates.
• D. Comer. Internetworking with TCP/IP, Volume I, Prentice Hall.
• W. Stevens. TCP/IP Illustrated: The Protocols, Vol 1. Addison-Wesley.
• W. Stevens. Unix Network Programming. Prentice Hall.
• D. Comer. Computer Networks and Internets. Prentice Hall.
• L. Peterson and B. Davie. Computer Networks: A Systems Approach. Morgan Kaufman.
• S. Keshav. An Engineering Approach to Computer Networking. Addison-Wesley.

Course Goals

Learn how to write programs that communicate over the internet.

These will include program of 200 lines of code up to 700

Learn how to troubleshoot and debug such programs.

Application programming support

Prerequisites by Topic

Students should attained proficiency in the following concepts:
• C or C++
• Data Structures

Students should have been exposed to the following concepts:
• Operating Systems
• Unix

Major Topics Covered in the Course

• Introduction to communications connectivity and standards; Layered architectures, ISO/OSI and TCP/IP reference models.
• Data transmission and encoding.
• Error handling, link control, and protocol operation.
• Local area networks.
• Network interconnection.
• Wide area networks.
• Wide area networks. Internetworking.
• Transport protocols.
• Applications.

Laboratory projects

3 programming assignments: 1 week for each lab.