CS555 Computer Communications and Networking
Thursday 7:20 - 10:00 PM, Innovation Hall 208
| Instructor: |
Dr. Robert Simon |
|
Office: |
5322 Engineering Building |
|
Phone: |
703-993-1556 |
|
E-mail: |
simon AT gmu dot edu |
|
Office Hours: |
Monday 2:30 p.m. - 3:30 p.m, or by appointment |
|
Course Homepage: |
Please use your MyMason account
|
The course will present data communications fundamentals and
computer networking methods, using both the TCP/IP protocol stack and ISO 7-layer reference model to
organize the study. We focus on the protocols for the physical, data link control, network, and transport layers. Additional topics include mobile computing and network security. Students
will program simplified versions of these protocols as a part of the
course project.
Lecture notes will be available before the start of each class, and may be downloaded through your MyMason account.
The equivalent of CS 310, 365/465, and STAT 344, and the ability to program in C.
- Required:
-
Larry Peterson and Bruce Davie, Computer Networks, A Systems Approach, 5th Edition, Morgan-Kaufmann
- Networking building blocks and the protocol stack
- Performance analysis
- Signal encoding, modulation and multiplexing
- Flow/error control
- Medium access control (Wired and Wireless)
- Routing
- Congestion control
- Internet architecture
- Transport protocols
- Security
Written homework assignments are assigned on a semi-regular basis. Programming assignments will be in the C programming language. The projects will be discussed in detail starting with the first lecture. The official platform for projects is
the ITE computing infrastructure, meaning that the TA will grade your projects on that
platform. Currently, it points to hercules.ite.gmu.edu.
NOTE
- If your code does not compile, you get no credit.
- Assignments and Projects are individual efforts.
- We reserve the right to use MOSS to detect plagiarism.
There will be two exams. Exams are closed book and closed notes.
Your grade will be calcuated as follows:
- 25% Projects
- 10% Assignments and class participation
- 25% Midterm exam
- 40% Final exam (cumulative exam)
No credit if your project does not compile. Late assignments/projects lose 20% credit and will not be accepted
3 days after the due date.
No early exams will be given.
Missed/make-up exams must be arranged with the instructor BEFORE the exam
date with an official and verifiable excuse.
Please note that, while class attendence is not required, it is strongly encouraged. During class the use of laptops and other electronic devices is not permitted. Each class session will have a break approximately halfway through the lecture.
GMU Academic Calendar
Honor Code
Disability Resource Center
Dr. Robert Simon,
Dept. of Computer Science,
George Mason University