INFS 612 - Principles and Practices of Communication Networks

Class Meetings: Mondays, 4:30 - 7:10 pm in Nguyen Engineering Building, Room 4705, in the C4I Center.
Distance Education students may participate in class or via the MIST/C System.

Instructor: Dr Larry Kerschberg

Office Hours: Mondays 2:00-4:00 PM and Tuesdays 5:00-7:00 PM, or by email appointment. Skype chats are also welcome by appointment.
Office: 4412 in the Nguyen Engineering Building.
Email: kersch@gmu.edu
Skype: kersch

GTA: Mr. Venkatta Yernini

Office Hours: Wednesdays and Thursdays, 7:00-9:00 PM,
Office: 5321 in the Nguyen Engineering Building
Email: vyerneni@masonlive.gmu.edu
Skype: yernenivenkat

We will use Blackboard System for all postings of reading assignments, slides, homework assignments, class discussions, group projects, and email communication.

The DE recordings can be accessed on the Moodle System by those registered for the DE section.

The GMU Honor Code is in effect at all times.

Prerequisites:

INFS 501, 515, 519 and SWE 510

Course Topics

This course presents the principles and practices of communication networks in a top-down fashion. The topics include: the role of the Internet; the Application, Transport, Network, Link Layers; wireless and mobile networks; network protocols and algorithms; network security; and modern applications.

Course Textbook

Computer Networking: A Top-Down Approach, Fifth Edition, James F. Kurose and Keith W. Ross, Addison Wesley, ISBN-13: 979-0-13-607967-5.

This text is on two-hour reserve at the Johnson Center Library. Ask for Call Number TK5105.875.I57 K88 2010

Grading Policy

Your final grade will be determined by your performance as follows:

Grade Components and Percentages
Home Work Assignments
15
Class Participation & Blackboard Participation
5
Group Term Project
20
Individual Term Project Presentation
15
Midterm Exam
15
Final Exam
30

Homework assignments are to be submitted on time via Blackboard.
The assignments are to be done individually, and the honor code is in effect.

The term project is a meant to be a group research and learning experience. There will be a grade for the group's performance as well as a grade for each person's performance in presenting their portion of the research.