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Reti di Telecomunicazione
Telecommunication Networks
Paola Pierleoni

Seat Ingegneria
A.A. 2016/2017
Credits 6
Hours 48
Period I
Language ENG

Prerequisites
This course requires the knowledge of the basic concepts of signal and telecommunications theory.

Learning outcomes
KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING:
To know and understand the current status and future trends of telecommunication standards, with the aim that the student has an adequate preparation to his immediate placement into employment. In particular, the problems linked to the design of telecommunication networks, both in geographic, metropolitan and local areas, to the different transmission solutions, the variety of network architectures, protocols and application fields are studied in deep. It will start from the investigation of standards and emerging protocols, analyzing the performance achievable under changing design choices at each level of the protocol architecture. Much of the course is devoted to the TCP/IP architecture, starting from the native protocols up to the latest RFC (Request For Comments) and the use of these protocols in a variety of network architectures.
CAPACITY TO APPLY KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING:
To be able to make informed choices on the basis of quality of service and traffic characteristics required by specific applications and to use this knowledge for the development and implementation of efficient solutions in different application contexts. In general, to evaluate, analyze and solve problems in new and emerging areas using the most modern technologies. All this is finalized to a placement into employment in a short time also furnishing a strong basis for a graduated student.
TRANSVERSAL SKILLS:
To be able to understand the issues involved, to apply the acquired knowledge, to propose solutions to problems, to learn new methodologies in relation to the planning, management and monitoring of telecommunication networks.In particular, students will deepen the practical aspects of the course, carrying out the design of basic network components, configuration of equipment and telecomunication systems, monitoring of elementary networks, design and test of telecom services, analysis activities, design and management of systems for the treatment, transmission and processing of information. The use in the laboratory of network simulators and communication devices, along with the creation and tests of simple communication systems, will develop and put to use a number of cross skills in different ICT disciplines such as electronics, computer science, electrical engineering, signal theory, electromagnetic fields, antennas, etc. The students will then have the ability to use, develop and manage disparate technologies and skills within broader contexts related to their field of study.

Program
(Lectures, 38 hours) Protocols and architectures. OSI. TCP/IP. Data communications interfaces. Asynchronous and synchronous transmission. Line configurations. Interfacing. Mechanical, electrical, functional and procedural characteristics of some typical interfaces. Transport of the information. PDH. SDH. Data Link protocols. Line control. Flow control. Error detection and control. ARQ techniques. HDLC protocol (LAP-B, LAP-D, LAP-F). WAN. Circuit switching concepts. Routing in circuit-switching networks. Control signalling. Packet switching principles. Routing in packet-switching networks. Datagram and virtual circuit. Notes on X.25, ISDN and B-ISDN, Frame Relay and ATM. Congestion control in data networks. Traffic Management. LAN architecture. Internetworking devices. Wireless LAN. IEEE 802.x. Internetworking protocols. Internet Protocol: IPv4 vs. Ipv6. Transport protocols: TCP, UDP. Distributed applications. Network security. QoS. Network innovation. Full IP network. Core & Access Evolution. DWDM. Metro Ethernet. Wireless Access. Laboratory activities (10 hours). Wireshark. WireShark captures. ICMP (Ping, Trace route, etc.), TCP, UDP, DNS, ARP, RARP. Networking devices configuration through simulators.

Development of the examination
LEARNING EVALUATION METHODS
The students learning assessment is done through a verbal examination that covers specific topics of the course. This assessment can optionally also include the presentation and discussion of a project chosen among those proposed by the teacher. The project is typically a practical implementation of one of the topics covered in the course. It will be presented in the form of technical report and / or hw / sw prototype version, typically network protocols implementation. The project can be done in groups. The size of each group shall be agreed with the teacher on the basis of the complexity of the chosen project. The discussion of the project and the verbal examination must take place with the participation of all students belonging to the same group.

LEARNING EVALUATION CRITERIA
The student must demonstrate the understanding of the fundamental concepts of network architectures and protocol stacks discussed during the course to successfully pass the assessment of learning. The student must be able to analyze and evaluate, through the use of sw tools provided during the lessons, the performance of a specific solution. In addition, the student must have clear issues of employment of the individual network architectures with reference to the different fields of application. The student, during the verbal examination, may present and discuss an optional project, showing knowledge, methodological skills and technological constraints of the proposed solution.

LEARNING MEASUREMENT CRITERIA
The verbal examination is evaluated by a score of thirty.

FINAL MARK ALLOCATION CRITERIA
During the verbal examination the student must obtain a score of at least eighteen points in order to have a positive evaluation. The student must demonstrate an overall knowledge of the topics and present them in a correct manner and with the use of proper technical terminology to successfully pass the verbal examination. In case of submission of a project, it must fullfil the minimal functional requirements agreed with the teacher. The student must demonstrate a thorough understanding of topics presented with a mastery of technical language to get the maximum score. Praise is given to students who perform correctly the verbal examination and show a particular brilliance and mastery of the topics.

Recommended reading
William Stallings, “Data& Computer Communications“, Prentice Hall. William Stallings, “Network Security Essential“, Prentice Hall. William Stallings, “High-speed networks and Internets: Performance and Quality of Services“, Prentice Hall. Hu Hanrahan, “Network Convergence: Services, Applications, Transport and Operation Support“, John Wiley & Sons.

Courses

• Ingegneria Elettronica (Corso di Laurea Triennale (DM 270/04))