AIMS/LEARNING OUTCOMES:

 This course aims to establish a broad knowledge of the elements and integration, operation and design of multimedia communication networks.

 On completion of this unit, it is expected that students will be able to:

 1.        select suitable communication networks for a range of applications;
 2.        assess the performance of specific communication networks;
3.        explain  the operation of  particular networks;
4.        evaluate recent developments and trends in communication networks.

Syllabus

Standards; The International Standards Organisation reference model for open system interconnection, TCP/IP and BISDN models.

Data Communication; functions of the data link layer, asynchronous and synchronous protocols,  flow control, link management, medium access control, logical link control, ISO LLC services, virtual circuits and datagrams.

Networking; network layer functions, flow control, routing, congestion, network interconnection, functions of internet protocol, network model, internetwork operation and services, functions of the transport layer, transport layer model and services, Transport Control Protocol (TCP) model, protocol, services and operation.

Applications; session, presentation and application layers, file transfer access and management, domain naming system, electronic mail, usenet, worldwide web, multimedia, network management.

Local Networks;  IEEE 802  LAN standards, FDDI standards, Fast LAN standards, Operation and performance of local networks.

Integrated Services Digital Network (ISDN); evolution of telephone networks to integrated services digital networks, integrated services digital access. ISDN Access Recommendations; general aspects and principles, reference configurations, interface structure and access capabilities.

Multimedia  Networks; review of current networks and historical trends, types, reasons for evolution, trends. Broadband ISDN. Asynchronous transfer mode; structure, cell transfer, switching, performance and design of networks. Multimedia communication issues.

Global Multimedia Network Transmission Technologies; structure of global multimedia networks, synchronous digital hierarchy, synchronous transfer mode, passive optical networks, wavelength division multiplexing, synchronous optical network.