SCHOOL

ENGINEERING

ACADEMIC UNIT

DEPARTMENT OF ELECTRICAL AND COMPUTER ENGINEERING

LEVEL OF STUDIES

UNDERGRADUATE

COURSE CODE

ECE_AK904

SEMESTER

9

COURSE TITLE

BROADBAND Networks

INDEPENDENT TEACHING ACTIVITIES
if credits are awarded for separate components of the course, e.g. lectures, laboratory exercises, etc. If the credits are awarded for the whole of the course, give the weekly teaching hours and the total credits

WEEKLY TEACHING HOURS

CREDITS

Lectures

2

Seminars

1

Laboratory

1

Add rows if necessary. The organisation of teaching and the teaching methods used are described in detail at (d).

4

From the academic year 2019-20

5

From the academic year 2019-20

COURSE TYPE

general background,
special background, specialised general knowledge, skills development

Special course of the specialization field "COMMUNICATIONS". Master course in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering. The students can develop various skills.

PREREQUISITE COURSES:

COMPUTER NETWORKS (basic course - 4th semester).

LANGUAGE OF INSTRUCTION and EXAMINATIONS:

Greek.

IS THE COURSE OFFERED TO ERASMUS STUDENTS

Yes, it is offered as a "reading course" based on English.

Students of the Erasmus program are examined in English.

COURSE WEBSITE (URL)

https://eclass.upatras.gr/courses/EE756/

Learning outcomes

The course learning outcomes, specific knowledge, skills and competences of an appropriate level, which the students will acquire with the successful completion of the course are described.

Consult Appendix A

·     Description of the level of learning outcomes for each qualifications cycle, according to the Qualifications Framework of the European Higher Education Area

·     Descriptors for Levels 6, 7 & 8 of the European Qualifications Framework for Lifelong Learning and Appendix B

·     Guidelines for writing Learning Outcomes

At the end of this course the student should:

·       know the definition and basic operational principles of broadband telecommunication networks, in particular ATM networks, optical networks (especially Passive Optical Networks, PONs), MPLS and Gigabit Ethernet networks.

·       have deeply understood the philosophy of the protocol layer stack of broadband networks.

·       distinguish and understand the differences between Circuit Switching, Packet Switching, Virtual Circuit Switching and Optical Switching.

·       distinguish the components of a broadband packet.

·       know the components of an ATM end-to-end link, as well as the factors of delay or traffic loss.

·       know the service categories of an ATM network and how they are distinguished from each other.

·       distinguishe the relationship between ATM, INTERNET (IP), MPLS and Gigabit Ethernet technologies.

The student will develop skills in:

• designing a VP link of an ATM network.

• communicating with other engineers in respect of broadband networks (for ATM, MPLS, Gigabit Ethernet, and Passive Optical Networks issues).

General Competences

Taking into consideration the general competences that the degree-holder must acquire (as these appear in the Diploma Supplement and appear below), at which of the following does the course aim?

Search for, analysis and synthesis of data and information, with the use of the necessary technology

Adapting to new situations

Decision-making

Working independently

Team work

Working in an international environment

Working in an interdisciplinary environment

Production of new research ideas

Project planning and management

Respect for difference and multiculturalism

Respect for the natural environment

Showing social, professional and ethical responsibility and sensitivity to gender issues

Criticism and self-criticism

Production of free, creative and inductive thinking

……

Others……….

Search for, analysis and synthesis of data and information, with the use of the necessary technology.

Decision-making.

Working independently (numerical results are requested to be produced individually).

Team work (encouraging collaborations / exchanges of ideas).

Working in an international environment

Production of new research ideas

Criticism.

Production of free, creative and inductive thinking.

·  Introduction - Trends in Requirements for Telecommunication - Progress in Technology and in System Concept. Narrowband-ISDN and Broadband -ISDN Services. Transfer Modes - Circuit Switching - Multi-rate Circuit Switching - Fast Circuit Switching - Packet Switching - Fast Packet Switching - Asynchronous Transfer Mode (ATM) - Frame Relay - Switched Multi-Megabit Data Service (SMDS).

·  ATM Technology. B-ISDN Protocol Reference Model (PRM) - ATM PRM. Asynchronous Transfer Mode - An Overview - ATM Network Interfaces - Protocol Layers - ATM Cell Header Format - Connection Identifiers - VP/VC Assignment - Header Error Check (HEC) - LAN Emulation - ATM Virtual LANs - IP Over ATM. Comparison of ATM with other Transfer Modes.

·  Statistical Multiplexing in ATM Networks. Resource management in ATM networks. Principles of Traffic and Congestion Control in ATM Networks.

·  Synchronous Digital Hierarchy (SDH): architecture of Transmission Systems. Principles of ATM Switching.

·  Multi-Protocol Label Switching (MPLS). Packet Switching & Forwarding. Label Switching Routers (LSR, LER). Forwarding Equivalence Classes. Labels: Label Maping, Creation, Distribution and Control. Compatibility between ATM and MPLS. Tunneling. Explicit routing. Quality of Service. MPLS and Differentiated Services. MPLS and Integrated Services.

·  Optical Networks – Architecture. Wavelength Division Multiplexing. Optical Time Division Multiplexing. Optical Switching. Optical Network Componets. Core/Backbone networks, Metropolitan Area Optical Networks and Optical Access Networks. Passive Optical Networks (PON) for Broadband Access.

·  Gigabit Ethernet Technology – Need for Gigabit Ethernet. Description of Gigabit Ethernet. Pros and cons of the Gigabit Ethernet.

·        LABORATORY EXCERCISES

o        Lab 1: Introduction to the Linux operating system

o        Lab 2: Files and folders administration in Linux.

o        Lab 3: Computer networks – Basic Network administration in Linux.

o        Lab 4: Network analysis using Wireshark.

o        Lab 5: Introduction to the OPNET network simulation program.

o        Lab 6: Local networks and switches. Simulation using OPNET.

DELIVERY
Face-to-face, Distance learning, etc.

Lectures (4 hours per week including 2 hour seminar and computer based training - CBT) using the PowerPoint or, a chalk on the blackboard or, marker on a whiteboard.

USE OF INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATIONS TECHNOLOGY
Use of ICT in teaching, laboratory education, communication with students

• Laboratory training is done through a computer, individually for each student.

• The course has been registered at the eclass (a distance learning system) as an Open Course.

TEACHING METHODS

The manner and methods of teaching are described in detail.

Lectures, seminars, laboratory practice, fieldwork, study and analysis of bibliography, tutorials, placements, clinical practice, art workshop, interactive teaching, educational visits, project, essay writing, artistic creativity, etc.

The student's study hours for each learning activity are given as well as the hours of non-directed study according to the principles of the ECTS

STUDENT PERFORMANCE EVALUATION

Description of the evaluation procedure

Language of evaluation, methods of evaluation, summative or conclusive, multiple choice questionnaires, short-answer questions, open-ended questions, problem solving, written work, essay/report, oral examination, public presentation, laboratory work, clinical examination of patient, art interpretation, other

Specifically-defined evaluation criteria are given, and if and where they are accessible to students.

Written examination:

Only one Final Examination, including (among other) multiple choice questions to help the students.

- Suggested bibliography:

1) James Kurose, Keith Rose, "Computer Networking: A Top Down Approach", Pearson Education Inc. (7th edition), 2018.

2) Andrew S. Tanenbaum and David J. Wetherall, "Computer Networks", Prentice Hall (5th edition), 2011.

3)  Rajiv Ramaswami, Kumar Sivarajan, Galen Sasaki, “Optical Networks: A Practical Perspective”, 3rd Edition, Morgan Kaufmann.

4)  Stephen B. Weinstein, Yuanqiu Luo, Ting Wang, "The ComSoc Guide to Passive Optical Networks: Enhancing the Last Mile Access", Wiley-IEEE Press.

5) M. D. Logothetis, "Broadband ISDN" Textbook for the course Broadband Communications Networks (3rd edition, in Greek), University of Patras, Patras, Greece, 2001.

6)  Ι. Venieris, Broadband Networks, (2nd edition), Publisher Tziolas, (in Greek), 2007.

7)  Raif Onvural, "Asynchronous Transfer Mode Technology", Artech House, 1994.

8)  Martin De Prycker, "Asynchronous Transfer Mode", Ellis Horwood, 1991.

9)  Michael Sexton, Andrew Reid, "Transmission Networking: SONET and SDH", Artech House, 1992.

10) Ken-Ichi Sato, "Advances in Transport Network Technologies, Artech House, 1996.