OVERVIEW

A telecommunications network is a set of devices and connections that allow the transmission and reception of information between a source and one or more destinations. The Internet is a "network of networks" that connects billions of devices worldwide. The knowledge of the mechanisms that regulate the functioning of a telecommunications network and of the Internet in particular is fundamental for an Information and Communication Technology (ICT) engineer both from a work and cultural point of view.

AIMS AND CONTENT

LEARNING OUTCOMES

Basic principles of the telecommunication networks. Multiplexing. Circuit switching, packet switching . Functional architectures and protocols. Internet architecure. Application , transport and network layers. Data link layer.

AIMS AND LEARNING OUTCOMES

The course aims to provide the fundamental knowledge related to telecommunications networks and, in particular, related to the Internet, exploring the following aspects: structure and classification of a telecommunications network. Concept of switchboard and description of the structure of the telephone network. Internet infrastructure and TCP / IP networks, definition of the main Internet interconnection elements: hubs, switches, routers, gateways, terminals. Main data link layers: IEEE 802.3 / Ethernet, IEEE 802.11, HDLC, Point to Point Protocol (PPP). Internet protocols: IP, TCP, UDP and IP addressing scheme.

The final goal is that, at the end of the course, the student has acquired the basic skills necessary for the evaluation, project and verification of the main elements constituting a modern telecommunications network and the Internet.

TEACHING METHODS

Lectures integrated by laboratory trials.

Typically, the exam consists of a written test consisting of 4 questions of identical value followed by a brief oral comment on the written test.

During the covid emergency period, the written exam was replaced as follows:

1) The candidate submits a report of about 5 pages (including figures) on a specific topic, integral part of the course program, decided in agreement with the lecturer. The report must be provided in the form of a tutorial article and sent to the lecturer.

2) The candidate prepares a power point presentation, sends it to the lecturer, and, in 15 minutes, presents it. Additional 15 minutes are for questions and discussions on the subject of the report.

3) Another 30 minutes will be devoted to an oral test on a couple of topics chosen by the lecturer at the time of the exam.

Assessment: 50% of the final grade will depend on the first part of the exam (points 1) and 2)). 50% of the exam will depend on point 3). As regards the first part of the exam, the evaluation will be based on: analysis of the state of the art, scientific depth of the report, clarity of presentation / exposition. The second part of the exam is a common oral test.

Technical requirements: video camera fixed on the face plus video camera showing a sheet in which to write the answers to the oral questions (as done in class by the lecturer). The presentation of an identification document is mandatory during the exam. The exam will be done through the Teams platform.

SYLLABUS/CONTENT

Introduction

Structure of a telecommunications network. Definition of the structure at functional layers, definition of protocol, communication between remote systems.

Classification

Transmission from source to destination with interconnection via router. Definition of circuit and packet switching. Concept of switchboard and description of the structure of the telephone network.

Internet structure

Structure of the Internet and TCP / IP networks, terminals (hosts, end-systems), routers and communication links. ISP (Internet Service Provider) concept: local and regional. Structure of the Internet as a "hierarchical" network. Evaluation criteria of the efficiency of a packet telecommunications network.

The data link layer: information encapsulation

802.3 / Ethernet: encapsulation and frame format, LLC 802.2, LAN - architectures, network topology. IEEE 802.11. HDLC, Point to Point Protocol (PPP).

Internet protocols

IP, IP addressing scheme, ARP, TCP, UDP. Introduction to Internet Control Message Protocol (ICMP), IGMP, RARP, DHCP.

RECOMMENDED READING/BIBLIOGRAPHY

- Behrouz A. Forouzan , TCP / IP protocols , Mc - Graw - Hill , 2006.

- Mario Marchese , QoS Over Heterogeneous Networks , Wiley & Sons , Chichester , UK , 2007.

- Notes on specific topics issued by the lecturer.

- Extracts of international regulatory and scientific documentation provided by the lecturer.

TEACHERS AND EXAM BOARD

Exam Board

MARIO MARCHESE (President)

FRANCO DAVOLI

ALDO GRATTAROLA

SANDRO ZAPPATORE

FABIO PATRONE (President Substitute)

LESSONS

LESSONS START

II semester.

Class schedule

NETWORKING AND INTERNET TECHNOLOGIES

EXAMS

Exam schedule