The objective of the class is to provide an comprehensive outlook on latest-generation technologies both for wireless access networks to connect user terminals and things (e.g., sensors), for supporting related services/applications at the “Cloud” and/or “Edge Computing” infrastructures.
To this end, the class will be organized into two main and highly complementary parts: the former with a specific topic on the latest-generation wireless networks (including the fifth radio mobile networks – 5g, and sixth generation of wireless LANs – Wi-Fi 6), the latter on Cloud/Edge computing and networking paradigms.
The class will introduce key paradigms and technologies in today’s and upcoming telecommunication networks: the 5G and Wi-Fi 6 wireless access networks, as well as virtualization technologies for edge and cloud computing, which are applied in the datacenters hosting both applications/services used by mobile devices and 5G core network functions.
The class has the following objectives:
The active involvement to the proposed learning activities (traditional lectures, exercises and laboratory experiments) and the individual work will allow students to:
Classical front-end lessons and laboratories.
Wireless network introduction: main problems, approaches and reference technologies. Radio-mobile networks and wireless LANs.
Overview on Wireless LAN: the IEEE 802.11 standard, evolution from the “a/b” to the “ax” versions, main functionalities.
Overview on radio-mobile networks: the various radio-mobile network generations, base concept and anatomy of a radio mobile network, the role of the core network: authentications, authorization, billing, quality of service, mobility management and handovers.
Introduction to the 5G, its core network and its base design principles. 5G network functions; mobility management procedures; breakdown of the network and vertical applications.
ICT virtualization: overview on operating system, virtual machines, containers and virtualization offloading technologies. Cloud Computing and the “as-a-Service” model. Examples on cloud systems; the role of application orchestrators. The distrubuted Cloud: the Edge Computing. Introduction to the Network Function Virtualization. The 5G core as cloud/edge application.
The topics of the class are relevant to the Objectives no. 8, 9 and 11 for the sustainable growth of the ONU 2030 Agenda.
Teaching slides, material and documents for laboratories, all available in the aulaweb website.
Book suggested as further readings:
Ricevimento: Appointments fixed on request at the end of the lessons, or through Microsoft Teams platform or by e-mail.
Ricevimento: Appointment upon students' requests (direct or by email).
Written exam with multiple-choice questions and exercises/problems. The oral exam is optional.
The written exam will allow a maximum score of 30/30, and the oral exam can modify the written exam score by up to 5 points. Participation in the labs will provide up to an additional 3 points to the final grade.
Students who have valid certification of physical or learning disabilities on file with the University and who wish to discuss possible accommodations or other circumstances regarding lectures, coursework and exams, should speak both with the instructor and with Professor Federico Scarpa (federico.scarpa@unige.it ), the School's disability liaison.
The multi-answer test will assess the base knowledge acquisition on the tecnologies and concept explained in the class. The oral examination will allow assessing the capability of the Student to apply the acquired knowledge into practical problems and real scenarios.
