Module Identifier CSM1510  
Module Title COMPUTER COMMUNICATIONS  
Academic Year 2002/2003  
Co-ordinator Mr Christopher W Loftus  
Semester Available all semesters  
Pre-Requisite CSM1110 , CSM1020  
Course delivery Other   34 Hours Contact Hours. plus about 45 hours of self study and practical work  
Assessment Semester Exam   2 Hours   80%  
  Semester Assessment   Course Work:   20%  
Further details http://www.aber.ac.uk/compsci/ModuleInfo/CSM1510  

Learning outcomes

On successful completion of the module, students will understand:

Brief description

This module introduces the methods and technology used in modern computer based communications systems. It covers the basic concepts and terminology of point to point and broadcast communications over both public and private networks. Ethernet is studied in detail as an example of a local area network. Some background information is provided on the history and development of public telephony. The nature and potential of telematics applications and the component technologies are discussed, as are the characteristics of new high speed technologies.

Aims

The purpose of this module is to introduce the problems encountered and the methods used in modern computer-based communications and to provide an insight into the nature and potential of telematic applications.

Content

Standards
The needs for standards and the areas they cover. The standards setting process and the standards setting bodies - including BSI, ISO, ANSI, IEEE, ITU and IAB. Local and organisational standards and their relationship to national and international standards. The ISO Model. The weakness of standards and the standard setting process. De facto standards.

Basics of Data Communication
Analogue and digital data transmission; synchronous and asynchronous transmission; parallel and serial transmission. Modems, concentrators, time division and statistical multiplexors. Co-ax, twisted pair, fibre optic media. Speed, distance and error rates of the various transmission media.

Local Area Networks
Bus, ring and star topologies. Cost of attaching devices to networks. Project 802. A case study of Ethernet.

Wide Area Communications and Networks
The idea of a common carrier. Public switched networks and private lines. Kilostream, Megastream and similar services. Examples of wide area networks. Telecommunications development, regulation and history in Singapore.

The Internet as a Basis for Telematic Systems
History of Internet development; modern Internet applications.

Communications Protocols and Internetworking
Datalink protocols: IP, TCP, UDP. Naming in large networks; routing in large networks

Integrated Services Networks   
N-ISDN; B-ISDN; Fast LANs; MANs; optical networking.

Reading Lists

Books
** Essential Reading
B A Forouzan. (1998) Introduction to data communications and networking. WCB/McGraw-Hill