CSCI 547 COMPUTER NETWORKS PAPER/PROJECT Specification
***Read the specification carefully***
Each student is required Either
To write a research paper on a topic related to Computer Networks and data communications
OR
To write a report on an implementation project of network related software/hardware project
Here is the list of projects from previous semesters(Projects are not limited to the following topics—if you have an idea, talk to the instructor):
Implementation of an application program using any application layer protocol--such as FTP, TELNET, SMTP, SNMP HTTP… using Socket programming on Windows, Unix, or Linux
Implementation of a Web browser,
Implementation of network management program using SNMP,
Implementation of a function in e-commerce,
CORBA applications,
Implementation of Manchester code using logic design
Implementation of wireless communication using existing wireless routers and satellite dishes
Implementation of a Web services which checks for errors in WML
The project is due on the week of May 1 - 5, 2006. There will be a sign-up sheet for project demo on my office door.
If you selected the Paper option, the papers will be due in-class on May 5(Fri), 2006.
For a project, you need to develop a manual containing detailed description of the concepts, program structure, description of program modules, documented program, and user manual. You need to demonstrate your project to the instructor. Make an appointment for the demonstration before the due date or you can set up a web page on which the instructor is given an account to run your program.
Note: Simple copying and Cutting & Pasting of information(from Internet or books or journal articles) are not permitted.
Write the paper in your own words. You are required to submit your document to Turnitin.com and verify that you did not
copy from somewhere. Instructions for Turnitin.com is on my web page.
SUGGESTED(Not limited to these) TOPICS FOR RESEARCH PAPER
AREA1. NETWORK DESIGN ISSUES
For one or more of the network design issues(listed below), discuss the following topics:
*Definition and description of the issue(s)
*Major problems to be solved
*Various design trade-offs to be considered
*Commonly used approaches and existing examples
*Other related topics
*Conclusions
List of design issues:
*Choice of transmission links and sharing links
*Network Topology
*Flow and congestion control
*Routing
*Security and Privacy
*Error control, Recovery and Reliability problems
*Network Addressing
*Network Management
*Distributed processing
*Others
AREA2. STUDY OF EXISTING NETWORKS AND PROTOCOLS
Discuss, in detail, the implementation techniques used in one or more existing computer networks and their protocols:
*Evolution and basics of a network(ARPA, SNA, DNA, ...Internet)
*IEEE 802 standards--general overview of LAN standards
*Study on Ethernet
*Study on LAN switches(10Mbps Ethernet switches, 100Mbps Ethernet switches...)
*Study on High-speed LANs(100BaseT, 100Base-VG-AnyLAN, Gigabit Ethernet)
*Study on Frame-Relay networks
*Study on any one or more of the high-speed data services
T1/T3 Carriers
ATM(Asynchronous Transfer Mode)
SMDS(Synchronous Multi-megabit Data Service)
FDDI
SONET(Synchronous Optical Network)
*Networks using Optical Fibers / FDDI / FDDI II / SONET
*Satellite Communication Networks
*Study on ISDN(Integrated Services Digital Network) & BISDN
*Current status of standard protocols in OSI structure
*Internetworking with TCP/IP—general overview of TCP/IP
*Study on "INTERNET"--current status and issues
*Study on networking devices--Repeaters, Bridges, Routers, Protocol converters,...
*Detailed study of any one layer protocol in TCP/IP Architecture
*Study on Internet routing structure
*Others
AREA3. GENERAL TOPICS
Any valid study on the subjects related to Computer Networks:
*Interconnection of networks(Internetworking)
*Comparison of Data Link Layer Protocols
*Current status of protocol standards
*Distributed Processing
*Multimedia
*Network security issues
*Data Compression used in Computer Networks
*Comparison of LANs
*Survey of MODEMs
*Others
A research paper is required on an area chosen from the above. The length of the paper should be in the close range between 15 to 30 double-spaced typed/word-processed pages. Each paper should also mention the current activities/status in the chosen area.
Each paper should refer at least five references from related publications and copies of minimum two references should be handed in with the paper. If the source is too long, then copy only important parts.
Highlighting important portions of the references will help the grading.
SUGGESTED REFERENCES
(In random order)
WWW
IEEE Transactions On Communications
IEEE Computer magazine
IEEE Communications magazine
IEEE Network magazine
IEEE Transactions On Information Theory
Proceedings of the IEEE(Special issue--Dec. 1983)
IEEE Journal On Selected Areas In Communications
ACM Computer Communication Review
ACM Computing Survey
Conference Proceedings of IEEE or ACM
IBM Systems Journal
Data Communications magazine
LAN magazine
Faulkner Reports
Byte magazine
Computer Networks and ISDN Systems
Reference list at end of text
Handbook of Computer Communications Standards By William Stallings,
Macmillan
ISDN: An Introduction By William Stallings, Macmillan
Internetworking with TCP/IP By Douglas Comer
Others
Note: Please notify the instructor if you find any other good reference source or any other hot topic that are not listed above.