King Fahd University of Petroleum & Minerals 
College of Computer Sciences and Engineering 
Computer Engineering Department 

Fundamentals of Computer Communication

COE 353 (3-0-3)

Course Syllabus T171

• Instructor: Professor Mayez Al-Mouhamed (Email: mayez@kfupm.sa.edu)
• Office: COE Office 22-400-3 (Tel. 2934) and DAD office 68-375 (Tel. 8714),
• Office hours: Tuesday from 2-3 pm and Thursday from 1-2 pm and by appointment
• Text Book and references:
  • “Fundamentals of Business Data Communications, Alan Dennis, 11th edition Wiley.  
• Grading Policy: Exam 1: 25/100 (Monday 23 October 2017), Exam 2: 25/100 (Monday 4 December 2017), Homework: 10/100, and Final Exam: 30/100 (scheduled by the registrar).
• Attendance of classes and exams: attendance is required by all students. Excuse for official authorized excuse for missing classes and exams must be issued by the KFUPM Student Affairs and be presented to the instructor no later than one week following the absence. Part-timers are recommended to have a medical file at the KFUPM clinic so that they can obtain medical excuse from the KFUPM clinic in the case of sickness. The medical excuse from KFUPM clinic is a requirement for obtaining an official authorized excuse from KFUPM Student Affairs to be handed to the instructor within one week time from the absence. Unexcused absences lead to a ``DEN'' grade.

Course Description: Digital communications fundamentals. Voice and data transmission equipment. Communications channels. Data coding and modulation. Multiplexing. Modems. Transmission media. Data transmission codes and protocols. Software packages. Data networks. Planning and design of communication networks.

Note:    This course is NOT open for COE students. It cannot be taken for credit with COE 241.

Prerequisite: Junior Standing

Course Outline:

1.      Chapter 1: INTRODUCTION TO DATA COMMUNICATIONS

INTRODUCTION

                A Brief History of Communications in North America

                A Brief History of Information Systems

                A Brief History of the Internet

DATA COMMUNICATIONS NETWORKS

                Components of a Network

                Types of Networks

NETWORK MODELS

                Open Systems Interconnection Reference Model

                Internet Model

                Message Transmission Using Layers

NETWORK STANDARDS

                The Importance of Standards

                The Standards Making Process

                Common Standards

FUTURE TRENDS

                Pervasive Networking

                The Integration of Voice, Video, and Data

                New Information Services

2.      Chapter 2: NETWORK APPLICATIONS

 APPLICATION ARCHITECTURES

                Host-Based Architectures

                Client-Based Architectures

                Client-Server Architectures

                Peer-to-Peer Architectures

                Choosing Architectures 

WORLD WIDE WEB

                How the Web Works

                Inside an HTTP Request

                Inside an HTTP Response

ELECTRONIC MAIL

                How E-Mail Works

                Inside an SMTP Packet

Attachments in Multipurpose Internet Mail Extension

OTHER APPLICATIONS

                Telnet

                Instant Messaging

                Videoconferencing

3.      Chapter 3: CIRCUITS AND TRANSMISSION

 CIRCUITS

                Circuit Configuration

                Data Flow

Multiplexing

                How DSL Transmits Data

COMMUNICATION MEDIA

Twisted Pair Cable

Coaxial Cable

Fiber Optic Cable

Radio

Microwave

Satellite

Media Selection

DIGITAL TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL DATA

                Coding

                Transmission Modes

                Digital Transmission

                How Ethernet Transmits Data

ANALOG TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL DATA

                Modulation

                Capacity of a Circuit

                How Modems Transmit Data

DIGITAL TRANSMISSION OF ANALOG DATA

                Translating from Analog to Digital

                How Telephones Transmit Voice Data

                How Instant Messenger Transmits Voice Data

                Voice Over IP (VoIP) 

4.      Chapter 4: DATA LINK LAYER

 MEDIA ACCESS CONTROL

                Contention

Controlled Access

                Relative Performance

ERROR CONTROL

                Sources of Error

                Error Prevention

                Error Detection

                Error Correction via Retransmission

                Forward Error Correction

                Error Control in Practice

DATA LINK PROTOCOLS

                Asynchronous Transmission

                Synchronous Transmission

TRANSMISSION EFFICIENCY

5.      Chapter 5: TCP/IP

 TRANSPORT AND NETWORK LAYER PROTOCOLS

                Transmission Control Protocol

Internet Protocol       

TRANSPORT LAYER FUNCTIONS

                Linking to the Application Layer

                Segmenting

Session Management

ADDRESSING

                Assigning Addresses

                Address Resolution

ROUTING

                Types of Routing

                Routing Protocols

                Multicasting

                The Anatomy of a Router

TCP/IP EXAMPLE

                Known Addresses, Same Subnet

                Known Addresses, Different Subnet

                Unknown Addresses

                TCP Connections

                                         TCP/IP and Network Layers

6.      Chapter 6: WIRED AND WIRELESS LOCAL AREA NETWORKS

 INTRODUCTION

Why Use a LAN?

Dedicated-Server versus Peer-to-Peer LANs

LAN COMPONENTS

Network Interface Cards

Network Circuits

Network Hubs, Switches, and Access Points

Network Operating Systems

WIRED ETHERNET

Topology

Media Access Control

Types of Ethernet

WIRELESS ETHERNET

Topology

Media Access Control

Wireless Ethernet Frame Layout

Types of Wireless Ethernet

Security

THE BEST PRACTICE LAN DESIGN

Wired Ethernet

Wireless Ethernet

Designing for SOHO Environments

IMPROVING LAN PERFORMANCE

Improving Server Performance

Improving Circuit Capacity

Reducing Network Demand

7.      Chapter 7: BACKBONES

 BACKBONE NETWORK COMPONENTS

                Switches

                Routers

                Gateways

                A Caution

BACKBONE ARCHITECTURES

                Backbone Architecture Layers

                Routed Backbone

                Collapsed Backbone

                Virtual LAN

THE BEST PRACTICE BACKBONE

IMPROVING BACKBONE PERFORMANCE

                Improving Computer and Device Performance

                Improving Circuit Capacity

                Reducing Network Demand

8.      Chapter 8: WIDE AREA NETWORKS

 CIRCUIT-SWITCHED NETWORKS

                Basic Architecture

                Plain Old Telephone Service

                ISDN

DEDICATED-CIRCUIT NETWORKS

                Basic Architecture

                T Carrier Services

                Synchronous Optical Network 

PACKET-SWITCHED NETWORKS

                Basic Architecture

                Asynchronous Transfer Mode

                Frame Relay

                Ethernet

                MPLS

VIRTUAL PRIVATE NETWORKS

                Basic Architecture

                VPN Types

How VPNs Work

THE BEST PRACTICE WAN

IMPROVING WAN PERFORMANCE

                Improving Device Performance

                Improving Circuit Capacity

                Reducing Network Demand

9.      Chapter 9: THE INTERNET

 HOW THE INTERNET WORKS

                Basic Architecture

                Connecting to an ISP

                The Internet Today

INTERNET ACCESS TECHNOLOGIES

                DSL

                Cable Modem

                Fiber to the Home

                WiMax

THE FUTURE OF THE INTERNET

Internet Governance

Building for Future 

10.  Chapter 10: SECURITY

 INTRODUCTION

Why Networks Need Security

Types of Security Threats

Network Controls

RISK ASSESSMENT

                Develop a Control Spreadsheet

                Identify and Document the Control

                Evaluate the Network’s Security

ENSURING BUSINESS CONTINUITY

                Virus Protection

Denial of Service Protection

Theft Protection

Device Failure Protection

Disaster Protection

INTRUSION PREVENTION

                Security Policy

Perimeter Security and Firewalls

Server and Client Protection

Encryption

User Authentication

Preventing Social Engineering

Intrusion Prevention Systems

Intrusion Recovery

BEST PRACTICE RECOMMENDATIONS

11.  Chapter 11: DESIGNING NETWORKS

INTRODUCTION

                The Traditional Network Design Process

                The Building-Block Network Design Process

NEEDS ANALYSIS

                Geographic Scope

                Application Systems

                Network Users

                Categorizing Network Needs

                Deliverables

TECHNOLOGY DESIGN

                Designing Clients and Servers

                Designing Circuits and Devices

                Network Design Tools

                Deliverables

COST ASSESSMENT

                Request for Proposal

                Selling the Proposal to Management

                Deliverables

DESIGNING FOR NETWORK PERFORMANCE
                Managed Networks

                Network Circuits

                Network Devices

                Minimizing Network Traffic

                Green IT 

12.  Chapter 12: NETWORK ADMINISTRATION

 ORGANIZING THE NETWORK MANAGEMENT FUNCTION

                The Shift to LANs and the Internet

                Integrating LANs, WANs, and the Internet

                Integrating Voice and Data Communications

CONFIGURATION MANAGEMENT

                Configuring the Network and Client Computers

                Documenting the Configuration

PERFORMANCE AND FAULT MANAGEMENT

                Network Monitoring

                Failure Control Function

                Performance and Failure Statistics

                Improving Performance

END USER SUPPORT

                Resolving Problems

                Providing End User Training

COST MANAGEMENT

                Sources of Costs

                Reducing Costs