Course details

Computer Communications and Networks

IPK Acad. year 2022/2023 Summer semester 4 credits

Current academic year

There are several recurring themes from the IPK project evaluation for the 2022/2023 academic year:

  1. the lectures and teaching of Assoc. Ryšavý and Dr. Veselý is positively evaluated
  2. the lack of clarity of the project assignments is negatively evaluated
  3. the organisation of the projects is negatively evaluated
  4. the possibility of defending projects is positively evaluated
  5. the score ratio of the documentation and implementation part of the projects is evaluated negatively
  6. the conduct of the practitioners is negatively evaluated
  7. positive evaluation of the exam

Now to the measures of the above points, which are planned to be implemented in 2023/2024:

  1. No changes, perhaps only the presentations will be supplemented with more references to the reference literature.
  2. Project assignments are in Gitea (last year specifically here https://git.fit.vutbr.cz/NESFIT/IPK-Projekty). In order to make the assignment clearer, the plan is to split the first and second project assignments into two separate repositories.
  3. As in the previous year, students will be encouraged to communicate with the tutors via BUT Moodle. Where it makes sense to do so, responses on Moodle will be accompanied by a link to a commit modifying the assignment.
  4. The first project will also now have optional defences. Those who do not voluntarily attend the defences will receive a breakdown of scores for specific categories, accompanied by practitioner commentary where appropriate.
  5. In previous years, projects could typically score 7 points for documentation, 3 points for code work, and 10 points for implementation. In the new edition, the ratio will be 4 points for documentation, 3 points for code work, 13 points for implementation.
  6. The IPK project practitioners faced a lot of unpleasant situations in 2023/2024. These included, for example: a) increased aggression by students toxicly amplifying each other's frustrations on Discord; b) the appearance of racist and Nazi symbols written by students on shared evaluation Excel sheets; c) the near physical insulting of one practitioner during complaints. Even so, supervised PhD students will continue to be encouraged by academic staff to participate in teaching activities on the IPK course. On his own initiative, colleague Ing. Koutenský intends to minimize his participate in teaching activities at the school.
  7. No changes.

Guarantor

Course coordinator

Language of instruction

Czech, English

Completion

Credit+Examination (written)

Time span

  • 26 hrs lectures
  • 13 hrs projects

Assessment points

  • 60 pts final exam (written part)
  • 40 pts projects

Department

Lecturer

Instructor

Subject specific learning outcomes and competences

Student acquaints basic concepts and principles of computer communications and computer networks and will be aware of communication functions and their implementations in common computer networks. The student will learn how to deal with documents that describe the specification of communication protocols. The student will learn how to implement networking applications.

Learning objectives

The aim is to understand the basic concepts and principles of computer communications and computer networks; to be aware of communication functions and their implementations in common computer networks.

Why is the course taught

We use the Internet for a variety of activities in everyday life. Life without it is hard to imagine for many people. In this course, you will learn on what technical principles the Internet is built on and what key technologies are necessary for its functioning.

Prerequisite knowledge and skills

Ability to write a computer program in one of the following programming languages: C/C++, Python, C#, Java. Knowledge of operating systems.

Study literature

  • Gerry Howser. Computer Networks and the Internet: A Hands-On Approach. Springer International Publishing AG, 2019 (dostupné on-line)
  • John Goerzen, Tim Bower, Brandon Rhodes. Foundations of Python Network Programming: The comprehensive guide to building network applications with Python. Apress, 2011.

Fundamental literature

  • Kurose J.F., Ross K.W.: Computer Networking, A Top-Down Approach Featuring the Internet (8th edition). Addison-Wesley, 2021.
  • Andrew S. Tanenbaum,Nick Feamster, David J. Wetherall. Computer Networks, 6th Edition, Pearson, 2021.
  • PETERSON, Larry L.; DAVIE, Bruce S. Computer networks: a systems approach. Elsevier, 2011.

Syllabus of lectures

  1. Introduction to computer networks
  2. Network applications
  3. Application layer
  4. Network application programming
  5. Transport layer
  6. Network Layer I (Addressing)
  7. Network Layer II (Protocols and Communications)
  8. IPv6 protocol
  9. Multicast
  10. Routing I (Local Area Networks)
  11. Routing II (Internet)
  12. Link layer (LAN technology, Ethernet, Wifi)
  13. Recapitulation

Syllabus - others, projects and individual work of students

  1. Implementation of a client-server communication
  2. Implementation of networking application

Progress assessment

  • Project #1 - max 20 pts.
  • Project #2 - max 20 pts.
  • The final exam - max 60 pts.

Controlled instruction

Controlled activities include two projects and the final exam.

Exam prerequisites

Requirements for class accreditation is at least 10 points for the semester.

How to contact the teacher

Quick consultations after the lecture. Regular consultations during the teacher's consultation hours. Alternatively, individually arranged consultations in person or online on the MS Teams platform.

Course inclusion in study plans

  • Programme BIT, 2nd year of study, Compulsory
  • Programme BIT (in English), 2nd year of study, Compulsory
  • Programme IT-BC-3, field BIT, 2nd year of study, Compulsory
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