6 ECTS credits
150 h study time

Offer 1 with catalog number 1001673BNR for all students in the 1st semester at a (B) Bachelor - advanced level.

Semester
1st semester
Enrollment based on exam contract
Impossible
Grading method
Grading (scale from 0 to 20)
Can retake in second session
Yes
Taught in
Dutch
Faculty
Faculteit Ingenieurswetenschappen
Department
Electronics and Informatics
Educational team
Kris Steenhaut (course titular)
Roald Van Glabbeek
Diana Deac
Activities and contact hours
30 contact hours Lecture
18 contact hours Seminar, Exercises or Practicals
30 contact hours Independent or External Form of Study
Course Content

Lecture:

Two or three lectures will be taught through flipped classroom. The students watch several videos that will be discussed in class.

The basic concepts of data/voice communication networks and their evolution are presented. Internet  is introduced as enabler for interconnecting machines on heterogeneous networks. The functioning of Internet Protocol (IP) ,Transmission Control (TCP) and User Datagram Protocol (UDP) are discussed in detail.  Some applications such as World Wide Web and Domain Name Server are analysed.

A second part introduces Local and Personal area networks focusing on protocols such as IEEE 802.3 (Ethernet) and 802.15.4, as well as Low Range Low Power Networks and Internet of Things.

The third part introduces physical layer issues and discusses the basic elements of a transmission system. In this part modulation, coding and multiplexing techniques are put forward, together with 2G, 3G, 4G, 5G mobile. telecommunication/telephone systems.  Techniques like  Code, Space, time, frequency and orthogonal frequency division multiplexing are reviewed. 

The functioning of IP-based optical networks is highlighted. 

Lab sessions:

The lab sessions demonstrate the basic concepts of Wireless transmission by means of the deployment of  Wireless Sensor Nodes. With these nodes  several small network topologies are built/simulated or subproblems related to exploitation of these networks such as security or energy consumption are explored. 

Independent work:

Students also continue the work in an independent way for some of the lab assesments.

Course material
Digital course material (Required) : All slides + notes used in the course, Canvas
Handbook (Recommended) : Computer Networks, Andrew S.Tanenbaum, David J. Wetherall, 6de, Prentice Hall, 9781292374062, 2023
Handbook (Recommended) : Computer networking, A Top-Down Approach, J. Kurose and K. Ross, 8de, Pearson, 9781292405469, 2021
Additional info

n.a.

Learning Outcomes

Algemene competenties

. The educational goals are:
To give the students insight into the underlying technical principles of contemporary data communications and make them aware of the possibilities and limitations of this technology.

The Competences that are expected are:
- Knowledge and understanding
Knowing and understanding the core concepts of communication networks.
Understanding the modeling of networks by means of successive layers.
Knowing the main applications of communication networks and understanding their specific requirements.
Knowing and understanding the theory of digital communications.
Knowing the properties of the most important communications media.
Knowing the traditional telephone network and understanding how it can be used for for data transmission.
Knowing and understanding the technology of local area networks.
Understanding in depth the interconnection of various networks.
- Applying knowledge and understanding
Being able to set up simple networks based on Internet technology
- Making judgements
Being able for all the above subject matters to make competent choices, predict likely evolutions and evaluate advantages and disadvantages of different approaches.
- Communication
Being able to communicate efficiently, both orally and in writing about the above subject matters.
- Learning skills
Starting from the basis acquired in this course, being able to learn on their own new protocols and how to configure network components.

This course contributes to the following programme outcomes of the Bachelor in Engineering Sciences:

The Bachelor in Engineering Sciences has a broad fundamental knowledge and understanding of
2. engineering principles and the ability to apply them to analyse key engineering processes and to investigate new and emerging technologies;
3. integrated design methods according to customer and user needs with the ability to apply and integrate knowledge and understanding of other engineering disciplines to support the own specialisation engineering one;
4. fundamental, basic methods and theories to schematize and model problems or processes.

The Bachelor in Engineering Sciences can
7. apply quantitative methods and computer software relevant to the engineering discipline in order to solve engineering problems;

 

Grading

The final grade is composed based on the following categories:
Oral Exam determines 100% of the final mark.

Within the Oral Exam category, the following assignments need to be completed:

  • mondeling examen with a relative weight of 1 which comprises 100% of the final mark.

    Note: Mondeling examen met schriftelijke voorbereiding (gesloten boek).
    Er zijn vragen over de theorie en over de labosessies.

Additional info regarding evaluation

Oral exam with closed book written preparation.

Allowed unsatisfactory mark
The supplementary Teaching and Examination Regulations of your faculty stipulate whether an allowed unsatisfactory mark for this programme unit is permitted.

Academic context

This offer is part of the following study plans:
Bachelor of Engineering: Electronics and Information Technology Profile Profile Computer Science (only offered in Dutch)
Bachelor of Computer Science: Default track (only offered in Dutch)