Content

Telematics = telecommunications + informatics (often also called computer networks) covers a wide spectrum of topics - from communication engineering to the WWW and advanced applications.

The lecture addresses topics such as:

• Basic background: protocols, services, models, communication standards;
• Principles of communication engineering: signals, coding, modulation, media;
• Data link layer: media access etc.;
• Local networks: IEEE-Standards, Ethernet, bridges;
• Network layer: routing and forwarding, Internet protocols (IPv4, IPv6);
• Transport layer: quality of service, flow control, congestion control, TCP;
• Internet: TCP/IP protocol suite;
• Applications: WWW, security, network management;
• New network concepts (QUIC etc.).

At the End of this course, you should...

• know how networks in general are organized
• know what the Internet could be or is
• understand how wired/wireless (see Mobile Communications) networks work
• understand why/how protocols and layers are used
• understand how e-mails, videos get to where you are
• understand how operators operate real, big networks
• understand the cooperation of web browsers with web servers
• be aware of security issues when you use the network
• be familiar with acronyms like: ALOHA, ARP, ATM, BGP, CDMA, CDN, CIDR, CSMA, DCCP, DHCP, ETSI, FDM, FDMA, FTP, HDLC, HTTP, ICMP, ICN, IEEE, IETF, IP, IMAP, ISP, ITU, ISO/OSI, LAN, LTE, MAC, MAN, MPLS, MTU, NAT, NTP, PCM, POTS, PPP, PSTN, P2P, QUIC, RARP, SCTP, SMTP, SNMP, TCP, TDM, TDMA, UDP, UMTS, VPN, WAN, ...

Literature

• A. Tanenbaum & D. Wetherall: Computer Networks (5th edition)
• J. Kurose & K. Ross: Computer Networking (6th edition)
• S. Keshav: Mathematical Foundations of Computer Networking (2012)
• W. Stallings book, W. Goralski book 
• IETF drafts and RFCs
• IEEE 802 LAN/MAN standards

Prerequisites

As this is a Master Course you have to know the basics of computer networks already (e.g. from the OS&CN BSc course or any other basic networking course). That means you know what protocol stacks are, know the basic ideas behind TCP/IP, know layering principles, got a rough understanding of how the Internet works. This course will recap the basics but then proceed to the more advanced stuff.

Resources & Organization

The course comprises about 30 "lectures", 90 minutes each, following the inverted or flipped classroom principle. I.e. you will be able to access a video of the lecture before we discuss the content in class. To be able to discuss you have to watch the video BEFORE we meet! This is your main assignment - go through the video, prepare questions if something is not clear. During the meetings there will be a recap of the main ideas plus enough time to discuss each topic if necessary.

This course has three time-slots blocked: Monday 12-14 (046), Monday 16-18 (006), Wednesday 10-12 (046). Due to time constraints, the meetings for lectures will not always happen the same day each week but pick 2 out of the 3 time-slots. The third slot will be used for exercises (typically Monday 16-18)!

Be aware: This schedule might change - you will be informed!

Exam

The first exam takes place Feb. 12th, 10-12, 046 + K40 - CM entry required!

Second exam: April, 9th, 006 - CM entry required!