BIRLA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY AND SCIENCE, Pilani

Pilani Campus
AUGS/ AGSR Division

SECOND SEMESTER 2024-2025

COURSE HANDOUT
Date: 07.01.2025

In addition to part I (General Handout for all courses appended to the Time table) this portion gives further
specific details regarding the course.
Course No : ECE F343
Course Title : Communication Network
Instructor-in-Charge : Dr. Sharda Tripathi
Instructor(s) : NA
Tutorial/Practical Instructors: Dr. Rahul Singhal, Dr. Sukriti Garg
1. Course Description: Packet switching and circuit switching; layered network architecture (OSI model),
point-to-point protocols and links: physical layer, error detection and correction, ARQ retransmission strategy,
framing, X.25 standard, queueing theory and delay analysis: Little’s theorem, analytical treatment
of M/M/1 and M/M/m queuing systems, simulation of queueing systems, delay analysis for ARQ system,
multi-access protocols and techniques: Aloha systems, CSMA, IEEE-802 standards, routing and flow control.
TCP/ IP protocols, ISDN, ATM, network security, LAN design with commercially available functional units.
Wireless LAN: adhoc network, security issues

2. Scope and Objective of the Course: Communication networks is one of the fast progressing technical
areas in the modern era. This course targets to provide complete description of a contemporary communication
network to the students and equip them with the necessary mathematical framework required for its design.
The course initially introduces the networking concepts and the underlying protocols to build up a basic
understanding for the uninitiated students in this area. These are discussed in reference to the layered network
architecture and the supporting network topologies. Further, it delves deeper into the protocol analysis for
single user and multiple user scenarios, followed by the study of existing networking technologies. Finally,
advanced mathematical tools for performance modeling and analysis of a communication network are
discussed. The course will prepare the students to take up any theoretical as well as practical (hardware or
simulation-based) projects in the areas of telecommunication switching systems, computer networks, and
internetworking.

3. Text Books:
[T1]: “Communication Networks: Fundamental Concepts and Key Architectures” by Alberto Leon Garcia
and Indra Widjaja, second Ed., McGrawHill, 2004.

4. Reference Books:
[R1]: “Data communications and networking” , by Behrouz A. Forouzan, 5th Edition, TMH, 2013.
[R2]: “Data Networks,” by Dimitri P. Bertsekas and Robert G. Gallager, second Ed., Prentice Hall, 1992.
[R3]: “Computer Networks” by Andrew S. Tanenbaum and David J. Wetherall, 7th Ed. Prentice Hall 2011.
[R4]: “Data and Computer Communication”, William Stallings, tenth Ed., Pearson, 2014.

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 BIRLA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY AND SCIENCE, Pilani
Pilani Campus
AUGS/ AGSR Division

5. Course Plan:

Lecture Session Topics Reference

1-2 Overview of Communication Networks, Network protocols, T1: chapter 1

Various network topologies, Network types -LAN, WAN, Internet, R1: chapter 1
Standards and administration.

Applications and Layered Architecture: layering approach, TCP/IP T1: chapter 2

3-4 protocol stack, OSI reference model, Discussion of physical layer,
and brief introduction to functions of all other layers. Understanding
Circuit switching and packet switching.

5-6 Basic properties of Digital Transmission Systems (Bandwidth, Class notes,

Data rates, Latency, Jitter, Throughput, BW-delay product, R1: chapter 3
Signal distortions, Signal-to Noise ratio)

7-9 Physical layer: Physical medium dependent function, T1: chapter 3,

Characterization of Communication Channels; Nyquist signaling chapter 4
rate, Shannon Channel Capacity; Line Coding, Digital Modulation,
Circuit Switched Networks- FDM, TDM, SONET

10-13 Data Link layer: - Introduction, Error Detection-Parity Checks, T1: chapter 5,
Internet Checksum, Linear codes, Polynomial codes (CRC), Forward 3.9
Error Correction, Data Link Controls: Framing, Flow and Error
control, ARQ (Stop-and-wait, Go-back-N, Selective repeat)

14-17 Delay and loss performance – Delay analysis, Little’s formula, R2: chapter 3
Different queuing models

18-22 Data link layer: -Medium Access control, Random access (Pure and T1: chapter 6,
Slotted Aloha, CSMA, CSMA CD, CSMA-CA), Scheduling Part 1
approaches to medium access control (Reservation system, Polling,
Token Passing), Channelization - FDMA, TDMA, CDMA.

23-27 LANs: Wired LAN, Ethernet Protocols, Fast Ethernet, Gigabit T1: chapter 6,
Ethernet, LAN Bridges and Ethernet Switches, Token ring and IEEE Part 2
802.5 standard, FDDI, Wireless LANs and IEEE 802.11 standard

28-34 Network Layer Services: - Routing in packet networks, Routing T1: chapter 7
algorithm (Shortest-Path Routing), Traffic management at the
packet level – Fair Queuing and weighted fair Queuing techniques,
Open loop, close loop control of flow. IP Packet, IP addressing
(IPv4, IPv6), IP Routing

35-37 Transport Layer Protocols: Connectionless and connection T1: chapter 8

oriented approach protocols- UDP, TCP.

38-40 Application Layer Protocols: Basics of HTTP, FTP, SMTP, DNS T1: chapter 2.1,2.5
etc., ISDN, ATM Networks R1: chapter 26
T1: chapter 9

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 BIRLA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY AND SCIENCE, Pilani
Pilani Campus
AUGS/ AGSR Division

41-42 Advanced Networking Concepts: open flow switching, SDN and T1: chapter 10
NFV, network slicing, cognitive networks. Class notes

6. Evaluation Scheme:
Component Duration Weightage Date & Time Nature of component
(%) (Close Book/ Open Book)
Mid-Semester Test 90 mins. 30 06/03/2025 AN1 Close/Open Book
Comprehensive 3 hrs 40 13/05/2025 FN Close/Open Book
Examination
Quizzes - 20 Spread Across Semester Close book

Assignments - 10 TBA Open Book

7. Chamber Consultation Hour: Will be announced in class

8. Notices: All notices will be displayed on the Learning Management System (LMS-NALANDA)
9. Make-up Policy: No make-up will be given for Quizzes. However, for other components, make-up will
be allowed ONLY in genuine cases. In such cases students must produce enough proof or must have taken the
prior permission from the IC.
10. Note (if any): Will be announced from time to time

Instructor-in-charge
Course No. ECE F343