EECE 451 Syllabus, Spring 2015

Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering Faculty of Engineering and Architecture American University of Beirut EECE 451: Mobile Networks and Applications Catalog description: This course covers mobile networking topics with focus on wireless networking technologies and mobile computing applications. It addresses the following topics: fundamentals of mobile network design, mobile communications technologies and standards, mobile networking protocols, mobile device platforms, and mobile applications. Credit hours: 3 credits Required or elective: Restricted elective for CCE students, and elective for ECE students Prerequisites: By course: EECE 350: Computer Networks By topic: Basic Computer Networking Programming Language, C, C++, or Java Textbook(s) and/or required materials Instructor provided material through Moodle References: − From GSM to LTE: An Introduction to Mobile Networks and Mobile Broadband, Martin Sauter, Wiley − Computer Networking: A Top-Down Approach, J. Kurose and K. Ross, Addison Wesley − Cloud Computing Bible, Barrie Sosinsky, Wiley Course Objectives 1. An understanding of wireless mobile networking, their characteristics, and their challenges. 2. A coverage of state-of-the-art mobile communications technologies and standards, including Bluetooth, Wireless LANs, and cellular networks. 3. An overview of Web Services, Mobile Cloud Computing, and related software technologies and standards. 4. Developing skills to write mobile applications through lab experimentation and design project that may include a research component. Course Topics ─ 1 Fundamentals of Mobile Networks (1 lecture) o Architecture components (hosts/devices, links, access points, backbone) o Resources (multiple access: time, frequency, space) o Design challenges ─ 2 Mobile Communications Technologies and Standards (14 lectures) o Short range (Bluetooth, IEEE 802.15.4/Zigbee) o WLANs (IEEE 802.11 a/b/g/e/n/p standards) o Cellular (GSM, UMTS, LTE) ─ 3 Mobile Networking Protocols (3 lectures) o Mobile IP o Mobile TCP ─ 4 WiFi/Cellular Handover (2 lectures) o Cellular traffic offloading o WiFi Access solutions by Network Operators o Integrated WiFi Access in Cellular Networks ─ 5 Spectrum Extension (3 lectures) o Cognitive Radio (spectrum sensing, opportunistic spectrum borrowing) o Cognitive Networks ─ 6 Mobile Computing Support Technologies (3 lectures) o Web Services o Mobile Cloud Computing Course Learning Outcomes 1. Describe the principles of mobile networks and what distinguishes them from wired networks. 2. Describe the design challenges in designing wireless networks, like mobility and limited energy. 3. Explain the architectures and operations of state-of-the-art short range wireless networking standards, specifically Bluetooth and ZigBee 4. Explain the architectures and principle operations of the IEEE 802.11 standards. 5. Explain the architectures and principle operations of state-of-the-art cellular communications standards, specifically GSM, UMTS, and LTE 6. Explain the need and functions of mobile networking protocols, like mobile IP and mobile TCP. 7. Describe the architecture and operations of Web Services, and how they are used to extend the functional capabilities of mobile devices and applications 8. Explain the principle of mobile cloud computing, and how it can be used to offload computational tasks to servers on the Internet, or to other devices in the network. 9. Develop mobile networking applications that communicate in a peer to peer fashion or with a server. Class/laboratory schedule a- Two 75-minute lectures per week. b- Lab experiments for hands-on experience on selected course topics c- Use of computers and mobile devices is needed for working on the projects. Resources of the course Textbook, references, and Moodle. Computer usage Programming in Java, C, C++ Evaluation methods (tentative) 1- Assignments (10%) 2- Project (25%) 3- Quiz 1 (20%) 4- Quiz 2 (20%) 4- Final Exam (25%) Professional component Engineering topics: 100% General education: 0% Mathematics and basic sciences: 0% Person(s) who prepared this description and date of preparation Hassan Artail and Zaher Dawy in July 2012 Date of last revisions January 2015