Course Title: Data Communication and Net-Centric Computing

Part A: Course Overview

Course Title: Data Communication and Net-Centric Computing

Credit Points: 12.00

Terms

Course Code	Campus	Career	School	Learning Mode	Teaching Period(s)
COSC1110	Bundoora Campus	Undergraduate	140H Computer Science & Information Technology	Face-to-Face	Sem 1 2006
COSC1111	City Campus	Undergraduate	140H Computer Science & Information Technology	Face-to-Face	Sem 1 2006, Sem 2 2006, Sem 1 2007, Sem 2 2007, Sem 1 2008, Sem 2 2008, Sem 1 2009, Sem 2 2009, Sem 2 2010, Sem 1 2011, Sem 2 2011, Sem 1 2012, Sem 2 2012, Sem 1 2013, Sem 2 2014, Sem 2 2015, Sem 1 2016, Sem 2 2016
COSC1111	City Campus	Undergraduate	171H School of Science	Face-to-Face	Sem 1 2017, Sem 2 2017, Sem 1 2018, Sem 2 2018, Sem 2 2019, Sem 2 2020
COSC1111	City Campus	Undergraduate	175H Computing Technologies	Face-to-Face	Sem 2 2022
COSC2061	City Campus	Postgraduate	140H Computer Science & Information Technology	Face-to-Face	Sem 1 2006, Sem 2 2006, Sem 1 2007, Sem 2 2007, Sem 1 2008, Sem 2 2008, Sem 1 2009, Sem 2 2009, Sem 2 2010, Sem 1 2011, Sem 2 2011, Sem 1 2012, Sem 2 2012, Sem 1 2013, Sem 2 2014, Sem 2 2015, Sem 1 2016
COSC2061	City Campus	Postgraduate	171H School of Science	Face-to-Face	Sem 1 2017, Sem 2 2017, Sem 1 2018, Sem 2 2018, Sem 2 2019
COSC2174	RMIT University Vietnam	Undergraduate	140H Computer Science & Information Technology	Face-to-Face	Viet1 2008, Viet2 2008, Viet3 2008, Viet1 2009, Viet2 2009, Viet1 2010, Viet3 2010, Viet2 2011, Viet1 2012, Viet3 2012, Viet2 2013, Viet3 2014, Viet2 2015, Viet1 2016
COSC2174	RMIT University Vietnam	Undergraduate	171H School of Science	Face-to-Face	Viet2 2017, Viet1 2018, Viet3 2018, Viet1 2019, Viet3 2021
COSC2174	RMIT University Vietnam	Undergraduate	175H Computing Technologies	Face-to-Face	Viet3 2022
COSC2238	Taylors College KL	Undergraduate	140H Computer Science & Information Technology	Face-to-Face	Offsh 3 10
COSC2442	Open Learning Australia	Non Award	175H Computing Technologies	Distance / Correspondence	OUASP1UG23

Flexible Terms

Course Code	Campus	Career	School	Learning Mode	Teaching Period(s)
COSC2687	OUA CSP	Undergraduate	171H School of Science	Internet	OUACSP2021 (All)
COSC2687	OUA CSP	Undergraduate	175H Computing Technologies	Internet	OUACSP2023 (All)

Course Coordinator: Dr Fengling Han

Course Coordinator Phone: +61 3 9925 3402

Course Coordinator Email: fengling.han@rmit.edu.au

Course Coordinator Location: City Campus, 14.11.27

Course Coordinator Availability: By appointment.

Pre-requisite Courses and Assumed Knowledge and Capabilities

Required prior learning: Introduction to Computer Systems (COSC2473).

In addition, you should be familiar with basic maths, computer networks and Java programming techniques.

Note:

• Anyone who did COSC2473 before 2019, should review the content of Chapters 1-5 in the prescribe text book.
• It is a condition of enrolment at RMIT that you accept responsibility for ensuring that you have completed the prerequisite/s and agree to concurrently enrol in co-requisite courses before enrolling in a course. 

Course Description

This course aims to provide a broad introduction to the fundamentals of data communication and network technology. The emphasis is on data communication from the perspective of computer scientists and information technologists. The course covers the underlying mechanisms and their characteristics that need to be considered by communicating application software.

Topics include:

• principles and reference models of data communication,
• basic operation of communication systems,
• protocols, error handling and applications in networked environments.

Objectives/Learning Outcomes/Capability Development

This is an option course, however it will contribute to the following program learning outcomes:

1. Enabling Knowledge:

You will gain skills as you apply knowledge effectively in diverse contexts.

1. Critical Analysis:

You will learn to accurately and objectively examine and consider computer science and information technology (IT) topics, evidence, or situations, in particular to analyse and model requirements and constraints for the purpose of designing and implementing software artefacts and IT systems.

1. Problem Solving:

Your capability to analyse problems and synthesise suitable solutions will be extended as you learn to: design and implement software solutions that accommodate specified requirements and constraints, based on analysis or modelling or requirements specification.

Upon successful completion of this course, you should be able to:

1. describe, explain, and communicate the basic concepts of data communication
2. demonstrate knowledge of higher level aspects of data communications and network technology, details of the underlying mechanisms, principles, reference models, protocols, error handling, appropriate for the development of software applications in a networked environment
3. identify and explain emerging networking technologies
4. analyse communications systems that use the TCP/IP protocol suite and the abstract 7-layer OSI reference model
5. apply knowledge of data communication concepts to solve problems involving data communications
6. apply mathematical/analytic skills to basic performance evaluation, utilization, throughput, and delay.

Please note that postgraduate students are expected to demonstrate knowledge and skills at postgraduate level.

Overview of Learning Activities

The learning activities included in this course are:

• Lectorials: Key concepts will be explained in lectorials in which course content will be presented and illustrated with demonstrations and examples.
• Tutorial sessions focus on analysing and solving applied numerical problems, exploration of concepts with teaching staff and other students.
• Labs and lab tests focus on practice and feedback on your progress.
• Assignments, as described in Overview of Assessment (below), requiring an integrated understanding of the subject matter.

Private study, which should include working through the course as presented in classes and other learning materials and gaining practice at solving conceptual and technical problems.

Overview of Learning Resources

The course is supported by the Canvas learning management system which provides specific learning resources. See the RMIT Library Guide at http://rmit.libguides.com/compsci

You should make extensive use of computer laboratories and relevant software provided by the School.

Overview of Assessment

Note: this course has no hurdle requirements

Assessment Task 1: Error detection and Voice over Internet Protocols (VoIP).

Weighting 20%

This assessment takes three weeks to complete. It supports CLOs 1, 2 and 4. 

 

Assessment Task 2: Progressive practice tests on physical components of data communications

Weighting 30%

There are 3 progressive tests, each test weighting is 10%.
Each test takes one week to complete. This assessment supports CLOs 2, 4 and 5.

 

Assessment Task 3:Internet-based data communication, includes TDM, TCP/IP and routing.

Weighting 30%

This assessment takes four weeks to complete. This assessment supports CLOS 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6.

 

Assessment Task 4: End-of-semester assessment

Weighting 20%, there are two parts:

• MCQ 10 %
• Answer questions (open book) 10%

This assessment targets high-level analysis of digital communications.

This assessment takes 2 hours to complete. This assessment supports CLOs 2, 4, 5 and 6.