FIT4014 is a specified elective unit in the Master of Digital Communications degree (MDC). Its introduction is based on two circumstances: (1) as part of the 2006 Faculty restructure, whereby all old units were progressively reviewed and mapped into new FIT coded units; and (2) as part of a review and restructure of the courseware units for the MDC, undertaken in 2006 at the same time as an Engineering Faculty review and restructure of their Master of Telecommunications degree. Previously the MDC had a specified elective unit CSE4883 Communications Software (which hadn't been offered since 2002). FIT4014 is based on CSE4883.

This is the first version of this unit.

This is a level 4 specified elective unit in the MDC (offered by FIT) and MTC (offered by Engineering). It is also an approved elective for the Master of Computer Science (and may be taken by other coursework masters students and honours students with the required pre-requisite knowledge). It covers lower level programming of digital communications software.

This is a level 4 specified elective unit in the MDC (offered by FIT) and MTC (offered by Engineering). It looks at programming and software issues for various aspects of digital communications, and hence is related to the other specified electives for the MDC.

FIT4014 replaces CSE4883 in the Master of Digital Communications, a cognate degree offered by the Faculty of IT. It builds upon assumed prerequisite knowledge at the level of an undergraduate introductory unit in Networks and Data Communications (such as the FIT common core unit FIT1005 or FIT2008 or equivalent study) and undergraduate programming competency. This unit provides MDC graduates with detailed knowledge about programming and software which underpin all aspects of digital communications. Such technical knowledge and skills are essential for IT professionals working in digital communications software development or software support. In addition, Digital communications is an active area of research within the Faculty, and this unit (and the other MDC courseware units) contribute to the Faculty's research-teaching nexus.

On completion, the student will be have

Knowledge of:

C1.1 Communication protocol engineering;

C1.2 The design and implementation of communication protocols;

C1.3 The role of software in communications protocol implementation.

Understanding of:

C2.1 How protocols can be described by finite state machines;

C2.2 How finite state machines can be implemented in software;

C2.3 How to implement protocol data unit encoders and decoders in software;

C2.4 How to implement safely bounded and circular communications buffers;

C2.5 How to handle real-time constraints on communications software performance;

C2.6 How to handle polling and interrupt dispatch mechanisms;

C2.7 How to structure multithreaded and multiprocess communications software.

and be able to analyse:

C3.1 Communications protocols to determine appropriate implementation structures;

C3.2 The real-time and resource demands of communications protocols.

and evaluate:

C4.1 Communications software to determine that it meets the protocol and specifications.

On completion the students should be able to

P1. Use the UNIX / C operating system environment for programming simple communication protocols using a finite state machine implementation;

P2. Use operating system kernel facilities in their programs to ensure real-time protocol constraints are met by their communications software;

P3. test and verify that their software implementation meets the protocol specifications.

ASCED Discipline Group classification: 020103 Programming

Introduction to communication protocol engineering. The software implementation of communication protocols. Using finite state machines as a communications protocol specification and their software implementation. Software implementation of protocol data unit encoders and decoders. Using the Unix / C programming environment to manage buffer space, handle real-time communications protocol constraints and manage interrupts and polling of communications hardware.

Introduction to communication protocol engineering. The software implementation of communication protocols. Using finite state machines as a communications protocol specification and their software implementation. Software implementation of protocol data unit encoders and decoders. Using the Unix / C programming environment to manage buffer space, handle real-time communications protocol constraints and manage interrupts and polling of communications hardware.

(Recommended) Deitel and Deitel. C How to program. 2nd edn, Prentice-Hall, 1994 Internetworking with TCP/IP. Volume I: Principles, Protocols and Architecture. By Douglas E. Comer. Prentice-Hall.

On campus

2 hours lecture, 2 hours practical class in laboratory.

The lectures will ensure objectives C1.1-C4.1 while the practical classes will support objectives P1-P3.

Practical assignments: 70%. Examination: 30%.

Successful completion of the practical assignments will demonstrate that the students have acquired the knowledge and understanding of concepts in objectives C1.1-C4.1, and have acquired the practical programming skills in objectives P1-P3. The examination will provide further confirmation of the mastery of conceptual material in C1.1-C4.1.

6 points

2 hours lecture, 2 hours practical class in laboratory, 8 hours private study including the completion of programming assignments.

2 hours lectures per week in a high-tech lecture theatre.

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2 hours practical class per week in a lab with machine running a LINUX operating system.

2 hours lecture each week by member of staff experienced in digital communications programming and software.

2 hours practical class in laboratory by demonstrator experienced in digital communications software.

Copies of prescribed textbook already available in library.

Faculty of IT

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