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49201 Integrated Services Networks

Warning: The information on this page is indicative. The subject outline for a particular session, location and mode of offering is the authoritative source of all information about the subject for that offering. Required texts, recommended texts and references in particular are likely to change. Students will be provided with a subject outline once they enrol in the subject.

Subject handbook information prior to 2018 is available in the Archives.

UTS: Engineering: Electrical and Data Engineering
Credit points: 6 cp

Subject level:

Postgraduate

Result type: Grade and marks

Requisite(s): (48740 Communications Networks AND (120 credit points of completed study in spk(s): C10061 Bachelor of Engineering Diploma Engineering Practice OR 120 credit points of completed study in spk(s): C10066 Bachelor of Engineering Science OR 120 credit points of completed study in spk(s): C10067 Bachelor of Engineering OR 120 credit points of completed study in spk(s): C09067 Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) Diploma Professional Engineering Practice OR 120 credit points of completed study in spk(s): C09066 Bachelor of Engineering (Honours)))
These requisites may not apply to students in certain courses. See access conditions.

Recommended studies: familiarity with TCP/IP and general networking concepts

Description

This subject gives students a thorough understanding of the fundamental concepts of telecommunication networks designed to carry multiple classes of traffic simultaneously, with the focus being on the provision of services for carrier-class networks. Design and analysis techniques are studied, as well as particular technologies such as ISDN, ATM, SONET, SDH, HFC, ADSL, FTTC, FTTH, PON, GigE, MPLS and IP-VPNs, with the emphasis being on IP/MPLS infrastructures and services.

Subject learning objectives (SLOs)

Upon successful completion of this subject students should be able to:

1. Specify the requirements of a carrier-class integrated services network;
2. Analyse mechanisms to deliver various components of an integrated services network to meet specified requirements
3. Analyse specific technologies, past and present, and determine whether these address integrated services requirements and to what extent;
4. Design an integrated services network to partially or wholly meet a set of specifications

Course intended learning outcomes (CILOs)

This subject also contributes specifically to the development of the following faculty Course Intended Learning Outcomes (CILOs) and Engineers Australia (EA) Stage 1 competencies:

  • Problem solving and design (B.0)
  • Demonstrate research skills (B.6)
  • Communication and coordination (E.0)

Teaching and learning strategies

Students will learn from a series of online lectures, as well as readings from a set of book chapters, journal articles, whitepapers and other resources. Classes will take the form of an interactive tutorial, followed by an individual quiz, followed by a collaborative quiz.

A major project will be completed by individuals or pairs of students which will require demonstration and/or implementation of many of the concepts from the subject in a practical application. A collaborative laboratory session reinforces key concepts from classes and demonstrates important aspects, particularly with respect to Voice over IP (VoIP).

You are expected to spend about 9 hour per week in total for this subject, assuming you are an average student and you want to achieve a pass grade. This includes time spent in class.You will typically spend 3 hours per week in class. This will be in the form of guest lectures, general class sessions (interactive lectures with student activities, question times, demonstrations, etc.) and short on-line quizzes.

Outside of class time, you will be expected to watch the online lectures, read the recommended sections in the readings before coming to class. You will also need to work on your project and submit this by the due date, as well as prepare for the final exam.

Content (topics)

The subject is divided into 2 parts, roughly 50% each in terms of time and content:

  1. Part 1 will focus on generic concepts of integrated services networks as well as specific technologies as examples of these generic concepts. This will include:
    1. ISDN
    2. Broadband ISDN and ATM
    3. SONET, SDH
    4. Access networks: HFC, xDSL, FTTC, FTTH, PON, wireless
    5. Ethernet technologies, 802.1p and 802.1q
    6. IP Network mechanisms: IntServ/RSVP, DiffServ
    7. MPLS
    8. Home Networking Technologies: HomePNA, Power-line carrier systems, wireless
    9. Voice Over IP (VoIP) as an integrated services network application
  2. Part 2 will focus on the most recent and widely adopted technology in telecommunications practice today: MPLS services. This part of the subject will follow an Alcatel-Lucent training course known as "Services Architecture" and includes configuration and operation of Alcatel-Lucent 7750 service routers. It includes the following topics:
    1. Virtual Private Wire Services VPWS
    2. Virtual Private LAN Services VPLS
    3. Operation and Maintenance (OAM) services
    4. IPv4 and IPv6 Virtual Private Routed Networks VPRN

Assessment

Assessment task 1: E-Quizzes

Intent:

To enable students to get feedback on their progress during the session
Objective(s):

This assessment task addresses the following subject learning objectives (SLOs):

1, 2, 3 and 4

This assessment task contributes to the development of the following course intended learning outcomes (CILOs):

B.0

Type: Quiz/test
Groupwork: Individual
Weight: 10%
Criteria linkages:
Criteria Weight (%) SLOs CILOs
accuracy 100 1, 2, 3, 4 B.0
SLOs: subject learning objectives
CILOs: course intended learning outcomes

Assessment task 2: Project

Intent:

To allow students to investigate an integrated services networks design problem in more depth
Objective(s):

This assessment task addresses the following subject learning objectives (SLOs):

4

This assessment task contributes to the development of the following course intended learning outcomes (CILOs):

B.0, B.6 and E.0

Type: Project
Groupwork: Group, group and individually assessed
Weight: 30%
Criteria linkages:
Criteria Weight (%) SLOs CILOs
Completeness 25 4 B.0
Correctness / Appropriateness 35 4 B.0
Quality 25 4 E.0
Referencing / Originality 15 4 B.6
SLOs: subject learning objectives
CILOs: course intended learning outcomes

Assessment task 3: Laboratory Exercises

Intent:

To gain a deeper understanding and experience one key application of integrated services networks - Voice over IP
Objective(s):

This assessment task addresses the following subject learning objectives (SLOs):

4

This assessment task contributes to the development of the following course intended learning outcomes (CILOs):

B.0, B.6 and E.0

Type: Laboratory/practical
Groupwork: Group, group assessed
Weight: 20%
Criteria linkages:
Criteria Weight (%) SLOs CILOs
Completeness 25 4 B.0
Correctness / Appropriateness 35 4 B.0
Quality 25 4 E.0
Referencing / Originality 15 4 B.6
SLOs: subject learning objectives
CILOs: course intended learning outcomes

Assessment task 4: Final Exam

Intent:

to test understanding of key concepts, analysis techniques and design considerations
Objective(s):

This assessment task addresses the following subject learning objectives (SLOs):

1, 2, 3 and 4

This assessment task contributes to the development of the following course intended learning outcomes (CILOs):

B.0

Type: Examination
Groupwork: Individual
Weight: 40%
Criteria linkages:
Criteria Weight (%) SLOs CILOs
accuracy 100 1, 2, 3, 4 B.0
SLOs: subject learning objectives
CILOs: course intended learning outcomes

Minimum requirements

In order to pass the subject, a student must:

  • Achieve a minimum of 50% in the final exam, and
  • Achieve a minimum overall mark of 50%.

Students who do not meet these minimum requirements but achieve an overall mark of 50% or greater will fail the subject and receive their overall mark with an "X" (fail) grade.

Required texts

There is no compulsory text book for this subject. There is a set of readings which can be purchased from the union bookshop on level 3 of building 1. Details on the CN number for the notes are available on UTSOnline.

Recommended texts

The readings will be made available at the Union Bookshop in a single bound booklet available for purchase at a cost recovery price. Many items are available on the Internet, with links available on UTSOnline. One copy of the readings is also available for borrowing in the learning precinct (level 5, building 11) and another copy is made available in the UTS Library. A booklet of optional readings is available in the 49201 subject folder in the learning precinct.

Introduction to Integrated Services (Multi-service) Networks & Introduction to ISDN and Frame Relay

Broadband ISDN and ATM

  • Khader, M., Barnes, W. E., 'Broadband ISDN and ATM', Chapter 8 in 'Telecommunications Systems & Technology', Prentice Hall, 2000 [UTS Call No.: 621.382 KHAD]
  • Stallings, W., 'ATM Traffic & Congestion Control', Chapter 17 in 'ISDN and Broadband ISDN with Frame Relay & ATM', 4th Edition, Prentice Hall, 1999 [UTS Call No.: 004.62 STAL (ED. 4)]

Home Networking Technologies and LANs

  • Carty, G., 'Commercial & Residential Networks', Chapter 2 in 'Broadband Networking', Osbourne, 2002 [UTS Call No.: 621.3821 CART]

Access Technologies

  • Zahariadis, T. B., 'Wireline Home Access Network Alternatives', Chapter 3 in 'Home Networking Technologies & Standards', Artech House, 2003 [UTS Call No.: 004.68 ZAHA]
  • Kunigonis, M., "FTTH Explained: Delivering Efficient Customer Bandwidth and Enhanced Services", Corning Cable Systems. available online at http://www.corning.com/WorkArea/downloadasset.aspx?id=10889

Core Technologies: SONET/SDH, Ethernet

Voice Issues and Solutions

VoIP protocols in action (LAB)

MPLS Overview

MPLS Services Overview (VPNs)

  • Alcatel-Lucent Services Architecture course notes (module 1) [available in PDF on UTSOnline]

SMPLS Virtual Private Wire Services (VPWS)

  • Alcatel-Lucent Services Architecture course notes (module 2) [available in PDF on UTSOnline]

MPLS Virtual Private LAN Services (VPLS)

  • Alcatel-Lucent Services Architecture course notes (module 3) [available in PDF on UTSOnline]

MPLS Operation, Administration, and Maintenance; MPLS Virutal Private Routed Networks (VPRNs) part 1

  • Alcatel-Lucent Services Architecture course notes (module 4 and 5) [available in PDF on UTSOnline]

MPLS Virtual Private Routed Networks (VPRNs) part 2

  • Alcatel-Lucent Services Architecture course notes (module 5) [available in PDF on UTSOnline]

References

Zhuo, X., "Designing and Implementing IP/MPLS-Based Ethernet Layer 2 VPN Services", Wiley 2010 [UTS Call No.: 004.6 XULI]