James Cook University Subject Handbook - 2003

CP3070:03

Principles of Data Communications

Townsville, Cairns HECS Band 2

39 hours lectures, 26 hours tutorials. Semester 2.

This subject focuses on the presentation and analysis of fundamental algorithms and design principles which underlie communications protocols and their performance characteristics. Data security issues in networks, including algorithms and security protocols are presented.

Learning Objectives:

  1. review basic data communications algorithms and principles used in network protocols;
  2. analyse and compare elements of specific network and transport layer protocols to understand their performance and their limitations;
  3. understand client-server implementations and their performance;
  4. understand basic security issues in networks including privacy, identification and signatures and authentication;
  5. understand basic cryptographic algorithms and protocols in a network environment;
  6. selected topics concerning recent developments eg high level directory services and self-configuring networks.

Assessment in this subject involves significant on-course assessment including assignments and tests and an examination at the end of the semester. The full details of the assessment are handed out to students in the class in the first week of the semester in which the subject is offered and posted on the Web.