Computer Networks

The Computer Networks course aims to provide a solid understanding of the functioning of the Internet in order to train the ability to analyse communication requirements, design and develop distributed systems for the following application domains: infrastructures for the dissemination and sharing of digital content (including social networks and Content Delivery Networks), web applications, applications for mobile devices, applications based on cloud platforms and Internet-of-Things, services for interaction and participation on the network (such as e-learning and e-government); multimedia services such as digital TV, audio-video streaming, distributed games; augmented reality and virtual reality. The course also offers a basic understanding of the aspects of privacy and integrity of user data, and of the policies implemented by Internet protocols to support them.

By the end of the course, the student must be able to: describe the characteristics of the different fixed and wireless network technologies, the functioning of Internet protocols, the requirements of the different types of applications in terms of services provided by the Internet, and the characteristics of the network traffic generated by the applications; establish correlations between the services, functionalities and mechanisms implemented by different cooperating protocols; discuss the possible consequences of the behaviours of the protocols and the network on the privacy and integrity of user data; evaluate the adequacy of the adoption of the various protocols based on the requirements of the applications, and the characteristics of the devices and the network; understand technical and scientific literature regarding communication technologies and tools for supporting network-based applications; present, in written or oral form, reports in the professional field considered, using appropriate and accurate technical-scientific terminology.