George Mason University

Department of Computer Science

IT 803 – Distributed Mobile and Ad-hoc Systems

Meeting time: Monday 4:30 – 7:10

Meeting location: Robinson A243

Instructor: Dr. Robert Simon
Office: ST-II, Rm. 423
Phone: 993-1556
E-mail: simon@cs.gmu.edu
Office Hours: Mondays 3:15 to 4:15, Weds. 3:15 to 4:15

Course Description:

Distributed mobile and ad-hoc computer systems rely on wireless communication architectures for data and control operations.  Rapid advances in the miniaturization and computational power of computer and communication devices enable the widespread use of these systems.  However, the use of these systems raises many new challenges in distributed system and network design and implementation.  This course covers a selection of these topics, including issues in ad-hoc networking, transport layer protocols, Mobile IP and security.  The course is conducted as a research seminar, and significant student participation is expected. 

 

Prerequisites:

·         CS 571, CS 755 or equivalent

Grading Policy:

·         Class participation:  20%

·         In-class paper presentation and discussion moderation:  30%

·         Final project:  50%

Course Syllabus (tentative, subject to change):

·         Week 1 (1/28):  Introduction and Communication Basics

·         Week 2 (2/4): Wireless Communication Architectures and Standards

·         Week 3 (2/11):  Mobile IP

·         Week 4 (2/18):  Mobile IP and ad-hoc networking (I)

·         Week 5 (2/25): Ad-hoc networking (II)

·         Week 6 (3/4):  Ad-hoc networking (III)

·         Week 7 (3/11): Spring Recess J

·         Week 8 (3/18): Security in Ad-hoc Systems

·         Week 9 (3/25): TCP and Transport Layer Issues

·         Week 10 (4/1):  Disconnected and Weakly-connected Operations

·         Week 11 (4/8):  Emerging topics:  Power aware computing and sensor networks

·         Week 12 (4/15):  OPEN DATE 

·         Week 13 (4/22):  Student-lead paper discussions

·         Week 14 (4/29):  Student-lead paper discussions

·         Week 15 (5/1): Final Project Presentation Day (oral)

·         Week 16 ():  Students hand in final project (written report)

 

Required Reading:

Much of the required reading for this course will consist of research and survey papers.  Pointers for these papers are available at the course web site.  There is one required book for the course, Ad Hoc Networking,  by Charles Perkins (Addison-Wesley).  It is available at the campus bookstore.

 

Student Assignments:

Each student will conduct an in-depth investigation of a topic in mobile and ad-hoc systems.  We will discuss a possible topic list near the beginning of the semester.  The assignment consists of three parts

1.     The presentation of a relevant research paper to the class.

2.     The presentation of the results of the student’s research project to the class

3.     A final report detailing the results of the project.

The scope, depth and content of the report will be worked out in detail with the instructor.