CS6461 -- Advanced Computer Networks (Fall 2008)

Time:		Location:
	MWF 12:05pm - 12:55pm		101 Rekhi

Instructor:		Teaching Assistant:
	Byung K. Choi 307 Rekhi Computer Science Hall 487-3472		TBD
	e-mail: `bkchoi@mtu.edu`		e-mail:
	Office hours: Anytime (Check out Instructor Schedule before walking in)		Office hours: TBD

Announcement

Course Objective

This course has two objectives: one is to equip students with good knowledge on the selected advanced research topics in networking, and the other is to help students significantly improve research skills in terms of writing and presentation. Good knowledge will be obtained by attending and participating lectures. Readings will be provided. By performing a term project, students will experience a full cycle of typical research activities including literature survey, problem formulation, giving assumptions, providing a solution, providing a plan of evaluation of the solution, and finally presenting of the project results. After taking this course, students should be able to conduct research or a project with a minimum level of guidance from their advisers. If desired, students will be able to extend the project toward their theses/project-report by filling up the missed evaluation part. Quality projects will be helped for a submission to conferences.

The Menu

In this course, we will study some of the most advanced research topics in computer networks. Your goal is to be an expert on the selected most advanced topics. You will read more than 30 research papers throughout this course (roughly one paper per lecture). We will tentatively discuss the following issues. Things may change as we go along, so please check back later frequently!

Anonymous Communication I

Grand Challenges in Computer Networks

MIX nodes

MIX networks

Unicast-based

Anonymous Communication II

Overlay Networks

Crowds

Multicast-based

Future work

Traffic Analysis

Anonymity breaking

Traffic volume analysis

Traffic timing analysis

Traffic pattern analysis

Traffic Measurement

What to measure

Where to measure

Measure-free network?

Required Textbook

No textbook is required. Lectures will be given with related research papers. Click here for the reading list.

Assessment Method

The course will consist of a research project and two open book exams.

Ideally, grades will be assigned along the following lines:

Grade	A	AB	B	BC	C	CD	D	F
Scale	90-100%	85-89%	80-84%	75-79%	70-74%	65-69%	60-64%	0-59%

A: (90 - 100) Understanding of the material presented in class and in the literature. Excellent completion of the projects. Indication of ability to independently develop new ideas based on material learned in class.
B: (80 - 89) Good understanding of material presented in class and in required reading. Good completion of the projects.
C: (70 - 79) Some understanding of material presented in class and required reading. Completion of the projects at unsatisfactory level.
D: (60 - 69) ....

Grading Weights

Problem Formulation	Related Work	Proposal and a Plan of Evaluation	Exams
100	100	300	500

Prerequisites

CS4461 (Computer Networks) or equivalent, ask Cathy Forsman about this.

Project

There will be a research oriented project, which could be used for MS project or thesis. More information about projects will be posted soon.

The project will be done either by a group of two students or indivually. This means that it is a good idea to start looking for a partner soon.

Late-Submission Policy

Lateness will penalize one third of the earned points of the item per class day.

Academic Integrity

It goes without saying that the highest level of academic integrity is expected for students in this class. While discussions among students on the analysis of problems and on the development of general solution approaches is welcome (encouraged, in fact,) the idea has to be of the individual student or of the individual project team. Spelled out, this means:

For the project: Do not make design documents or code available to other teams. Do not use other teams' design documents or code. Do not copy someone else's idea from the Internet.

Whoever violates these rules must expect to fail this course.