• 052479 - COMMUNICATION NETWORK DESIGN

• Blended Learning & Flipped Classroom

The course is intended to provide students with the knowledge and tools necessary to design and plan communication networks. The first part of the course focuses on optical networks: different segments of networks (access, metro and core) are taken into consideration. Design approaches base on mathematical modeling (integer linear programming) and heuristic approaches are discussed. In the second part of the course, traffic theory will be developed for the design of circuit switching networks, and specifically to solve dimensioning problems (Erlang, Engset) and to investigate advanced methodologies for traffic modeling. Specific case studies will be developed to provide examples of the different design approaches.

Knowledge and Understanding

- Students will learn how to:

-- Use Integer Linear Programming to solve routing and capacity assignment problems

-- Identify the right protection technique given the network characteristics

-- Master fundamental tele-traffic formulas as Erlang B, C and Engset 

Applying Knowledge and Understanding

Given specific network characteristics, students will be able to:

-- Model and implement network routing and capacity assignment problems

-- aplly fundamental tele-traffic formulas in realistic case-studies

Learning Skills

- Students will learn the actual design and operation problems in a transport network
- Students choosing to focus on the project will learn how to carry on a research task in collaboration with the instructor

1 –  Introduction on Optical Networks

Optical networking principles and challenges: telecom network overview, business models, traffic engineering vs network engineering vs network design, Wavelength Division Multiplexing (WDM), WDM Evolution. Enabling Technologies: optical fiber, optical transmitters, optical receivers, optical amplifiers, switching elements. Optical metro and access network: challenges in access and metro networks, overview of PON technologies (EPON, GPON, WDM-PON, NGPON2), overview of metro networks (Gigabit Ethernet, SONET/SDH, RPR, Metro Ethernet).  

2 – Exact and Heuristic (Optical Core) Network design methodologies

Network design based on mathematical modelling: flow formulation, route formulation. Modelling of network protection: dedicated protection, shared protection. Network design by heuristic approaches: greedy, local search. Net2Plan: a free and open-source Java tool for the design of communication networks

3 – Protection techniques

Network survivability: objectives and protection techniques. Single-layer and multi-layer protection techniques: protection at IP layer, protection at physical layer. Protection techniques in SONET/SDH: line and section protection, point-to-point and ring structures, dedicated and shared protection. Protection in the optical layer: solutions for ring networks and for mesh network, dedicated-vs-shared protection, ring cover and p-cycle techniques.

5 – Queueing theory primer

Markov, birth death and Poisson process. 

6 –  Design of circuit switching networks

Introduction: Traffic modeling: definition and properties. Source model: single and multiple source. Analysis of multiple-server system with assumption BCC, BCH, BCD. Evaluation of congestion and statistics of carried/lost traffic (Erlang B and C, Engset).  Dimensioning of overflow trunk: Wilkinson, Fredericks and Lindberger approaches.

Basic courses of Computer Networks and Statistics.

The verification of knowledge for the course content consists in a test at the end of the course that comprises a written test and, if required, an oral examination on the subjects covered in the course. Projects, to be defined with the professor, can be used to substitute the written and oral examination. A laboratory activity using the software net2plan can be used to complement the final score.

In case of negative evaluation the student is admitted to the following tests of the academic year.