Telecommunication Protocols

Subject description

The course Telecommunication Protocols addresses the fundamental elements of telecommunication systems, including protocols, protocol entities, syntax, and semantics of protocol messages. Special attention is paid to understanding protocol stacks, such as the OSI model and the TCP/IP protocol stack, communication layers, and their operating principles. The course deals with the themes of recording data and data structures and the formation of messages. It also covers connectivity and associated signaling, reliability of data transmission, including error detection and correction. We examine the basics of flow control and congestion avoidance in communication systems. The distribution and decentralization of systems, including an introduction to blockchain technology, are emphasized.

These concepts are demonstrated and examined through examples of established communication protocols.

The course presents the processes of software development planning and development, including some tools, and the importance of standardizing communication systems and protocols. Additionally, students are introduced to examples of protocols and examine selected application protocols on the Internet in more detail, including web protocols and APIs, which enables them to practically understand the use of telecommunication protocols in modern communication environments.

The subject is taught in programs

Objectives and competences

The objective of the course is to provide the knowledge and understanding of the principles and methods for message transfer through the telecommunication systems, fundamentals of telecommunication services, protocols and protocol stacks. Expertise in protocol specification techniques. Overview of some telecommunicationdevelopment methods. Familiarity with planning and IKT systems development tools.

Teaching and learning methods

Lectures for theoretical aspects, laboratory exercises and team-work for real-case scenarios and problem solving. Part of the pedagogical process will be carried out with the help of ICT technologies and the possiblities they offer. Project work. Invited lecturers.

Expected study results

After successful completion of the course, students should be able to:

list key principles of communication protocols and describe them,
differentiate among syntax and semantics of protocol messages and explain differences among them with HTTP REST examples,
find actual examples of communication protocols to explain the key principles of communication protocols,
evaluate reliability of message transfer in actual communication protocols,
design a simple pseudo protocol for message transfer with mechanisms for error detection and prevention, and flow control,
design and implement a simple Web backend application and interfaces,
choose and use tools and services for planning and development.

Basic sources and literature

Sharp, R., Principles of Protocol Design, Springer, 2008
Stallings, W.: Data and computer communications, 9th ed., ISBN 978-0-13-139205-2, 2011, Prentice Hall.
Fall, K. R., Stevens, W. R.: TCP/IP illustrated. Vol. 1, The Protocols, 2nd ed., ISBN 978-0-321-33631-6, 2012, Addison-Wesley.
D. Hercog, Communication Protocols: Principles, Methods and Specifications. Springer International Publishing, 2020. doi: 10.1007/978-3-030-50405-2.
Pustišek, M., Živić, N., Kos, A., Blockchain: technology and applications for Industry 4.0, smart energy, and smart cities. Berlin: De Gruyter, 2021.
Javno dostopna priporočila in standardi, npr./Publicly accessible recommendations and standards, e.g.: https://www.w3.org/standards/, http://standards.ieee.org/, https://www.ietf.org/rfc.html.