EEE8119 : Communication Networks and Security
- Offered for Year: 2025/26
- Module Leader(s): Dr Shahzad Gishkori
- Owning School: Engineering
- Teaching Location: Newcastle City Campus
Semesters
Your programme is made up of credits, the total differs on programme to programme.
| Semester 2 Credit Value: | 20 |
| ECTS Credits: | 10.0 |
| European Credit Transfer System | |
Aims
Communications networks is one of the fastest growing fields in the engineering world, and a tremendous interest for this topic exists among students. The purpose of the course is to:
- Introduce the students to the advanced topics in communications networks and security, their evolution and impacts on modern society.
- Introduce a broad coverage of modern communication networks and technologies.
- Develop students' lifelong learning skills by covering current and future security/ encryption algorithms, and emerging communication technologies. Additionally, expose them to actively evolving research topics.
Outline Of Syllabus
The syllabus will be divided into four parts as follows:
1. Evaluation of communications networks, and related protocols and architectures, i.e., ISO/OSI reference model and its application in networking, TCP/IP and its comparison with the OSI Model.
2. Communications networks transmission principles: Examination of switching technologies and their role in modern communication networks; In-depth study of error and flow control techniques and standards; performance issues and analyses; detailed description of medium access and protocols.
3. Understanding of encryption algorithms for privacy and security as applied to modern communications: Introduction to the concept of a cipher system and its relevance in modern communications. Examination of public-key and private-key cryptosystems for enhancing privacy and security.
4. Develop Self-Learning skills: Each student can select a topic from a list of recent advances in wired/ wireless communications and security, study it in depth and present it to his/her group.
Teaching Methods
Teaching Activities
| Category | Activity | Number | Length | Student Hours | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Guided Independent Study | Assessment preparation and completion | 1 | 2:00 | 2:00 | Final exam. |
| Guided Independent Study | Assessment preparation and completion | 20 | 1:00 | 20:00 | Revision for final exam. |
| Scheduled Learning And Teaching Activities | Lecture | 12 | 2:00 | 24:00 | 4 x 2hr lectures per week |
| Scheduled Learning And Teaching Activities | Lecture | 3 | 2:00 | 6:00 | Tutorials |
| Guided Independent Study | Independent study | 1 | 148:00 | 148:00 | SDL including new material on key topics and maths problems, general reading and reviewing lecture notes. |
| Total | 200:00 |
Teaching Rationale And Relationship
Learning outcomes are achieved by a combination of lectures, Tutorials, and self-directed learning (SDL). In the lectures, the students are introduced to the fundamentals of communications networks and security. The tutorials allow students to critically evaluate different network protocols and encryption algorithms, while in the SDL part of the module, the students are directed to study and investigate current and future trends and developments in encryption techniques and communications network systems, aimed at 'life-long' learning. This will equip them with the necessary skills and time management required in self-study that will be needed in their future careers.
Assessment Methods
The format of resits will be determined by the Board of Examiners
Exams
| Description | Length | Semester | When Set | Percentage | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Written Examination | 120 | 2 | A | 100 | 2-hour in-person closed-book exam |
Formative Assessments
Formative Assessment is an assessment which develops your skills in being assessed, allows for you to receive feedback, and prepares you for being assessed. However, it does not count to your final mark.
| Description | Semester | When Set | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Written exercise | 2 | M | Tutorial sheets on analyses of Flow and Error Controls will be handed out to the students to work through in the class. |
| Written exercise | 2 | M | Written exercise. Tutorial sheets on analyses of Error Detection and Switching Networks will be handed out to the students to work through in the class. |
Assessment Rationale And Relationship
The concepts introduced in the lectures and through independent study will be assessed via a final written exam. (M1, M2, M3, M4, M5, M7)
The learning in tutorials will contribute to formative assessments. (M3, M4, M5)
Reading Lists
Timetable
- Timetable Website: www.ncl.ac.uk/timetable/
- EEE8119's Timetable