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ECE544 Network Architecture Paper (due 3/24/11)Prof. Raychaudhuri

This assignment is intended as a practice exercise for high-level network architecture design based on top-down requirements analysis. Select one of the following “new” network design scenarios and write a ~7-10 page (12 pt, single-spaced, normal margins) architecture paper that explains how you would build a network for that application. This project is meant to be done during the first ~8 weeks of the course and may require some advance reading of the textbook or related research materials. Emphasis is on using network architecture principles in a reasonable (rather than optimum) way as a practicing engineer would. Creativity is encouraged and minor technical errors are acceptable as long as you demonstrate an understanding of the principles.

[Note: the paper must be written clearly and concisely with correct language, organization and technical diagrams. All material submitted should be your own work – i.e., DO NOT COPY any figures or text from Internet sources. Papers that do not meet a minimum standard of readability will not be graded!]

The paper should contain the following key items:

  1. Concept for the network (why is it needed, what are the services, who does it serve, why a new design approach is needed, usage scenarios, cost factors, etc.
  2. High-level concept diagram of proposed network (outlines topology, major technology components, service API, type of end-user terminals, etc.)
  3. Requirements table (list of key requirements such as services, QoS, mobility, security, reliability, cost, etc.)
  4. Network architecture diagram which shows all major components (terminals, network interfaces, Ethernets, satellites, routers, switches, etc.) and interfaces between them. Specify protocol stacks used at each node of the network including definition of inter-protocol gateways if any.
  5. A brief performance evaluation (using analysis or simulation) to determine system throughput vs offered traffic and major QoS measures if any. A rough calculation of cost (related tocapacity = maximum throughput and $ invested in equipment) is also instructive.
  6. Conclusions and further work
  7. References

Select any ONE of the following topics:

  1. Fiber-based broadband access network serving voice, video and data to a small town with ~10,000 homes spread over a ~10 Km x 10 Km coverage area.
  2. Internet access and backhaul network for a remote rural site with population ~100 and no existing wired network infrastructure.
  3. Vehicular safety network in which multiple cars traveling near each other communicate to avoid collisions, inform each other of congestion, co-ordinate braking, etc.
  4. Highway communications infrastructure in which a ~100 Km toll road would have ~5000 roadway sensors and ~ 250 wireless access points serving up to 10,000 vehicles.
  5. Tactical military network in which ~20-50 soldiers communicate using voice video or data under a variety of mobility, terrain and radio interference conditions.
  6. Body area network for connecting multiple devices (vision glasses, audio, storage, computing, cell phone, PDA, etc.) carried by a human being on the move.
  7. Sensor network in which ~1000video and RFID sensors are embedded into a large office or factory building, and are connected to databases and servers in the Internet.
  8. Rapid deployment emergency infrastructure for a country of the size of Haiti with multiple types of emergency personnel (police, fire, national guard, etc.)
  9. Tsunami warning system for the Pacific Ocean, CA-OR-WA coastline with undersea sensors, a central monitoring station, and early warning systems for communities and first responders.
  10. Internet access system for airlines, serving continental US region with up to 5000 aircraft and ~200 users per aircraft.
  11. Mobile social network in which ~10-50 users in geographic proximity can exchange information, participate in games, and collaborate using mobile computers and cell phone type devices.
  12. Content delivery network in which ~10M mobile users in the US receive an average of 2 x 1 GB movies and 10 x 10 MB audio files on their portable computer or smartphone.