Course Benefits
  • Gain a deep understanding of cellular network operation and mobility management
  • Gain a deep understanding of mobility management in data networks
  • Understand the impact of mobility on all parts of communications systems
Professor Laporta
  • Designed, implemented, and analyzed a distributed system for mobility management
  • Designed mobility management functions for AIRMAIL, a reliable wireless link layer
  • Member of AT&T Bell Labs for nine years; for the past three in the Wireless Networking Research Department


Course Specifics
Fees Instructional computer account ($45) highly recommended (unless student already has access to a PC with a programming language) since some homework assignments will be easier to solve by writing programs. Course notes ($40) required. See registration instructions for ordering information.
Lecturer/Manager Professor T. LaPorta

Office hours: Tuesdays, 5:00 - 6:00 pm and Wednesdays, 9:00 - 10:00 am EST Office phone: (908) 949-2281 Email address: tlp@big.att.com

Day and Time Tuesdays, 6:10 - 8:00 pm EST
Credits For Course 3
Prerequisites None required, although a background in networking and basic performance analysis (queueing) is recommended
Description This course focuses on issues of mobility management and networking. We present mobility management at the network layer for both telecommunication and data networks. We also discuss the operation of the cellular air interface and how it relates to call control and mobility management. The air interfaces, network protocols, and algorithms are discussed in the context of end-to-end systems. As the final building block, we present some issues at the link layer that affect the performance of applications in a mobile wireless environment, such as media access and handoffs.

After the students have a complete understanding of mobility management, we will discuss the effects of mobility and wireless access on higher layers, including applications such as file systems. The students can then judge how design issues at the lower layers impact applications.

Required text(s) None; references to papers will be provided.
Reference text(s) Schwartz, Mischa. Telecommunication Networks. Addison-Wesley, latest edition
Midterm Date Tuesday, March 19, 6:10 - 8:00 pm EST, closed book
Final Date Tuesday, May 7, 7:10 - 10:00 pm, closed book
Homework(s) 5-6 assignments dealing primarily with problem solving. Some programming may simplify assignments.
Project(s) None
Paper(s) None
Grading Homework 25%, midterm 35%, final 40%
Hardware Requirements PC with modem or telnet capabilities if the student opts for an instructional computer account
Software Requirements Access to any programming language (available with an optional instructional computer account)
Homework Submission By express mail to CVN