CS 638 Multimedia Networking and Computing
Fall 2008

    Time and Place:      MW 1:30--2:45 PM, BRNG 2275.
    Professor:           David Yau, LWSN 1165, yau@cs.purdue.edu.

Synopsis

This course covers selected advanced/special topics in networking, related to multimedia, wireless, sensor networks, among others. Background in networking at the advanced undergrad (CS 422) or beginning grad level (CS 536) is useful but not essential. The instructor will attempt to supply the background where needed.

Part of the course will be conducted in a seminar style. In addition to presentations by the instructor, students are expected to present and critique research papers and reports, and engage in active discussions in class. It is possible for students to influence what will be covered, and to what extent. The objective is for the class (students + instructor) to learn together, and create ideas and knowledge using the course materials as a catalyst.

The instructor will work with each student/small team of students to define and complete a course project. The goal is (1) a technically interesting paper that may be considered for publication in a networking conference or workshop (for students seriously interested in networking), or (2) a survey of a timely and interesting topic (for students having general interest in networking). 

Topics (tentative)
------------------

I. Principles 

1. Multimedia coding and networking protocols
2. BGP routing and interdomain routing
3. Sensor networks
   - threat-based mobile sensor coverage: 
     (i) periodic, (ii) stochastic
   - structural health monitoring networks
   - radioactive source detection and localization
   - plume modeling and tracking
   - detection of mobile intelligent target 
4. Wireless networks
   - vehicular and other opportunistic mobile 
     networks, with and without infrastructure
     support
   - routing and data dissemination protocols
   - resource scheduling strategies and 
     algorithms
   - network capacity

II. Systems

1. J-Sim and our IPSN 2007 system demo
2. NESC/TinyOS/mote and our RSAN work (MASS 08)
3. SensorNet node and software and our radiation
   detection/localization work 
   (IPSN, Fusion, and SenSys 08)
4. Population, meteorological, terrain, map
   data for DITSCN
5. Mobility traces in CRAWDAD, etc
6. Mesh network of LinkSys routers and our
   INFOCOM and MobiCom demos
7. Purdue Condor (where we do large simulations)
8. PlanetLab (Internet experiments)

III. Project ideas (tentative)

1. Routing to maximize information (in terms
   of entropy reduction after sensing)
2. Design of routing and resource scheduling
   algorithms for hybrid ad hoc and 
   infrastructure mobile wireless networks
3. Monitoring of water distribution systems 
   (WDS) and underwater communication 
   experiments
4. Privacy in mobility tracking and
   social networks
5. Monitoring of stochastic events under 
   energy constraints
6. Coordinated path planning in robotics

Textbooks and course materials
------------------------------

1. James F. Kurose and Keith W. Ross, Computer 
   Networking (A Top-down Approach Featuring the 
   Internet), Addison-Wesley, 3rd ed, 2005.
2. Larry L. Peterson and Bruce S. Davie, Computer 
   Networks: A Systems Approach, 3rd ed, 2003.
3. A selection of networking conference and journal 
   papers, tech reports, and other documents will be 
   assigned and made available to students.

Workload (approximately)
------------------------
1. Term project              60%
2. Paper presentations       20%
3. Paper critiques           15%
4. Participation in class    5%