Communications Services Management
On successful completion of this module, the student should be able to:
1. Demonstrate an understanding of fixed, mobile and Internet service platform technologies
2. Apply Utility Computing concepts and technologies in the design and development of software services.
3. Design and develop software converged network services utilising state-of-the-art service creation tools and frameworks.
4. Understand the foundations in terms of paradigms, basic concepts and strategies in network analysis and network management.
5. Appreciate the traditional management paradigm and its adaptation for todayÕs service and system management
This module will address a subset of the practices and technologies required to develop reliable, efficient and scalable software services which span multiple communications networks. The student is introduced to the fundamentals of classic network and service management as well as to new industrial approaches that enable him/her to understand administration and maintenance of the related infrastructure. A key goal will be to familiarise the student with the concept of integrated management approaches interrelating several strategies for specific management tasks.
Basic programming skills with some Java experience (graduate of a BSc or BEng involving significant programming experience.) Object-Oriented Programming and Design skills. (BSc. level Systems Analysis.).Moderate understanding of computer architecture and of operating systems.
SIP as a signalling protocol for Internet-based applications and for 3G services. The Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) is a signalling protocol used for establishing sessions in an IP network. A session could be a simple two-way telephone call or it could be a collaborative multi-media conference session. The ability to establish these sessions means that a host of innovative services become possible, such as voice-enriched e-commerce, web page click-to-dial, and Instant Messaging with buddy lists.
The Extensible Messaging and Presence Protocol (XMPP): IETF's formalisation of the base XML streaming protocols for instant messaging and presence (developed within the Jabber community).
In this part of the module, the student will study traditional management structures for data and telephony networks. This can include SNMP (v1,2 and 3) with respect to data comms, TMN and TINA with respect to telephony and OSI X.500 or X.700 for both.
Students will gain exposure to emerging management architectures, with a strong focus on fixed-mobile convergence. Students will build a software-based testbed to run experiments using these technologies, which may include Policy Based Management, IP Multimedia Subsystem (IMS) or DEN-NG.
The practical programme will involve 3 assignments: 1 discursive essay and 2 software-based development project.