The aim of this course is to provide you with the opportunity to develop a conceptual framework for modelling and analysing different communication networks (e.g. circuit-switched and packet-switched networks). The course will show, firstly, how to set up such models and, secondly, how to use them in the performance (e.g. QoS) analysis of communication systems.

By the end of this module, you will be able to: 1 Evaluate the validity of different performance modelling/assessment 2 Calculate communication system performance 3 Solve the most appropriate mathematical model to a specific tele-traffic and/or queuing system problem 4 derive and assess the performance of communication systems using analytical methods (e.g. blocking probabilities and queueing delays) 5 Evaluate performance aspects of queueing systems using different modelling techniques (e.g. Markov chains and fluid flow models)

Introduction to teletraffic analysis; Mathematical basis of traffic theory; Markov processes; Loss-system analysis; Route congestion in circuit-switched systems; Models for overflow traffic; Restricted availability; Congestion in circuit switches; Delay-system analysis; Introduction to queueing theory; congestion in message-switched systems and packet-switched systems; Queueing network models; Analysis of random-access protocols; Traffic characterisation of Broadband Services; Admission and Access control in Broadband networks; Performance/Reliability (Performability) models.