Communication Networks: Fundamental Concepts and Key Architectures

This new text is designed for introductory courses in communications in either electrical engineering or computer science programs. It can be used by undergraduate or first year graduate level programs.

Addressing networks from a top-down approach, this text shows students the big picture of networks in general so that they may see how the various parts of the network fit in to the picture. The book is organized into six sections that progressively consider the networking functions in greater level of detail. The book presents a balanced view of all important elements of networking and is organized so that all relevant topics can be covered at some minimum level of detail.

Alberto Leon-Garcia is a Professor in the Depatment of Electrical and Computer Engineering at the University of Toranto where he holds the Jeffrey Skoll Chair in Computer Network and Innovation. He was also Chief Technical Officer and Co-Founder of Accelight Networks Inc. where he led the development of a terabit multiservice optical switch. In 1999 Dr. Leon-Garcia became an IEEE fellow for "for Contribution to multiplexing and switching of Integrated Service traffic." Inra Widjaja received his Ph.D degree in electrical engineering on high-speed packet switching architectures from the uiversity of Toronto in 1992. Since 2001 he has been a researcher at Bell Laboratories, Lucent Technologies. Dr.Widjaja's current research interests include traffic Engineering, architectures for cost effective tranport networks, and High-Speed packet Switching. He has Extensive publication in technical journals and high-Speed packet Switching. He has an Extensive Publication in technical Journals and Conferences and holds several patents in Switching architectures. He is also an active member of IETF and IEEE.