COT5701

Mobile and distributed computing systems

A Zaslavsky

6 points
* 4 hours per week
* First, second semester
* Caulfield

Objectives This course will develop student knowledge of the approaches and methods for building distributed and mobile computing systems. On completing the course students will be familiar with the currently available models and approaches to building mobile and distributed computing systems; have developed practical skills in the use of these models and approaches, so that they will be able to select and apply the appropriate tools for a particular case; also be aware of the current research directions in the field and their possible outcomes.

Synopsis The subject will provide students with fundamentals and theoretical foundations of mobile computing systems, wireless networks, advanced mobile applications. Specific topics will include architectures of mobile distributed computing systems; resource management and support in mobile distributed computing systems; wireless network classification and management; mobile distributed file systems; failure recovery, fault tolerance and reliability of mobile computing systems; replication in mobile distributed systems; protection and security of mobile computing systems; case studies for distributed mobile database systems; mobile information systems; advanced mobile computing applications and the Internet; research trends in mobile and distributed computing; synchronisation and global time concepts; transaction management mechanisms for mobile computing.

Assessment Research paper and literature survey: 50%
* Oral presentation: 15%
* Practical work: 35%

Recommended texts

Imielinski T and Korth H (eds) Mobile computing Kluwer, 1996
Mullender S Distributed systems 2nd edn, Addison-Wesley, 1994
Muller N Wireless data networking Artech House, 1995
Tannenbaum A Distributed operating systems Prentice-Hall, 1995