Objectives
The aims of the course are to evaluate the performance of Telecommunication Networks and to investigate how the performance may have an impact on the architecture and the design of these systems. The analysis will involve classical stochastic approaches (including source traffic modelling and modelling of TCP connections) as well as worst-case techniques, widely used in the characterization of IntServ and DiffServ architectures.

Syllabus
1) Network Calculus
a. Basic concepts: arrival and service curves, bounds on backlog and delay
b. Token bucket traffic characterization
c. Application to the Internet: IntServ and DiffServ architectures.
d. Traffic models based on packet arrival and departure times: GR and PSRG nodes.
2) Traffic modelling
a. SRD traffic models
b. LRD traffic models
c. Models of TCP connections
3) Rare Event Simulation
a. Large Deviation Theory
b. Effective Bandwidth
c. Restart
d. Importance Sampling

Course structure
6 credits. The exam will consist of an oral examination.