T3 - Wireless Networking and Mobile Systems: A Hands-on Tutorial
| • | Scott Midkiff and Luiz A. DaSilva, Virginia Tech, USA |
This tutorial emphasizes hands-on experimentation with wireless local area network (WLAN), mobile routing, and mobile application technologies to illustrate both fundamental principles and practical design and deployment issues. The tutorial is a mix of lecture presentations on concepts and participatory exercises that focus on three areas: (i) wireless ad hoc networks, including the link and network layers; (ii) wireless “hot spots,” including security; and (iii) peer-to-peer mobile computing. An optional module at the conclusion of the tutorial, targeted at teachers and trainers, discusses how to teach a hands-on course in wireless networks and mobile systems. The tutorial introduces the basic operation of IEEE 802.11b (WiFi) WLANs, with particular emphasis on the use of IEEE 802.11b in ad hoc mode (without infrastructure). The tutorial introduces the concept of routing in mobile ad hoc networks (MANETs) and use of an example MANET routing protocol to make these concepts more concrete. A laboratory exercise gives participants hands-on experience in configuring, operating, and monitoring an ad hoc network. The tutorial also introduces the concept of wireless hot spot services and describes a network architecture for a practical wireless hot spot service, including use of Network Address Translation (NAT) and wireless security issues. A second laboratory exercise provides first-hand experience in setting up a WiFi hot spot. Next, the tutorial introduces the concept of peer-to-peer versus the more traditional client-server model of computation for mobile systems. A third laboratory exercise demonstrates peer-to-peer communications in a wireless ad hoc network. The final area of coverage is a “teach-the-teachers” add-on for educators and corporate trainers attending the tutorial. The instructors share their own experiences in teaching a one-semester upper-division undergraduate course on “Wireless and Mobile Systems Design.” Participants not interested in this module may continue to experiment with the equipment to complete a short self-directed exercise on mobile application development. This tutorial should be of particular interest to engineers, developers, and technical managers at equipment manufacturers, service providers and government agencies, as well as educators currently teaching or interested in teaching a hands-on networking course.
Scott F. Midkiff joined the Bradley Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (Virginia Tech) in 1986 where he is presently a Professor. Previously, he was a Member of Technical Staff at AT&T Bell Laboratories (1979-1982) and a Visiting Research Associate at Carnegie Mellon University (1985-1986). Dr. Midkiff received the Ph.D. degree in Electrical Engineering from Duke University in 1985. Dr. Midkiff’s current research is in wireless networks and mobile computing, including issues in multiple access protocols, ad hoc routing, security, application protocol interaction, and rapidly-deployed networks. Current and recent research sponsors include the National Science Foundation, Office of Naval Research, the U.S. Customs Service, Intel, Microsoft Research, Catalyst Communications Technologies, Boeing, and Virginia’s Center for Innovative Technology. He directs the NSF-funded IREAN program at Virginia Tech, is a member of Center for Wireless Telecommunication, is an associated faculty member of the Mobile and Portable Radio Research Group, and is a member of the steering committee for Virginia Tech’s Master of Information Technology program.
Dr. Midkiff teaches courses in networking, telecommunications, and introductory computer engineering. Together with Luiz DaSilva and Ing-Ray Chen and with support from Intel, Dr. Midkiff developed an innovative hands-on course in wireless networks and mobile systems. Dr. Midkiff is active in distance and distributed learning programs delivered online and through interactive videoconferencing. He has taught numerous courses in networking and computer engineering to practicing professionals pursing graduate degrees in electrical engineering, computer engineering, computer science, and information technology. He is also a member of the statewide advisory board for the Virginia’s Commonwealth Graduate Engineering Program (CGEP). Dr. Midkiff is a Senior Member of the IEEE and a member of the ACM and ASEE. He is a member of the editorial board and the “Education and Training” department editor for IEEE Pervasive Computing magazine. He is the chair of the 2004 Pervasive Computing Education Workshop (PerEd) to be held in conjunction with the IEEE International Conference on Pervasive Computing and Communications (PerCom) in March 2004. Dr. Midkiff has also served on numerous technical program committees. Luiz A. DaSilva joined Virginia Tech as an Assistant Professor at the Bradley Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering in 1998, after receiving his Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering at the University of Kansas. He has previously worked for IBM for six years. Dr. DaSilva's research interests currently focus on performance and resource management in wireless mobile networks and Quality of Service (QoS) issues. He is currently involved in funded research projects in the areas of QoS interoperability
Luiz A. DaSilva, Virginia Tech con’t
and network policy, resource management mechanisms for the deployment of smart antennas in 3G systems, and mobile ad-hoc networks, among others. Dr. DaSilva has published over thirty refereed papers in journals and major conferences in the communications and computer areas. Current and recent research sponsors include the National Science Foundation, the Office for Naval Research, the U.S. Customs Service, Intel, and Microsoft Research, among others. He is a member of the Center for Wireless Telecommunication (CWT), an associated faculty member at the Mobile and Personal Radio Research Group (MPRG), and a member of the Governing Board of the NSF-funded Integrated Research and Education in Advanced Networking (IREAN) program at Virginia Tech. Dr. DaSilva is a Senior Member of IEEE, a member of ASEE, and a past recipient of the ASEE/IEEE Frontiers in Education New Faculty Fellow award. He frequently teaches distance and distributed courses and is currently developing an asynchronous, web-based version of his graduate course on computer network performance, design and management. Together with Scott Midkiff and Ing-Ray Chen and with support from Intel, Dr. DaSilva developed an innovative hands-on course in wireless networks and mobile systems. Dr. DaSilva currently serves as the co-technical program chair of the 2003 International Conference on Computer Communications and Networks (ICCCN) and has served on numerous other technical program committees.
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