ECE 4684 - Network Science (3C)

Introduction to modern-day networked technologies such as wireless, social, and economic networks. Analysis of networked technologies using analytical and engineering techniques such as optimization, game/auction theory, graph analysis, and learning as applied to networked technologies. Introduction to the basics of these techniques and their applications in networked systems. Development of a network science for solving practical problems pertaining to various networked systems such as smartphones, Wiki, Facebook, recommendation systems, economic network, or online video/music streaming software. Pre: 2704 (C- or better) (3H, 3C).

The past decade witnessed major breakthroughs in communications and networking technologies that include the rise of smartphones, social networking websites, and other online tools such as YouTube, NetFlix, or Wikipedia. While our undergraduate students have been keeping up with these technologies and interacting with them almost daily, our curriculum has yet to incorporate the mathematical machinery that allows such technologies to operate. This machinery is essentially a mix of various disciplines that include networking, optimization theory, operations research, and economics. Analyzing and understanding networks is simply no longer possible without resorting to such techniques. Therefore, the primary goal of this course is to introduce these analytical techniques while taking an application oriented view. In particular, we will pose several questions on the technologies that surround our students (e.g., how to influence people on social networks, how does a smartphone work, how do wireless data plans get designed), and, while answering those questions, we will provide a thorough introduction to the underlying engineering and analytical principles. This course will be very valuable to provide our undergraduate students with a truly hands-on, minds-on approach to understanding networking technologies as it continues to proliferate in our daily lives. In particular, it will allow them to clearly link theory and practice in the area of networked systems.