Class Information
(Spring 2005)

Instructor:  

Professor Zhenhai Duan
Office: 165 Love Building
Office hours: 1:00PM -- 2:00PM, MW

Schedule

5:15PM -- 6:30PM, MW, Lov 103

Course Description

Modeling and performance analysis are crucial components in the design, understanding, and comparison of computer systems. They are widely used in the areas such as Operating Systems,  Computer Architectures, and Computer Networks, to name a few. This course is designed to provide you with some fundamental understanding of the concepts and techniques in modeling and performance analysis. The following topics will be covered in the course:  probability,  stochastic processes and queueing theory, statistical data analysis, and simulation. 

This course focuses on the applications of  these techniques in Computer Science instead of their mathematical derivations. Throughout the course, examples will be used to demonstrate how the techniques can be applied to solve real-world Computer Science problems.  The workload of this course includes two programming assignments using simulation tool NS2, two problem-solving assignments, one research-oriented project, and a final exam.

Prerequisites:

This course does not have official prerequisites, but you need to be comfortable with elementary calculus and algebra, and have the basic knowledge of computer systems such as operating systems, computer architectures, and computer networks, as we will draw examples from these fields.

Talk to me if you are not positive.

Textbooks:

Workload and Grading:

  1. Two programming assignments: 20% (10% each)
  2. Two problem-solving assignments: 20% (10% each) 
  3. One research-oriented project: 30%
  4. Final exam: 30%

Course syllabus:

Week  Topic  Readings Handouts/dues
Week 1 Class logistics; Introduction to computer modeling and performance analysis. Concepts and techniques of simulation  Chapter 1, Lecture notes on simulation.  handout: List of possible research topics
Week 2 Introduction to Network Simulator 2 NS2 websites, NS2 documentation.  Handout: Programming assignments handed out
Week 3 Basic concepts of probability, conditional probability, joint probability, random variables Chapter 2.0-2.7
Week 4 expectations, moments, generating functions, some useful inequalities.  Chapter 2.8-2.10
Week 5 discrete/continuous distributions,  Chapter 3.1, 3.2 Due: First programming assignment

Handout: First problem-solving assignment
Week 6 continuous distributions, Poisson Process Chapter 3.2, Chapter 4.0-4.2
Week 7 Poisson Process, Birth-and-death process. Chapter 4.2, 4.3  Due: research project phase report
Week 8 Markov Chains, basic concepts of queueing theory. Chapter 4.4, Chapter 5.0-5.1
Week 9 M/M/infinity, M/M/1, M/G/1,  Chapter 5.2, 5.3 Due: First problem-solving assignment

Handout: Second problem-solving assignment
Week 10 Basic concepts in statistical data analysis.  Chapter 7.0-7.2 Due: Second programming assignment
Week 11 Hypothesis testing Chapter 8
Week 12 Regression and Correlation analysis.  Chapter 9
Week 13 Graph representations, statistical inference Lecture notes Due: Second problem-solving assignment
Week 14 Clustering Lecture notes
Week 15 Optimization Lecture notes Due: research project
Week 16 Final exam

Course Policies:

Attendance Policy:

The university requires attendance in all classes, and it is also important to your learning. The attendance record may be provided to deans who request it. If your grade is just a little below the cutoff for a higher grade, your attendance will be one of the factors that we consider, in deciding whether to "bump" you up to the higher grade. Missing three or fewer lectures will be considered good attendance. In rare cases, such as medical needs or jury duty, absences may be excused with appropriate documentation. You should let me know in advance, when possible, and submit the documentation I seek. You should make up for any materials missed due to absences.


Late Assignment Policy:

In order to enable us to provide timely solutions to assignments, we have the following policy regarding submission of late assignments. * An assignment that is turned in no more than 48 hours late will be scored with a 20% penalty. * An assignment that is turned in more than 48 hours late will receive the score of zero, though we will review it and comment on it.



Professional ethics:

You will gain confidence in your ability only when you do the work independently. On the other hand, one does learn a lot through discussions with ones peers. In order to balance these two goals, I give below a list of things that you may, and may not, do. Things you may not do: You should not copy from the assignments of other students. This includes directly copying or making modifications to others' assignments. If you happen to find a solution to an assignment problem from source, you may not copy it. Furthermore, you should take steps to ensure that others cannot copy your assignment. Things you may do: You may ask others about (i) terminology that you do not understand, (ii) clarifications on what is required of you in an assignment problem (though you may be much better of asking me), and (iii) how to submit your assignment. After the assignment has been graded, you are encouraged to discuss each others' solutions.


Honor Code: 

Students are expected to uphold the academic honor code published in "The Florida State University Bulletin" and the "Student Handbook". Please read the provisions of the Academic Honor Code: http://www.fsu.edu/Books/Student-Handbook/codes/honor.html. Also read the section on "Honor code" below.



Plagiarism:

Plagiarism is "representing another's work or any part thereof, be it published or unpublished, as ones own. For example, plagiarism includes failure to use quotation marks or other conventional markings around material quoted from any source" (Florida State University General Bulletin 1998-1999, p. 69). Failure to document material properly, that is, to indicate that the material came from another source, is also considered a form of plagiarism. Copying someone else's program, and turning it in as if it were your own work, is also considered plagiarism.



ADA: 

Students with disabilities needing academic accommodation should (1) register with and provide documentation to the Student Disability Center, and (2) bring a letter to the instructor indicating the need for accommodation and what type. This should be done during the first week of class. For more information about services available to FSU students with disabilities, contact: Student Disability Resource Center Dean of Students Department 08 Kellum Hall Florida State University Tallahassee, FL 32306-4400 (850) 644-9566 (voice) (850) 644-8504 (TDD) SDRC@admin.fsu.edu http://www.fsu.edu/~staffair/dean/StudentDisability/