The course comprises four modules. The primary teaching material for the course is contained within the modules.
The module explains the importance of latency for current internet applications. Different sources of delay and types of solutions for reducing latency are treated. Special emphasis is on queueing delay and how active queue management can reduce the problem and how it interacts with congestion control.
The module deals with the evolution of the web and its interaction with underlying communication protocols. The demands of modern web applications on the network are analysed and the various protocols used in web communication are introduced. Focus is on QUIC, its design and key mechanisms.
The module deals with the challenges and opportunities of multi-access communication. Examples of how multi-access communication can be realised at different layers in the protocol stack are discussed and key mechanisms such as path management, scheduling and congestion control are described. How to implement multi-access communication is illustrated on the basis of MPTCP and MPQUIC.
The module deals with how the internet stack can be further developed to meet the demands of new applications and communication environments. The present challenges and the risk of ossification are described. How transport services can help counteract ossification and be dynamically tuned based on application requirements and networking context are discussed. Examples of how to implement and use transport services are presented.