Learning objectives
<br />The course offers an introduction to business Information Systems, both on fundamental and on technological aspects. Contents are mainly related to computer networks, distributed systems security and to the use and design of databases.
Prerequisites
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Course unit content
<br /><br />Part 1<br />HW/SW for computer systems<br /><br />Types of computers systems. Main hardware components of computers. Key concepts and behavior of Operating Systems.<br />Computer networks and Internet<br />Introduction to Computer Networks. OSI model. Transmission media. LAN. IEEE 802 and Ethernet. Internetworking. Architecture of TCP/IP. Internet applications. Application level protocols. HTTP. Elements of HTML and XML.<br />Security of distributed systems: key concepts. Symmetric and public-key cryptography. Digital signatures. PGP. Secure Socket Layer. Firewalls. <br />Part 2 - Databases<br />Introdution to Business Information Systems. The relational model.<br />Relational algebra. SQL query language. Scheme declaration. Simple and complex queries. Privilege.managements Constraints, procedures and active rules. <br />Database design. The Entità-Relationship model. ISA hierarchies. Design strategies and restructuring of schemes. Logical relational design. Access structures in DBMS and the cost of data access.<br />Transational systems and concurrency control. Data analysis. <br />Web access to databases.<br />The CGI protocol . Technologies for the integration between databases and Web.<br />E-business technologies.
Full programme
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Bibliography
<br />Ullman and Widom, A First Course in Database Systems , (Prentice-Hall, 1999).<br />Andrew Tanenbaum, Computer Networks (fourth edition), Prentice Hall, Upper Saddle River, NJ, 2003, ISBN 0-13-038488-7.<br />W. Stallings, Cryptography and Network Security: Principles and Practice (3rd Edition), Prentice Hall; 3 edition (August 27, 2002).<br />
Teaching methods
<br /><br />Class lectures<br />Exercises in the “Gestionale Lab” on LAN equipment and TCP/IP software and network applications.<br />Exercises on HTML/XML. Introduction to Access. Exercises on Access: table creation and SQL queries.<br /> <br />Examinations<br />Midterm written test on the first part of the course (HW/SW, networks and security). <br />Final written exam on the design (E-R) and use (SQL) of a relational database .
Assessment methods and criteria
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Other information
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