Learning objectives
The goals of the course, in terms of knowledge and comprehension, are the following:
- to give the students an overview of main communication systems, such as:
i) the analog communication systems and the elements for their design, selection, and analysis;
ii) the digital communication systems and the elements for their design, selection, and analysis.
The ability to apply the acquired knowledge and understanding will be useful to:
- understand the operational principles of a communication system from its architecture
- understand the trade-offs of a communication system.
- numerically simulate a communication system.
Prerequisites
Probabilistic methods for the engineer
Course unit content
The course is split into two modules. The first module covers topics in the physical layer of communication, such as:
- bandpass signals. Analog modulations. Digital communications. Performance evaluation in analog and digital communications. The noise problem. Bandpass digital communications.
The second module covers topics of communication from a system point of view, such as:
- the ISO-OSI model. The wireless propagation medium. Foundations of information theory. Foundations of coding. Contention access methods. Cellular networks. Wireless communications. Numerical simulation of a communication system.
Full programme
See the program in Module 1 and 2.
Bibliography
- A. B. Carlson e P. B. Crilly, Communication Systems: an Introduction to Signals and Noise in Electrical Communication, Mcgraw Hill Higher Education, 5th edition, 2010. ISBN-13: 978-0071263320.
- A. S. Tannenbaum e D. Wetherall, Reti di calcolatori, Pearson, 5th edition, 2018, ISBN: 9788891908254
Teaching methods
During the lectures, various topics related to performance analysis of communication systems, as detailed in the program, will be covered. Both slides and blackboard will be used. Some exercises, given to the students in advance, will be solved during class. Computer-based exercises will be used through the software Matlab. The slides of the course will be provided on the Elly platform.
Assessment methods and criteria
The exams will follow the University regulations at the time of the exam.
Each module has its own exam methodologies. More details can be found in the information of each module.
The final grade for the exam on communication systems is calculated as a weighted average based on the scheme 0.25*(grade part 1, analog) + 0.25*(grade part 1, digital) + 0.25*(grade part 2, written part) + 0.25*(grade part 2, project).
Other information
The teaching and support material will be provided in part by the teacher.
