| CODE | CCE3320 | ||||||||||||||||
| TITLE | Communications Theory for Electrical Engineers | ||||||||||||||||
| UM LEVEL | 03 - Years 2, 3, 4 in Modular Undergraduate Course | ||||||||||||||||
| MQF LEVEL | 6 | ||||||||||||||||
| ECTS CREDITS | 6 | ||||||||||||||||
| DEPARTMENT | Communications and Computer Engineering | ||||||||||||||||
| DESCRIPTION | This study-unit introduces the basic theory underlying communication systems. It familiarizes the student with the layered approach adopted in this field and provides the student with an appreciation of the essential elements that make-up most modern communication systems. The unit then expands on fundamental topics like modulation, transmission media, multiplexing and channel coding. Four Sessions of Guided Laboratory work: • Simulation of ASK, FSK and PSK modulation and demodulation Using Matlab; • Developing Matlab codes to convert text file into ASK, FSK modulated signal; • Developing Matlab codes to generate BPSK and 4-PSK signals; • Design a transmitter and receiver to modulate/multiplex+Transmit+demultiplex/demodulate a pair of signals. Study-unit Aims: The aim of this study-unit is to provide an appreciation of Communication systems to Electrical Engineers. The follows topics are covered to reflect this purpose. The General Digital Communications Model (System Overview): • Formatting and Source Multiplexing; • Source Coding / Decoding; • Encryption / Decryption; • Channel Coding/ Decoding; • Modulation & Equalization. Baseband Modulation: • Digital Representation of Information; • PAM, PWM, PPM, PCM, Bandwidth; • Pass-band Modulation and transmission; • Amplitude and Phase modulation in time domain & frequency domain; • ASK, PSK, FSK Digital Modulation Schemes; • M-ary and QAM systems; • Bandwidth calculation for selected modulation schemes; • Overview of Mainstream Modulation Schemes: (G)MSK, OFDM, TCM. Transmission of Signals: • Transmission of baseband signals over copper wire, optical fibres and radio; • Attenuation and Link Budget, Phase-distortion of signals; • Multi-path and Inter-symbol interference; • Effect of Noise on Baseband Modulation (Limitations on information rate). Multiple Channel Access (Multiplexing) Schemes: • Time division multiplexing; • Frequency Division multiplexing; • Space Division Multiplexing; • Overview of Code Division Multiplexing. Fundamental Limitations of a Communications Channel: • Noise and SNR; • Minimum detectable Signal; • Mathematical representation of noise; • Noise in ASK and PSK systems; • Overview of noise in higher level modulation schemes. Information Theory: • Model for Information Sources; • Entropy; • Shannon’s Law, Shannon’s Limit. Source Coding: • General Theory and Fundamental Limits; • Overview of Lossless and Lossy Coding; • Huffman Coding. Cryptography: • Basic Principles; • Example in Substitution codes; • Classic Ciphers; • Classification of Cryptographic Attacks; • Public and private Keys. Channel Coding/Decoding: • Block Codes and Convolutional codes; • Error Detection vs Error Correction; • The effect of Channel Coding on Channel bit-rate and BER. Summary: • Bringing everything together; • Transmitter to Receiver. Learning Outcomes: 1. Knowledge & Understanding: By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to: • Describe the subsystems that make up a communication system; • Describe and contrast different baseband and passband modulation schemes; • Describe the Bandwidth requirements for selected modulation schemes; • Describe and contrast different Multiplexing and Multiple-Access schemes; • Describe the intrinsic limitations of various communications media. 2. Skills: By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to: • Communicate and collaborate effectively with communication system designers; • Read and write specifications for communications equipment; • Select the most appropriate communications technology for any given application; • Justify a given level of system complexity for a given communication system; • Calculate the Bandwidth requirements for selected modulation schemes; • Select configurations by balancing numerous, often conflicting constraints and requirements; • Discuss specifications of a communications subsystem with peers within or beyond their own organization. Main Text/s and any supplementary readings: • Leon W Couch II, 2006. Digital and Analog Communication Systems (7th Edition or later). Prentice Hall. • Communication Systems, 5th Ed, Simon Haykin, John Wiley, ISBN: 978-0-470-16996-4, 5th Edition, May 2009 • Introduction to Analog & Digital Communications, 2nd Edition, Simon Haykin & Michael Moher, John Wiley, ISBN: 978-0-471-43222-7. |
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| STUDY-UNIT TYPE | Independent Study, Lecture, Practical & Tutorials | ||||||||||||||||
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| LECTURER/S | Carl James Debono |
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The University makes every effort to ensure that the published Courses Plans, Programmes of Study and Study-Unit information are complete and up-to-date at the time of publication. The University reserves the right to make changes in case errors are detected after publication.
The availability of optional units may be subject to timetabling constraints. Units not attracting a sufficient number of registrations may be withdrawn without notice. It should be noted that all the information in the description above applies to study-units available during the academic year 2023/4. It may be subject to change in subsequent years. |
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