Communication Theory and Systems

Objectives: 

The course aims to provide students with the theoretical principles of digital communication and channel coding, together with the fundamental concepts of wired and wireless communication systems. It introduces the main communication technologies and solutions used in telecommunications, including modulation and multiplexing techniques, transmission media, error-correcting codes, diversity techniques, spread-spectrum communications, MIMO systems, synchronization and communication solutions for Internet of Things (IoT) applications. The course also aims to develop the ability to analyse, design, evaluate and budget communication systems, and to select appropriate technical solutions according to the requirements of a given application scenario.

Knowledge and Understanding: 

Upon completion of the course, students will have acquired knowledge and understanding of:

• the theoretical principles of digital communication and channel coding;

• the fundamental concepts underlying wired and wireless communication systems;

• the main communication technologies and solutions used in telecommunications systems, including modulation and multiplexing techniques, transmission media, error-correcting codes, diversity techniques, spread-spectrum communications andMIMO systems,

• The main communication solutions adopted in Internet of Things (IoT) applications.

Applying Knowledge and Understanding:

Upon completion of the course, students will be able to:

• Apply communication theory to the analysis and design of communication systems;

• Select and design appropriate technical solutions;

• Evaluate and select appropriate modulation and multiplexing schemes, transmission media and communication standards;

• design and budget communication systems

• Analyze and compare wired and wireless communication solutions based on the requirements of the application scenario.

Making judgments

By the end of the course, students will be able to:

• Evaluate the suitability and performance of different communication solutions;

• Interpret technical requirements and trade-offs such as bandwidth, power, reliability, cost and complexity;

• critically compare alternative modulation, coding, diversity, spread-spectrum and transmission-media choices;

• Assess link budgets and system performance in realistic application scenarios.

Communication skills

By the end of the course, students will be able to:

• Describe and explain system architectures, design choices and performance results;

• Present analysis and design activities clearly and coherently;

• Communicate technical information effectively in both oral and written forms.

Learning skills

By the end of the course, students will have acquired the ability to:

• Independently explore advanced topics in digital communications, channel coding, and wireless systems;

• Use appropriate methodologies and tools for the analysis and design of communication systems;

• keep up with evolving technologies in telecommunications and IoT applications.

Course Structure: 

The course includes face-to-face lectures and laboratory exervies (58 hours, 6 CFU), aimed at providing students with the theoretical knowledge and analytical methodologies required for the analysis, design, and evaluation of modern digital, wireless and satellite communication systems. The lectures cover fundamental concepts in signal-space representation, optimum and maximum-likelihood decoding, spread-spectrum techniques, information theory, channel coding, MIMO and UWB communications, satellite communication architectures, link budgets, antennas, radio propagation and wireless link design.

Teaching activities are focused on developing both theoretical understanding and the ability to apply the concepts to practical communication-system scenarios. Particular attention is devoted to the analysis and design of communication links, including the evaluation of propagation effects, antenna gains and losses, link budgets, satellite links and wireless and vehicular communication systems. These teaching methods are consistent with the learning objectives of the course, which aim to provide students with knowledge of the fundamental principles and advanced techniques used in modern digital and wireless communications, while developing the ability to analyze, design, and evaluate communication systems and links through appropriate analytical and engineering methodologies.

Essential knowledge

• Basic knowledge of probability theory and random variables.

• Basic knowledge of deterministic and random signals.

• Basic knowledge of digital modulation techniques, including ASK, FSK and PSK.

Important knowledge

• Basic knowledge of channel coding and error control techniques.

Useful knowledge

• Use of Matlab Environment and knowledge about basic Python Libraries

Part 1: Introduction to the Course (2 Hours) 

[Lectures: 2 hours - Practice and Labs:0 hours]:

Course overview,  Preliminary Assessment

 

Part 2: Signal-space representation and Gram–Schmidt, ML decoding (8 Hours)

Lectures: 3 hours - Practice and Labs: 5 hours]

Part 3: Spread Spectrum (8 Hours)

Lectures: 4 hours - Practice and Labs: 4 hours] 

Pseudo Noise Sequences, DSSS, DSSS Analysis, FHSS

Part 4: Information Theory, Channel Coding, MIMO and UWB Communication (12 Hours)

Lectures: 4 hours - Practice and Labs: 8 hours]

Entropy of a discrete memoryless information source (Properties), Source coding and source coding theorem and Example, Mutual Information, Properties and Channel capacity – definition, Capacity theorem and its implications, Linear block codes, Convolutional encoder, Trellis and Viterbi Algorithm, Huffman codes and Lempel Ziv codes, MIMO systems and Capacity Analysis, Capacity Analysis-MIMO systems, Optimal power distribution in MIMO systems (Waterfall method): Low and High SNR Cases

 

Part 5: Satellite communication fundamentals and architectures (8 Hours)

Lectures: 7 hours, Practice and Labs:1 hour]

Antenna alignment and frequency bands,  Internal architectures of satellites,  Medium access control in satellite networks 

 

Part 6: Link budgets, antennas, propagation, Friis, losses/gains (10 Hours)

Lectures: 4 hours, Practice and Labs: 6 hours]

Part 7: Wireless link design, path profiles, propagation, vehicular communication (10 Hours)

Lectures: 4 hours, Practice and Labs: 6 hours] 

The course contributes primarily to SDG 4 – Quality Education , SDG 9 – Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure , and SDG 11 – Sustainable Cities and Communities , by providing knowledge and skills related to the analysis, design and evaluation of modern digital and wireless communication systems and their applications in connected and intelligent environments.

1. S. Haykin, Communication systems. John Wiley and Son 
2. Freeman, Telecommunication systems Engineering. J. Wiley and Son
3. J. G Proakis and M. Salehi. Digital Communications - 5th edition. McGraw Hill

The assessment consists of a written examination and an oral examination , both conducted on the same day.

The written examination consists of two questions:

• One randomly selected question from Communication Theory , worth 15 points .

• One randomly selected question from Communication Systems , worth 15 points .

The written examination has a maximum total score of 30 points .

The oral examination is also conducted on the same day as the written examination.

Communication Theory

1. Direct Sequence Spread Spectrum (DSSS): Transmitter and Receiver, Analysis, Processing Gain in DSSS, Error Probability, and Jamming Margin.

2. MIMO Systems: Capacity Analysis and Optimal Power Distribution in MIMO Systems.

3. Trellis and Viterbi Algorithms.

Communication Systems

1. Satellite Communications: General Concepts, Advantages and Disadvantages, and Satellite Orbits.

2. Link Margin and Free-Space Propagation Model: Directive Gain, Directivity, and Power Gain.

3. Losses and Gains in a Typical Wireless Link: Received Signal Level (RSL), Interference Rejection Level (IRL), and Effective Isotropic Radiated Power (EIRP) — Exercises.

4. Steps in the Design of a Wireless Communication Link: Path Profile.