Students of Digital Communication Systems have the following objectives in this subject:
1.To acquire the basic knowledge on the study and characterization of digital communication systems, mainly in source and channel coding, spread spectrum communication systems and mobile channel modeling.
2.Identify, formulate and solve digital communication systems using analysis and simulation techniques applications with the aim of the correct interpretation of the problem presented.
3.Analyze, design and make use of systems, procedures and algorithms in order to achieve the intended goals in a specific digital signal processing problem, making use of simulation, analysis and application development tools in this thematic (MATLAB), and to analyze and understand the given results.
4.To use new e-learning techniques and tools (virtual campus, study guide, sharing documents, forums, Virtual Laboratory)
1 Introduction
1.1 Source Coding.
1.2 Channel Coding.
1.3 Spread Spectrum modulations.
1.4 Channel modeling and distortion mitigation.
2 Source Coding.
2.1 Introduction.
2.2 Information Theory.
2.3 Discrete source coding techniques.
2.4 Analog Source Coding techniques.
2.5 Block Coding.
2.6 Audio Coding.
2.7 Image Coding.
2.8 Problems.
3 Channel Coding.
3.1 Introduction
3.2 Linear Codes.
3.3 Convolutional Codes.
3.4 Reed-Solomon Codes
3.5 Interleaving and concatenative codes.
3.6 Turbo codes.
4 Advanced modulations.
4.1 Introduction to spread spectrum systems.
4.2 PN sequences.
4.3 Direct-sequence systems.
4.4 Frequency-hopping systems.
4.5 PN acquisition.
4.6 PN tracking.
4.7 CDMA (Code Domain Multiple Access).
4.8 IS-95 system.
5 Characterization and mitigation of transmission channel effects.
5.1 Introduction
5.2 The mobile radio channel.
5.3 Degradation channel effects
5.4 Mitigation of degradation channel effects.
5.5 Channel equalization.
Two methodologies are applied depending on the profile selected by the student at the time of registration. In the `attended´ methodology the theoretical framework is given in the teacher´s lectures, providing the basic knowledge allowing the student to develop the complete program of activities. In the `semi-attended´ methodology, the theoretical framework is developed by the student with the aid of an electronic study guide. Here the student has a more active paper. In the study guide basic contents and bibliographic references are pointed out to allow students to progress in their own learning.
A part from the theoretical framework, both learning methodologies share the following things: practical demonstrations, problem classes, practices classes, and all the individual work the student has to do as homework (advanced problems and practice demonstrations)
Teacher lectures and work with the study guide are complemented with problem classes and practices demonstrations. Therefore, theoretical comprehension is improved through visual examples with the simulation software MATLAB and also with the discussion of key concepts, allowing students to develop some practical skills, their ability to solve problems, their ability to be more creative in order to face new situations or to work as a member of a team.
During the course some theoretical and practical problems are given as homework. Students have a specific laboratory to solve some of these problems, where they can evaluate and share their results with other students. Auxiliary practices teachers are available to solve questions about these practices. An Internet connection to the laboratory is also possible, so students can verify their results from home, allowing a more flexible access. Students have a personalized access to this Virtual Laboratory, where not only practices problems can be solved, but also practices demonstrations for every chapter of the course are available. Students receive continuous support from teachers through meetings where they get some advice about their complete learning progress. Also, some self-evaluation tests are available in the electronic study guide in order to evaluate the degree of comprehension after every chapter.
Finally, both students and teachers suggest virtual meetings in order to promote the discussion of certain key concepts during the course. In these meetings the teacher can interact with a reduced number of interested students, allowing the sharing of specific application examples in MATLAB or to solve some questions by need of sharing electronic documents.
Students´ evaluation will be completed with:
A. Exams
C. Quizzes
D. Homework
G. Computer assignments
L. Laboratory participation
M. Participation in the virtual campus and remote access to the Virtual Laboratory.
The subject mark will have a theoretical part (70-90%) and a practical part (10-30%). The theoretical part will be evaluated through the exam problems, the homework, the self-evaluation tests and the degree of continuous study, participation in the classroom and in the discussion meetings. The practical part will be evaluated through the practical problems exam, the computer assignments, and the laboratory reports and participation in practices discussion forums.
Objective 1:
-Students should show a general and basic knowledge of digital signal processing techniques applied to digital communication systems (source coding, channel coding, advanced modulation systems and channel characterization) [A, C].
Objective 2:
-Students should show analysis and synthesis aptitudes in solving exercises: to pose different ways of reaching the desired objectives and to choose the simplest, fastest and best way of achieving the intended goals with the given restrictions [A, D].
Objective 3:
-Students should show elementary computing skills in the practices development software and the given modules and functions during the suggested practice problems [A,G].
-Students should show abilities for working as a member of an interdisciplinary team and ability to put the acquired theoretical knowledge into practice [F].
Objective 4:
-Student should prove they can work in a e-learning environment with several documents and knowledge sources (problems, study guide, specific bibliography, transparencies, discussion forums, Virtual Laboratory) and show ability for self-learning and autonomous work, ability to adapt to new situations, ability to communicate with non expert persons, and ability for information management [M,L].
Sklar, Bernard, Digital Communications: fundamentals and applications, Prentice Hall
New Jersey, 2001
Proakis, John, Digital Communications, McGraw-Hill, New Jersey, 2001
Socoró, J.C., Transparències de Sistemes de transmissió, Enginyeria La Salle, 2007
Socoró, J.C., Col-lecció de problemes resolts de Sistemes de transmissió, Enginyeria La Salle, 2007
Moran, J.A., Socoró, J.C., Cobo, G., Demostracions interactives de Sistemes de transmissió, Laboratori Virtual, http://serpens.salleurl.edu/, Enginyeria La Salle, 2007.