SCC.351 - Advanced Communication Systems
This 10-week module was offered as part of the third year syllabus of the BEng (Hons) in Communication Systems and Electronics, which was discontinued in 2015.
The first thematic section of the module introduced students to the stochastic description of wireless propagation channels. Error probability expressions for wireless systems that employ high order modulation schemes, were also explained and techniques to further improve performance in poor channel conditions were analysed. The module covered both linear and non-linear equalisation, orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM), basic error control coding and decoding, and diversity techniques with an emphasis on space diversity, beam-forming and multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) systems. Access methods, including spread spectrum techniques, such as Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA), and contention-based approaches, such as Carrier Sense Multiple Access (CSMA), were described.
The second thematic section focused on system-level design concepts for mobile telephone systems and wireless data networks. The cellular principle was presented, fundamental traffic theory concepts were introduced and cell splitting as well as cell sectoring were explained. Design considerations concerned with spectrum regulation, frequency planning and resource allocation were also discussed.
The third thematic section concentrated on standards, which specify the operational basis of wireless systems at all communication and networking levels. Examples included the IEEE 802.11 (WiFi) and IEEE 802.16 (WiMAX) standards for wireless data networks as well as third and fourth generation standards, such as GPRS/EDGE and LTE, for mobile communication services. Furthermore, topics that encompass a broad range of emerging technologies, such as ad-hoc networks, cooperative systems and cognitive radio methods, were briefly touched.
I was the module convenor of SCC.351 during the two years that it ran. Module statistics that are shown below include the number of students who were enrolled on the module, the number of students who completed the module evaluation report, and the average score in the category "module as a whole".
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2014*Shared with Dr L. Musavian
Enrolled: 4; Responded to survey: 1; Average score: 4.00 out of 5.
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2013*Shared with Dr L. Musavian
Enrolled: 4; Responded to survey: 3; Average score: 5 out of 5.