Programme Structure

The duration of the programme is 2 years.  The mode of study is full time. 

DETAILS OF SYLLABUS

Semester 1

TE 561                        Digital Signal Processing    (6 credits)

Review: digital filtering and deterministic spectral estimation. Random signals: amplitude properties, cdf, pdf, variance and general moments, stationarity, ergodicity and independence. Auto and cross correlation functions, effect of linear systems, Wiener-Kinchine theorem, auto and cross power spectral densities, role in system identification. Spectral estimation: bias-variance trade-off resolution, periodogram, averaged periodogram and Blackman-Tukey estimators, application to spectrum analyser. Model-based methods, linear prediction, application to speech coding. Adaptive signal processing: Wiener filtering, method of steepest descent, LMS algorithm, properties, applications, RLS family. DSP architectures: DSP devices, precision, structures and performance.

TE 563            Information Theory and Coding     (6 credits)

The statistical nature of communication; elements of information theory of discrete systems - information measures, memoryless and memory sources, the noiseless coding theorem; methods of source coding; information theory of continuous systems; Shannon's capacity theorem and its interpretation; comparison of communication systems with the ideal; applications of information theory in communications and signal processing.

TE 571                        RF and Microwave Circuits                  (6 credits)

Matrix description of high-frequency circuits, ABCD and S-parameters, examples of circuits. Smith chart formulation and use; lumped element, single stub and double-stub matching techniques. Stripline technology; microstrip components, cross-talk (coupling) effects. High frequency amplifier design; matching, stability and oscillation conditions, 3rd order intercept point, feedback and feed-forward distortion control. Digital radio techniques; receiver architecture, frequency synthesis, direct digital synthesis, software radio

TE 581                        Digital Networks and Protocols     (6 credits)

Network classification (broadcast versus switched), WANs, MANs and LANs. Generic switching philosophies (circuit, message, packet). Generic network topologies (star, tree, mesh, bus ring). Transmission media. Network applications. Layered networks and the OSI 7-layer reference model. Role of service primitives in layered networks. Interconnected networks: bridges, switches, routers, gateways. Network protocols: error control (stop and wait, go-back-N and selective repeat ARQ), flow control, routing, congestion control, connection oriented and connectionless protocols, X.25 and IP/TCP. WANs: connectivity and capacity, circuit switched and packet switched public networks, multiplexing (SDH), switching, signalling (CCS7), B-ISDN and ATM, broadband local loop (e.g. xDSL, FTTx, cable, HFC). LANs: topologies, Ethernet, token-passing, performance calculations.

 Semester  2

TE 562            Fiber Optic Transmission Systems           (6 credits)

Overview of optical communications systems and basic components. Optical Fibres: types of fibre, simple ray model, Snell's Law, numerical aperture, number of modes, intermodal dispersion and fibre bandwidth, chromatic dispersion, waveguide dispersion and their effect on fibre bandwidth. Attenuation and dispersion characteristics of fibre - impact of choice of optical source wavelength and detector. Fibre jointing and interconnections. Optical sources: LEDs and lasers, review of the development of laser structures. Gain curve. Structures for single wavelength operation. Modulation response of lasers (simple analysis using rate equations). Description of basic principles of operation of DFB lasers. Coupling of input signal to optical fibre. Optical Transmitters: requirements for stable pulsed laser operation, relaxation oscillations, chirp, use of optical modulators. Optical Receivers: principles of photodiode operation, requirements for high speed photodetection, optical design of PIN photodiodes, signal-to-noise performance of photo-receivers, simple relationship between bit error rate and receiver signal-to-noise performance. Performance of Optical Fibre Links: power budget, timing budget, effect of chirp and polarisation on system bandwidth, requirements of (i) high data rate links, (ii) wavelength division multiplexing, (iii) metropolitan area networks and (iv) local area networks and optical Ethernet.                                     

TE 574             Wireless Communication  Networks      (6 credits)

Introduction to wireless communications networks, Communications Spectrum and Spectrum Management. Wireless Local Area Networks (WLAN) and standards; implementations and performance. Wireless Local Loop (WLL); Applications and Technology. Broadband Wireless Access (BWA). RF Design Guidelines, Design Process and Methodology; System Components Radio Network Planning Considerations. Network Design Guidance.

TE 576            Satellite and Broadcast Networks  (6 credits)

Satellite Communications: Overview of developments in digital radio networks for fixed and mobile services. Convergence between broadcast systems and other fixed services. Integrated service provision, generic service classes. Introduction to satellite systems for fixed and mobile services. Orbits mechanics and coverage. Satellite and payload design. Earth and satellite geometry, propagation factors, interference, antennas, modulation, coding and multiple access techniques including FDMA, TDMA and CDMA. Link budgets including on-board processing. Frequency reuse in multiple spot beams. Broadcasting: Baseband signal formats, RGB, picture grades, SDTV, HDTV, SNR requirements, subjective testing. Source encoding: MPEG video and audio. MPEG data: Data broadcasting, Pay-TV and SI, encryption, multiplexing. Terrestrial transmission and coverage: link budgets, propagation effects, diffraction, ducting, availability requirements, coverage planning. DBS transmission and coverage. Terrestrial system modulation and channel coding: OFDM, error correction, immunity to multipath, mobile use. DBS modulation and coding: QPSK, FEC, MF-TDMA, on-board multiplexing. Terrestrial frequency planning: frequency assignments, delivering the digital multiplex, noise and interference constraints. Terrestrial and satellite receiver technology. Satellite return-path systems: cables and radio return paths, principles and emerging standards. Future directions: MPEG4, multi-media and mobile.

TE 584            Network Management and Planning      (6 credits)

Network Planning Process: Phases in the Planning Process, Quality Norms, Restrictions, Resources and Fundamental Data Forecasting Methods, Forecasting Traffic Volume and Dispersion Establishment of Traffic Matrices, Optimization of Local Exchange: Forecasting Subscriber Distributions Size of Exchange Location of Exchange, Exchange Planning

Network Dimensioning: Routing Principles, Traffic Measurements for Network Dimensioning, Dimensioning of Alternate Routes, Dimensioning of a Multi-Services Network, Dimensioning of a Cellular-Mobile Network

Simulation of Network Performance and Reliability: Simulation Modelling, Monte Carlo Simulation, Discrete-Event Simulation, Simulation of a Circuit-Switched Alternate Routing System, Simulation of a Multi-Services Broadband System, Simulation of Cellular-Mobile Traffic

Multimedia Support in Shared Media LAN and MAN: General Description and Standards, Transmission and Switching System Technology Services offered by Multimedia Communications

Quality of Service: Generalized QoS Framework, QoS Principles and Specifications, QoS in Networked Multimedia System, Resource Reservation Protocols 

Administration, Management and Services: Network Element and Network-Level OA&M, OA&M System Technologies, configuration management, fault management, performance management, security management.

TE 592            Project Unit 1: Literature Review and Project Plan          (6 credits)

Students may choose a title from a departmental list or may propose a title originating with themselves or their company. In the latter case students must provide a one-page summary of the project giving aims, an anticipated methodology and the resources required. The proposal must be submitted to the Projects Coordinator who will determine its academic suitability obtaining the advice of other members of departmental staff as necessary and appropriate. Proposals found to be academically sound will be approved providing that both the required resources and a supervising member of staff with appropriate expertise are available.

A small number of formal lectures relating to the formulation and presentation of project documents and literature search techniques will be offered.

Students will keep personal log-books for their project work in which they will record the day-to-day details of their work and informal notes of meetings with supervisors. The notes of meetings will be agreed and initialled by supervisors.

Students will submit a report containing (i) a detailed critical literature review of the appropriate technical field, (ii) a specification of the project objectives/intended outcomes and a project plan.

TE 594            Project Unit 2:  Implementation/Completion       (36 credits)

Students will execute their project following closely the plan submitted in Semester 2. Students will be allowed to propose modifications of the plan but a closely argued case for such modifications must be submitted to the project supervisor. If the modifications are approved by the supervisor then the modified work plan will supercede the original plan and all subsequent progress will be judged against it.

 A written Final Report will be submitted in September and a detailed oral presentation of this report will be made.