Communication Systems

This subject has the following teaching availabilities in 2016:

200 hours

Prerequisites for this subject are:

AND

One of the following subjects:

Anti-requisite for this subject is:

For the purposes of considering request for Reasonable Adjustments under the Disability Standards for Education (Cwth 2005), and Student Support and Engagement Policy, academic requirements for this subject are articulated in the Subject Overview, Learning Outcomes, Assessment and Generic Skills sections of this entry.

It is University policy to take all reasonable steps to minimise the impact of disability upon academic study, and reasonable adjustments will be made to enhance a student's participation in the University's programs. Students who feel their disability may impact on meeting the requirements of this subject are encouraged to discuss this matter with a Faculty Student Adviser and Student Equity and Disability Support: http://services.unimelb.edu.au/disability

AIMS

This subject provides an introduction to the analysis and design of telecommunication signals and systems, in the presence of uncertainty. The emphasis is on understanding the basic concepts that underpin both analog and digital formats. The material covered is crucial to understanding how modern wired and wireless communication systems work at the physical layer. This is a core subject for the Master of Engineering (Electrical) course.

INDICATIVE CONTENT

Topics to be covered include:

• Transmission through linear time-invariant channels; magnitude and phase distortion; basic equalisation; low-pass representations of band-pass signals and systems; group and phase delays
• Time- and frequency-domain analysis of analog modulation and demodulation schemes, including conventional amplitude modulation (AM), double sideband suppressed carrier (DSBSC), single sideband, and frequency modulation (FM); threshold effects in AM and FM
• Random processes in frequency domain; signal-to-noise ratios (SNR’s) in DSBSC, AM and FM
• Nyquist’s sampling theorem; quantisation and signal-to-quantisation noise ratios
• Digital modulation schemes including baseband pulse amplitude modulation, amplitude-shift keying and frequency-shift keying, synchronisation, matched filter receivers for additive white Gaussian noise channels, bit-error rate analysis;
• Comparisons of analog and digital schemes in terms of spectral efficiency, transmission power, demodulated SNR and complexity.

INTENDED LEARNING OUTCOMES (ILO's)

Having completed this subject it is expected that the student be able to:

1. Qualitatively describe the basic functional blocks of a telecommunication system and their attributes
2. Quantitatively analyse the overall performance of analog and digital communication schemes, in terms of signal-to-noise ratios, transmission bandwidth
3. Assess the relative merits of different modulation and demodulation techniques, and make design choices on this basis
4. Use software and hardware simulation tools to understand the properties and performance of simple communication systems

• One written examination, not exceeding three hours at the end of semester, worth 70%; ILO's 1 to 3 are assessed via the final examination
• Continuous assessment of submitted workshop reports, not exceeding 20 pages over the semester (approximately 25-30 hours of work per student), worth 20%; ILO 4 is assessed through the workshop reports
• A one-hour mid-semester test, worth 10%; ILO's 1 to 3 are assessed via the mid-semester test.

Hurdle requirement: Students must pass the written exam to pass the subject.

TBA

This subject is not available as a breadth subject.

Upon completion of this subject, students will have developed the following skills:

• Ability to apply knowledge of basic science and engineering fundamentals
• In-depth technical competence in at least one engineering discipline
• Ability to undertake problem identification, formulation and solution
• Ability to utilise a systems approach to design and operational performance
• Capacity for independent critical thought, rational inquiry and self-directed learning
• Ability to communicate effectively, with the engineering team and with the community at large

LEARNING AND TEACHING METHODS

The subject is delivered through lectures, tutorials and workshop classes.

INDICATIVE KEY LEARNING RESOURCES

The subject is delivered through lectures, tutorials and workshop classes.

CAREERS / INDUSTRY LINKS

Exposure to simulation and measurement tools and teamwork through the five workshops.