COMP38512: Digital Wireless Communication and Networks (2012-2013)

This is an archived syllabus from 2012-2013

View 2018-2019 syllabus.

Digital Wireless Communication and Networks

Level: 3
Credit rating: 10
Pre-requisites: COMP28411
Co-requisites: No Co-requisites
Duration: 11 weeks
Lectures: 6 in total, 1 per fortnight See 'Modules' below.
Course Leader: Nick Filer
Course leader: Nick Filer

Additional staff: view all staff

Timetable

Semester	Event	Location	Day	Time	Group
Sem 2	Lecture	1.5	Tue	13:00 - 14:00	-
Sem 2 w1-3	Lecture	LF15	Fri	09:00 - 10:00	-
Sem 2 w4+	Lab	Toot 1	Fri	09:00 - 10:00	-

Assessment Breakdown

Exam: 60%
Coursework: 40%
Lab: 0%

Themes to which this unit belongs

Mobile Computing and Networks

Introduction

The explosion of mobile computing driven first by the mobile telephone and now also by PDA's and laptop computers using Bluetooth, WiFi and soon WiMAX is changing the way we interact with one another and with machines. But how does wireless networking work? How is it distinct/similar to wired networks?

The course uses guided self-study so you need to be motivated to learn for yourself. A main book supplemented and enhanced with electronic resources are used.

Aims

The core 2nd year networking course has introduced the background that all computer scientists need. That course is almost entirely about wired networks. This course extends the networking to wireless networks which are introduced. The course also covers digital telephone networks. The main goal is for students to understand how today's wireless local area networks (WLANs) operate and to be aware of current developments in this domain.

Objectives

To develop awareness and experience of:

The way in which wireless communications has developed since the early 1900's.

To learn the basics about how radio waves are propagated from a transmitter to a receiver.

To learn basic information about modulation of different signals onto radio waves.

To learn about the techniques used to modulate digital data onto radio waves.

To overview the different types of digital communications in use today.

To understand how wireless local area networks (WLAN) operate today.

To gain insight into current developments in WLANs.

Programme outcome	Unit learning outcomes	Assessment
A3 A5 B1 B3	Have a knowledge and understanding of the architecture and communication protocols for wireless networks used in both fixed and mobile applications.	Examination
A3 A5 B1 B3	Have an understanding of the latest developments in wireless network protocols and technologies.	Examination
A3 A5 B1 B3	Be able to aid in the design and implementation of systems using wireless communications technology.	Examination

Reading List

Core Text

Title: Mobile communications (2nd edition)
Author: Schiller, Jochen
ISBN: 0321123816
Publisher: Pearson Education Limited
Edition: 2nd
Year: 2003

Supplementary Text

Title: Introduction to digital communications
Author: Kurzweil, Jack
ISBN: 0471157724
Publisher: John Wiley and Sons Ltd
Edition:
Year: 2000

Supplementary Text

Title: Digital communications: fundamentals and applications (2nd edition)
Author: Sklar, Bernard
ISBN: 0130847887
Publisher: Prentice -Hall
Edition: 2nd
Year: 2001

Supplementary Text

Title: Digital communications: design for the real world
Author: Bateman, Andrew
ISBN: 0201343010
Publisher: Pearson Education Limited
Edition: 2nd
Year: 1999

Supplementary Text

Title: Digital communication (3rd edition)
Author: Barry, John R. and Edward A. Lee and David G. Messerschmidt
ISBN: 9780792375487
Publisher: Springer
Edition: 3rd
Year: 2003

Supplementary Text

Title: Telecommunication networks: protocols, modeling and analysis
Author: Schwartz, Mischa
ISBN: 020116423X
Publisher: Addison Wesley
Edition:
Year: 1987

Supplementary Text

Title: Computer networks (5th edition)
Author: Tanenbaum, Andrew S. and David Wetherall
ISBN: 9780132126953
Publisher: Prentice Hall
Edition: 5th
Year: 2010

Supplementary Text

Title: 802.11 wireless networks: the definitive guide (2nd edition)
Author: Gast, Matthew S.
ISBN: 0596100523
Publisher: O'Reilly
Edition: 2nd
Year: 2005

Supplementary Text

Title: Introduction to wireless and mobile systems (3rd edition)
Author: Agrawal, Dharma Prakesh and Qing-An Zeng
ISBN: 9781439062050
Publisher: Cengage Learning
Edition: 3rd
Year: 2010

Supplementary Text

Title: Wireless communications: principles and practice (2nd edition)
Author: Rappaport, Theodore S.
ISBN: 0130422320
Publisher: Pearson Education (US)
Edition: 2nd
Year: 2002