ELECTENG 726 : Digital Communications

Engineering

2020 Semester Two (1205) (15 POINTS)

Course Prescription

Advanced principles and techniques in digital transmission systems: base-band and pass-band digital systems. Geometric representation of signals: theory of orthonormal signals, correlation demodulators, optimal detector. Digital phase (PSK) and frequency (FSK) modulation. Digital communication systems with noise. Information theory, capacity theorem and applications. Signal and information coding: data compression, digital transmission, error detection and correction, block and convolutional codes. Noise, thermal noise, noise figure. Traffic theory. Digital networks and OSI model.

Course Overview

The courses ELECTENG 726 and ELECTENG 741 deal with aspects of digital communication systems. They follow on from the Part IV first semester course ELECTENG 732 Communication Systems. ELECTENG 726 is intended for undergraduate students enrolled in the BE(Hons) Part IV, whereas ELECTENG 741 is intended for postgraduate students enrolled in the PGCertEng/MEngSt/ME.

Course Requirements

Prerequisite: ELECTENG 303 or 331, and 732 Restriction: ELECTENG 426, 741

Capabilities Developed in this Course

Capability 1: Disciplinary Knowledge and Practice
Capability 2: Critical Thinking
Capability 3: Solution Seeking

Learning Outcomes

By the end of this course, students will be able to:
  1. An ability to describe the structure a digital communication system and operation of main blocks. (Capability 1.1, 2.1 and 3.1)
  2. Demonstrate an understanding of of orthonormal basis functions, the application to the concept of correlator receivers and the formation of signal-space diagrams for digital modulated signals. (Capability 1.1, 2.1 and 3.2)
  3. Demonstrate an understanding of of digital modulation schemes including calculations of the error-rate performance in the presence of AWGN. (Capability 1.1, 2.1 and 3.2)
  4. An ability to describe and explain the OSI layer model for use in telecommunication systems design. (Capability 1.1, 2.2 and 3.2)
  5. Be able to formulate expressions for telecommunications Quality of Service (blocking probability)and use these to assess the performance of voice call trunking systems. (Capability 1.1, 2.1, 3.1 and 3.2)
  6. Develop an understanding of various modern coding schemes, such as Hoffman, Hamming and convolution codes, and an ability to construct these codes mathematically. (Capability 1.1, 2.1, 2.2, 3.1 and 3.2)

Assessments

Assessment Type Percentage Classification
Quizzes 30% Individual Coursework
Laboratories 10% Individual Coursework
Final Exam 60% Individual Test
Assessment Type Learning Outcome Addressed
1 2 3 4 5 6
Quizzes
Laboratories
Final Exam

Workload Expectations

This course is a standard 15 point course and students are expected to spend 10 hours per week involved in each 15 point course that they are enrolled in.

For this course, you can expect 36 hours of lectures, 6 hours of laboratories, 5 hours of reading and thinking about the content (per week) and 20 hours of work on assignments and/or test preparation.

Digital Resources

Course materials are made available in a learning and collaboration tool called Canvas which also includes reading lists and lecture recordings (where available).

Please remember that the recording of any class on a personal device requires the permission of the instructor.

Academic Integrity

The University of Auckland will not tolerate cheating, or assisting others to cheat, and views cheating in coursework as a serious academic offence. The work that a student submits for grading must be the student's own work, reflecting their learning. Where work from other sources is used, it must be properly acknowledged and referenced. This requirement also applies to sources on the internet. A student's assessed work may be reviewed against online source material using computerised detection mechanisms.

Learning Continuity

In the event of an unexpected disruption we undertake to maintain the continuity and standard of teaching and learning in all your courses throughout the year. If there are unexpected disruptions the University has contingency plans to ensure that access to your course continues and your assessment is fair, and not compromised. Some adjustments may need to be made in emergencies. You will be kept fully informed by your course co-ordinator, and if disruption occurs you should refer to the University Website for information about how to proceed.

Class Representatives

Class representatives are students tasked with representing student issues to departments, faculties, and the wider university. If you have a complaint about this course, please contact your class rep who will know how to raise it in the right channels. See your departmental noticeboard for contact details for your class reps.

Inclusive Learning

All students are asked to discuss any impairment related requirements privately, face to face and/or in written form with the course coordinator, lecturer or tutor.

Student Disability Services also provides support for students with a wide range of impairments, both visible and invisible, to succeed and excel at the University. For more information and contact details, please visit the Student Disability Services’ website at http://disability.auckland.ac.nz

Special Circumstances

If your ability to complete assessed coursework is affected by illness or other personal circumstances outside of your control, contact a member of teaching staff as soon as possible before the assessment is due.

If your personal circumstances significantly affect your performance, or preparation, for an exam or eligible written test, refer to the University’s aegrotat or compassionate consideration page: https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/students/academic-information/exams-and-final-results/during-exams/aegrotat-and-compassionate-consideration.html.

This should be done as soon as possible and no later than seven days after the affected test or exam date.

Student Feedback

At the end of every semester students will be invited to give feedback on the course and teaching through a tool called SET or Qualtrics. The lecturers and course co-ordinators will consider all feedback and respond with summaries and actions.

Your feedback helps teachers to improve the course and its delivery for future students.

Class Representatives in each class can take feedback to the department and faculty staff-student consultative committees.

Student Charter and Responsibilities

The Student Charter assumes and acknowledges that students are active participants in the learning process and that they have responsibilities to the institution and the international community of scholars. The University expects that students will act at all times in a way that demonstrates respect for the rights of other students and staff so that the learning environment is both safe and productive. For further information visit Student Charter (https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/students/forms-policies-and-guidelines/student-policies-and-guidelines/student-charter.html).

Disclaimer

Elements of this outline may be subject to change. The latest information about the course will be available for enrolled students in Canvas.

In this course you may be asked to submit your coursework assessments digitally. The University reserves the right to conduct scheduled tests and examinations for this course online or through the use of computers or other electronic devices. Where tests or examinations are conducted online remote invigilation arrangements may be used. The final decision on the completion mode for a test or examination, and remote invigilation arrangements where applicable, will be advised to students at least 10 days prior to the scheduled date of the assessment, or in the case of an examination when the examination timetable is published.

Published on 14/07/2020 06:31 p.m.