ELECTENG 732 : Communication Systems
Engineering
2021 Semester One (1213) (15 POINTS)
Course Prescription
Course Overview
Capabilities Developed in this Course
| Capability 1: | Disciplinary Knowledge and Practice |
| Capability 2: | Critical Thinking |
| Capability 3: | Solution Seeking |
| Capability 4: | Communication and Engagement |
| Capability 5: | Independence and Integrity |
| Capability 6: | Social and Environmental Responsibilities |
Learning Outcomes
- Understand and describe the general structure of a communication system and be able to identify its blocks. Demonstrate ability to describe the main functions of all blocks and their interconnections. Understand signal representations in time, phasor and frequency domain from application point of view in communications systems. Demonstrate an understanding of terms modulation, demodulation, encryption and decryption. (Capability 1.1, 2.1, 2.2, 3.1 and 3.2)
- Understand and critically evaluate the main issues related to theoretical analysis of amplitude modulation (AM) methods and related designs of modulators and demodulators. Be able to analyze AM signals behaviors in time, phasor and frequency domain. Be able to distinguish various types of AM techniques and systems and understand the reasons for their design from the application point of view in communication systems. Understand the DSB-LC, DSB-SC, VSB, and SSB techniques and be able to present related signals in mathematical forms. In depth understanding of the time, frequency and phasor domain representation of the signals obtained by these techniques is expected. (Capability 1.1, 2.1, 2.2, 3.1, 5.2 and 6.1)
- Identify and analyse the main issues related to theoretical analysis of angle modulation methods distinguishing the frequency modulation from the phase modulation. Be able to understand the similarity of the FM and PM signals and analyze FM signals behaviors in time, phasor and frequency domain. Be able to design FM communication systems that fulfill the frequency domain requirements. Understand the operation of superheterodyne receiver and be able to make its structure and specify communication functions of each block. Be able to process mathematically all signals in the receiver building blocks both in time and frequency domain, that leads to the design of the superheterodyne receiver. (Capability 1.1, 2.1, 2.2, 3.1, 5.2 and 6.2)
- Demonstrate an understanding of the learned modulation methods and their behaviors in noisy environment by characterizing the communication waveform channel as an additive White Gaussian nise channel, and developing the skills of designing a channel that has a controllable level of signal-to-noise ratio. Be able to evaluate theoretical performances of an example AM communication system in the presence of noise and relate them to the characteristics of practical systems. (Capability 1.1, 2.1, 2.2, 3.2, 4.1, 5.2 and 6.2)
- Demonstrate an understanding of of the importance of analog-to-digital conversion for application in communication systems. Understand the essence of sampling theorem and be able to apply it to the signal processing in communication systems. Acquire meaning of terms sampling rate, sampling frequency and aliasing distortion. (Capability 1.1, 2.1, 2.2, 3.2, 4.1, 5.2 and 6.2)
- Understand the theoretical aspects of the PAM and be able to apply to processing of message signals. Demonstrate ability to represent a PAM signal in time and frequency domain and understand the problem of distortion. Be able to design a TDM multi-user system based on the understanding of the PAM modulation. (Capability 1.1, 2.2, 3.2, 4.1, 5.2 and 6.2)
- Develop and demonstrate ability to present a block schematic of a PCM system and explain operation of each block. Understand terms sampler, quantizer (uniform and non-uniform) and binary encoder and be able to explain their operations. Acquire practical understanding of the importance of PCM modulation in design of a multi-user TDM system like T1 or E1 system. (Capability 1.1, 2.1, 2.2, 3.1, 4.1, 5.2 and 6.2)
- Understand the procedure of generating baseband signals and be able to represent them in time and frequency domain. Develop ability to design a matched filter receiver based on the theory of linear time invariant systems. Understand the importance of the filter impulse response and be able to define this response for the matched filter receiver. Based on understanding of theoretical matched filter operation be able to design a receiver with an integrate and dump circuit incorporated. (Capability 1.1, 2.1, 2.2, 3.1, 4.1, 5.2 and 6.2)
- Demonstrate an understanding of the matched filter receiver operation in the presence of the noise in the communication channel. Be able to make a block schematic of the receiver and explain the operation of all blocks. Be able to perform statistical analysis of the random samples at the output of the matched filter and determine the probability of error as a function of the signal-to-noise ratio in the channel. Be able to explain the phenomenon of inter-symbol interference and procedures of evaluating its effects based on eye pattern measurements. (Capability 1.1, 2.1, 2.2, 3.1, 4.1, 5.2 and 6.2)
- Analyse and evaluate the phenomenon of inter-symbol interference and procedures of evaluating its effects based on eye pattern measurements. Understand Nyquist’s Criterion for distortionless transmission and be able to apply this criterion for digital signal transmission in real communication systems. (Capability 1.1, 2.1, 2.2, 3.2, 4.1, 5.2 and 6.2)
Assessments
| Assessment Type | Percentage | Classification |
|---|---|---|
| Final Exam | 50% | Individual Examination |
| Tests | 20% | Individual Coursework |
| Laboratories | 4% | Group & Individual Coursework |
| Quizzes | 6% | Individual Coursework |
| Assignments | 20% | Individual Coursework |
| 5 types | 100% |
| Assessment Type | Learning Outcome Addressed | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | |
| Final Exam | ||||||||||
| Tests | ||||||||||
| Laboratories | ||||||||||
| Quizzes | ||||||||||
| Assignments | ||||||||||
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, in a typical week you can expect 3 hours of lectures, a 1 hour tutorial, 2 hours of reading and thinking about the content and 4 hours of work on assignments and/or test preparation.
Delivery Mode
Campus Experience
Attendance is required at scheduled activities including labs and tutorials to complete components of the course.
Lectures will be available as recordings. Other learning activities including tutorials will be available as recordings.
The course will include live online events including group discussions and tutorials.
Attendance on campus is required for the tests, quizzes, laboratories, assignments and exam.
The activities for the course are scheduled as a standard weekly timetable.
Learning Resources
Health & Safety
Students should comply with the health and safety requirements related to the use of laboratory space in the ECSE Department and attend induction sessions in the Department if required.
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.
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.
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 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.
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.
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.