Computer Engineering MA, Simulation of Communication Systems, 7.5 higher education credits

Aim

The aim of this project course is to prepare the student for development of and research on today’s and tomorrow’s telecommunication systems. The course gives an experience of performance analysis by means of computer simulation of communication systems, by means of tools such as MATLAB and Simulink. This may include simulation of stochastic processes, e.g. queuing systems, traffic sources, channel models, noise sources, and state-machine representation of algorithms, presumably at the physical layer and data link layer. A real-world project is studied within an application area such as cellular communications, modems for broadband access, wireless networks, short-range communication, digital TV transmission, IP-TV or IP-telephony.

Course objectives

When you finish this course you will:
- know how to use simulation tools to simulate stochastic processes, as well as to analyze the capacity and the performance of a digital communication systems, for example to investigate the effect of modifying the communication protocol in the system, primarily those involved with the physical transmission, multiaccess technology and/or source coding.
- know to describe ordinary mathematical models of channels and data sources, and for ordinary data transmission algorithms in the area of tele- and data communication,
- know to formulate relevant issues, and to plan and go through a smaller development or research project with the aim to find answers to the problems posed,
- be capable of independently deriving his/her own conclusions based on the results obtained from the simulation,
- be capable of delivering the reports from the project on time
- know to implement theoretical knowledge from previous courses in a project based on a real life situation,
- know how to search and refer to sources, for example standardization documents, articles from journals and other literature, and
- know how to present the work done in a written form, as a technical report whose structure and quality are comparable to technical or scientific reports, as well as in an oral form.

Content

Basic part:
Simulation of stochastic processes using Matlab and Simulink
Channel models and data source models
Bit error rate and capacity analysis
State-of-the-art communication protocols, standards and algorithms.

Specialization part:
Theory study, problem formulation, method and models, simulation results and conclusions are presented orally as well as in a project report.

Entry requirements

Computer Engineering BA (AB), 30 HE credits, including the course Computer Networks, 7.5 HE credits, courses in programming, 15 HE credits, Wireless Internet Access, 7.5 HE credits; Mathematics BA (A) 22.5 HE credits, including the courses Mathematical Statistics, 7.5 HE credits, Transformation Theory, 7.5 HE credits, or Electrical Engineering BA (A) Signals and Systems, 7.5 HE credits.

Selection rules and procedures

The selection process is in accordance with the Higher Education Ordinance and the local order of admission.

Teaching form

The whole course requires 200 hours of work, of which 5% is time for supervising and the rest is the student's work. The number of hours for supervision depends on the number of students and will be given in the schedule for the course.

Examination form

3 hp, I101: Homework assignments
Grade: Fail (F) or Pass (P).

4.5 hp, P101: Project
Grade: Fail (F) or Pass (P).

Grading system

Seven-grade scale, A, B, C, D, E, Fx and F. Fx and F represent fail levels.