Digital communications has become a key enabling technology in the realisation of efficient multimedia systems, wireless and wired telephony, computer networks, digital subscriber loop technology and other communication and storage devices of the information age. The course provides an introduction to the theory of digital communications and its application to the real world. Emphasis will be placed on covering design and analysis techniques used in source and channel coding, modulation and demodulation, detection of signal in the presence of noise, error detection and correction, synchronisation, and spread spectrum. An introduction to information theory and recent development in the area will also be covered. Lectures will be supplemented by a mandatory lab that applies the theoretical concepts and algorithms learned in the course to practical applications.

Topics covered in the course will be chosen from:

• Review of Probability and Random Variables
• Introduction to Stochastic Processes and Noise
• Introduction to Information theory
• Shannon’s Source Coding and Channel Coding theorems
• Source Coding: Lossless Coding (Huffman, Arithmetic, and Dictionary Codes)
• Baseband Transmission
• Binary Signal Detection and Matched filtering
• Intersymbol Interference (ISI)
• Channel Capacity
• Digital Bandpass Modulation and Demodulation Schemes
• Error Performance Analysis of M-ary schemes
• Channel Coding: Linear Block, Cyclic, and Convolutional Codes
• Decoding Techniques for Convolutional Codes, Viterbi Algorithm
• Application of Convolutional codes to Compact Disc (CD)
• Synchronisation Techniques
• Spread Spectrum Modulation: Direct Sequence and Frequency Hopping

Bernard Sklar, Digital Communications: Fundamentals and Applications, NY: Prentice Hall, 2001, 2nd edition, ISBN # 9780130847881.

1. John G. Proakis, Digital Communications, Third Edition, McGraw Hill.
2. Simon Haykin, Digital Communications, John Wiley & Sons.
3. Marvin K. Simon, Sami M. Hinedi, and William C. Lindsey, Digital Communication Techniques, NY: Prentice Hall, 1995.
4. Marvin E. Frerking, Digital Signal Processing in Communication Systems, NY: International Thomson Publishing (ITP), 1994

• Section E: Tuesdays and Thursdays, 14:30 - 16:00, CB 122

• Fridays, 10:30 - 13:30, LAS 3057

The lab is an integral part of the course. It is mandatory to attend the lab.