MSc Communications and Signal Processing

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE UNIT:

(1) Wireless Communications

Introduction to modern wireless communication systems and mobile networks (1 hour).

Revision on digital communication, stochastic process and information theory (2 hour).

Radio wave propagation: Path loss, shadowing and multipath fading (4 hours).

Wireless channel mitigation techniques: diversity and combining techniques (3 hours).

Multiple antennas (MIMO) wireless communication system (3 hours).

Link and system level simulation and software defined radio for wireless communication systems experimentation (3 hours).

(2) Mobile Networks

Multiple Access & Multiuser communication (4 hours).

Cellular concepts and system design (4 hours).

Radio Resource Management schemes (3 hours).

Recent advances in wireless and mobile network (3 hours).

Current and future mobile network standards (2 hours).
 

The course unit aims to:

• Develop an understanding on the basic and advanced principles of Wireless Communications and Mobile Networks.
• The unit addresses the issues of wireless communications and mobile networks in physical, link and network layers. The wireless channels will be explained with existing mitigation techniques.
• Multi-user communication systems will also be studied with an emphasis on the broadcast nature of wireless communications.
• Mobile networks modelling, design and optimisation will be covered, as well as existing and future mobile networks standards.

On successful completion of the course, a student will be able to:

ILO 1: Classify the different types of wireless channel models; calculate the channel parameters; and apply mitigating techniques.

ILO 2: Identify various diversity types and devise diversity achieving schemes.

ILO 3: Experiment and analyse system performance for wireless systems using computer simulation and other platforms.

ILO 4: Explain and design different types of mobile networks.

ILO 5: Describe various multiple access techniques and identify their strengths and weaknesses.

ILO 6: Discuss specifics of existing mobile networks and future system standard.

ILO 7: Explain the basic and advanced theories on wireless communications systems and mobile networks. 

Coursework: Two lab reports, 6 hours each, feedback provided within 3 weeks of submission.

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[1] A. Goldsmith, Wireless communications, Cambridge; Cambridge University Press, 2005.

[2] S. S. Haykin, Modern wireless communications, International ed. Upper Saddle River, N.J.; Pearson/Prentice Hall, 2004

[3] T. S. Rappaport, Wireless communications: principles and practice, 2nd ed. Upper Saddle River, N.J: Prentice Hall PTR, 2002.

[4] A. F. Molisch, Wireless communications, 2nd ed. Chichester, U.K: IEEE, 2011.

[5] E. Dahlman, 4G, LTE-advanced pro and the road to 5G, Third edition. London: Academic Press, 2016.

[6] H. Holma, A. Toskala, and T. Nakamura, Eds., 5G technology: 3GPP new radio, First edition. Hoboken, NJ: John Wiley & Sons, Inc., 2020.