Telecommunication Systems

Objectives

Provide the students with knowledge on current telecommunication networks in order to understand their main characteristics. 

The emphasis goes to the general architectures (both in terms of hardware and software) and to the way the networks are defined based on reference models. 

It is also an objective that the students become familiar with the various physical layers (guided, not guided, etc.) and feel the need for a data link layer as well as the medium access control sublayer to access a shared medium. For each layer (or sub-layer) some real networks are studied. It is important that the students acquire enough critical knowledge about the main technical choices made for each of the example networks. The theoretical syllabus goes up till the Network layer (excluding it). 

The laboratory part consists on learning how to use the socket interface both using TCP and UDP in order to provide the students of enough knowledge that will be important in future courses in the degree.

General characterization

Code

10480

Credits

6.0

Responsible teacher

Paulo da Costa Luís da Fonseca Pinto

Hours

Weekly - 5

Total - 62

Teaching language

Português

Prerequisites

There are no requirements

Bibliography

"Computer Networks", A. Tanenbaum & D. Wetherall, 5th ed, Prentice-Hall, 2011

Several tutorial documents available on the class web page.

Teaching method

The lectures consist mainly of the presentation of the theory, but they also include exercises and demonstrations of the use of the learned systems (e.g. 802.11).

In the lab classes the students learn Java and implement various projects where they use the network interface and apply their knowledge on error control and on the telecommunication’s network structure.

The weights of the theoretic and practical parts are 75% and 25%. There is a minimum of 9 and 9,5 points.

The theoretic part can be obtained by 3 assessment mid-term tests or a final exam

The practical component consists of various projects. Students should implement the various projects individually. The assessment of the final project is individual, covering the theoretical and practical aspects of the project. Student attendance of the practical classes is registered and only three absences are tolerated.

Evaluation method

The weights of the theoretic and practical parts are 75% and 25%. There is a minimum of 9 and 9,5 points.

The theoretic part can be obtained by 3 assessment mid-term tests or a final exam

The practical component consists of various projects. Students should implement the various projects individually. The assessment of the final project is individual, covering the theoretical and practical aspects of the project. Student attendance of the practical classes is registered and only three absences are tolerated.

Subject matter

Introduction 

  • Uses of Computer Networks: Network Hardware; Network Software; Reference Models; Example Networks; Introduction to IP, UDP, and TCP protocols.

The Physical Layer;

  • The Theoretical Basis for Data Communication; Wireless Communication; Communication satellites; The Public Switched Telephone Network; OFDM; The Mobile Telephone System; Fourth Generation (4G) and Fifth Generation (5G) Mobile Phones.

The Data Link Layer

  • Data Link Layer Design Issues; Error Detection and Correction; Elementary Data Link Protocols; Sliding Window Protocols. 

The Medium Access Control Sublayer

  • The Channel Allocation Problem; Multiple Access Protocols; Ethernet; Wireless LANs; Three other 802.11 standards: WiFi 5, WiFi 6, and WiFi 7; Bluetooth; RFID; Data Link Layer Switching.

The Mobile Telephone System

  • Architecture

Programs

Programs where the course is taught: