ENCT253

Data Communication

Syllabus

  1. Introduction (4 hours)
    1. Analog data communication, data representation, data flows
    2. Evolution of data communication
    3. A communication model, data communication model
    4. Networks (LAN, WAN), simplified network architecture, the OSI model
    5. Data communication and networking for today's enterprise
  2. Data Communication Fundamentals (6 hours)
    1. Analog and digital data
    2. Analog signals, periodic and aperiodic signals, periodic signal characteristics (time, frequency domain)
    3. Fourier series representation of periodic signals, Fourier transform of aperiodic signals, digital signals and their characteristics
    4. Analog and digital transmission, transmission mode, transmission impairments (attenuation, distortion, noise)
    5. Data rate limits: channel capacity, Nyquist bandwidth, Shannon capacity formula
    6. Performance of network (bandwidth, throughput, latency, jitter)
  3. Transmission Media and Data Compression (8 hours)
    1. Guided transmission media: co-axial cable, twisted pair, optical fiber
    2. Unguided transmission media: radio waves, microwaves, infrared
    3. Antenna basics, satellite communication, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi
    4. Wireless propagation (groundwave, sky wave, line of sight), frequency bands
    5. Error detection and correction: parity, check sum, cyclic redundancy check, hamming code
    6. Data compression: lossy and lossless
  4. Signal Encoding Technique (15 hours)
    1. Analog data, analog signals: modulation and its need, AM, FM, PM
    2. Analog data, digital signals: PAM, PWM, PPM, PCM, DPCM, DM
    3. Digital data, analog signal: ASK, FSK, PSK, QPSK, QAM
    4. Digital data, digital signal: RZ, NRZ, AMI, Manchester, differential Manchester, B8ZS, HDB3
  5. Multiplexing and Switching (8 hours)
    1. Introduction to multiplexing, application of multiplexing
    2. Frequency division multiple access
    3. Time division multiple access
    4. Asymmetric digital subscriber line, XDSL
    5. Spread spectrum: DHSS, FHSS, CDMA
    6. Switched communication network, connection oriented and connectionless
    7. Switching devices: types, importance and application
    8. Circuit switching network: circuit switching concepts, message switching
    9. Packet switching: virtual switching, datagram switching
  6. Cellular Wireless Communications and Latest Trends (4 hours)
    1. Overview of 1G, 2G, 3G and 4G
    2. Cellular technology fundamentals: cell, frequency-reuse, cluster, adjacent cell interference, co-channel interference, handoff strategies, architecture of GSM basics
    3. Introduction to 5G networks, software defined networking, IoT communication, cloud computing and virtualization in data communication

Practicals

  1. Signal analysis using MATLAB
  2. Implementation of a small network using hub and switch in physical or simulation environment
  3. Analog modulation generation and reconstruction
  4. Pulse modulation generation and reconstruction
  5. Conversion of a given binary sequence into different line coding
  6. Digital modulation (ASK, FSK, PSK) generation and reconstruction