Module ICE-4411:
Broadband Communication Systems
Module Facts
Run by School of Computer Science and Electronic Engineering
20.000 Credits or 10.000 ECTS Credits
Semester 1
Organiser: Dr Roger Giddings
Overall aims and purpose
This module aims to provide students with an in-depth understanding of current and emerging broadband communications techniques employed in local, access and backbone networks. Particular emphasis will be focused on the following aspects: 1) fundamental concepts, 2) operating principles and practice of widely implemented communications systems; 3) importance of emerging techniques and technologies and 4) requirements and challenges for future deployment of broadband communications systems.
Course content
•Fundamentals: Digital and analogue signal concepts in both the time and frequency domains, circuit and packet switching, transmission channel properties, digital line codes, carrier modulation/demodulation, transmission media, transmitter and receiver architectures, Shannon’s Law, key factors affecting transmission performance, multiplexing and multiple access methods (TDM, FDM, WDM, FDMA, TDMA), The OSI reference model, general network architectures of communication systems. •The Core Network: Optical transmission systems, optical fibres (light propagation, loss, dispersion effects), WDM and DWDM, PDH and SDH/SONET systems, network topologies. •Fixed Access Networks: Fixed access evolution, ADSL, VDSL, OFDM, Fibre-to-the-Home, Passive Optical Network (PON) evolution and standards, optical link budgets. •Mobile Access Networks: characteristics of mobile channels, the cellular principle, radio access technologies, radio access network architecture, mobile backhaul and fronthaul. •Local Area Networks: Fixed LANs (implementation evolution, cabling, Ethernet standards, MAC protocols, hubs/switches), Wireless LANs (Wi-Fi standard, MAC Protocol, MIMO techniques) •Advanced/Emerging technologies: All-optical networking (ROADMs), Ultra-fast Ethernet, Coherent Optical Transceivers, Technologies for 5G.
Assessment Criteria
excellent
70%
threshold
50%
good
60%
Learning outcomes
-
Demonstrate an understanding of key techniques involved in various types of broadband communication network.
-
Understand fundamental concepts, terminology and general architectures of communications systems.
-
Demonstrate an understanding of widely implemented communications systems.
-
Understand the importance of emerging techniques and technologies.
Assessment Methods
Type | Name | Description | Weight |
---|---|---|---|
Exam | 60.00 | ||
Formal Report | 25.00 | ||
Technical Questions | 15.00 |
Teaching and Learning Strategy
Hours | ||
---|---|---|
Lecture | 24 | |
Tutorial | 6 | |
Private study | 170 |
Transferable skills
- Literacy - Proficiency in reading and writing through a variety of media
- Information retrieval - Able to access different and multiple sources of information
- Inter-personal - Able to question, actively listen, examine given answers and interact sentistevely with others
Subject specific skills
- Identify emerging technologies and technology trends;
- Solve problems logically and systematically;
- Access and synthesize information and literature sources;
- Demonstrate an awareness of the need to work safely and comply within relevant legislative and regulatory frameworks;
- Knowledge and understanding of facts, concepts, principles & theories
- Knowledge of systems architecture
Resources
Talis Reading list
http://readinglists.bangor.ac.uk/modules/ice-4411.htmlReading list
Recommended text books: 1. Lillian Goleniewski, "Telecommunications Essentials: The Complete Global Source", Addison Wesley; 2nd edition (2006). 2. Andy Valdar, "Understanding Telecommunications Networks", IET (2006). 3. James Farmer et. al. "FTTx Networks: Technology Implementation and Operation", Morgan Kaufmann (2016)
Courses including this module
Compulsory in courses:
- H617: MEng Computer Systs Eng (4 yrs) year 4 (MENG/CSE)
- H61P: Computer Systems Engineering with Industrial Placement year 5 (MENG/CSEP)
- H601: MEng Electronic Engineering (4 yrs) year 4 (MENG/EE)
- H618: MEng Electronic Engineering with International Experience year 5 (MENG/EEIE)
- H60P: MEng Electronic Engineering with Industrial Placement year 5 (MENG/EEP)
- G5AR: MSc Broadband and Optical Communication year 1 (MSC/BROPCOMM)
- H6AJ: MSc Electronic Engineering year 1 (MSC/ELENG)
Optional in courses:
- H6AX: MRes Electronic Engineering year 1 (MRES/EE)