Telecommunication Systems
Code
10480
Academic unit
Faculdade de Ciências e Tecnologia
Department
Departamento de Engenharia Electrotécnica
Credits
6.0
Teacher in charge
Luís Filipe Lourenço Bernardo, Paulo da Costa Luís da Fonseca Pinto
Weekly hours
5
Total hours
75
Teaching language
Português
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.
Prerequisites
It is recommended to have successfully attended the discipline of "Microprocessor Programming".
Subject matter
Introduction
- Uses of Computer Networks: Network Hardware; Network Software; Reference Models; Example Networks; Network Standardization; Network Applications’ Programming Interface
- The Physical Layer
- The Theoretical Basis for Data Communication; Guided Transmission Media; Wireless Transmission; Communication Satellites; The Public Switched Telephone Network; The Mobile Telephone System; Cable Television
The Data Link Layer
- Data Link Layer Design Issues; Error Detection and Correction; Elementary Data Link Protocols; Sliding Window Protocols; Example Data Link Protocols
The Medium Access Control Sublayer
- The Channel Allocation Problem; Multiple Access Protocols; Ethernet; Wireless LANs; Broadband Wireless; Bluetooth; Data Link Layer Switching
Bibliography
"Computer Networks", A. Tanenbaum & D. Wetherall, 5th ed, Prentice-Hall, 2010
Several tutorial documents available on the class web page.
Teaching method
The lectures consist mainly on the presentation of the theory, but they also include exercises and demonstrations of the use of the learned systems. By attending these classes, a dedicated student will eventually develop an understanding of the systems and protocols, complemented with examples of its application, and the role that each individual protocol plays in the system. In the classes and in the theoretical assessment, some questions require a cross-sectional view that uses theoretical aspects learned in a dispersed way.
In the laboratory classes the students learn about the Java development environment and implement two projects where they use the network interface and apply their knowledge on error control and on the telecommunication’s network structure. Practical classes require using the contents of tutorial documentation provided for each class. The teacher support is used as a last resort, only to resolve specific doubts.
Evaluation method
1. General Rule
The assessment is composed by a theoretical part and a laboratorial part.
* The student must have a minimum of 9 points in each part
* The final grade for the approved students (in any of the possible dates of exams) is weighted in 75% for the theoretical part and 25% for the laboratorial part.
2. Theoretical Part
The assessment of the theoretical part can be distributed or centralized:
* Distributed assessment – consists on the execution of three (3) mid-term tests. On the date of the final exam it is possible to repeat the 2nd or the 3rd mid-term test upon invitation from the instructors. The theoretical grade is calculated using the following formula:
theor_grade = 10% 1st test + 35% 2nd test + 30% 3rd test
* Centralized assessment – consists on the execution of a final exam. In this case the theoretical grade is the grade of the exam. Students that opted by the distributed assessment can change to the centralized assessment any time during the semester.
2.1. Number of mid-term tests and exams
3 mid-term tests
1 Final Exam (2nd date)
2.2. Syllabus for each mid-term test
1st test – Introduction
2nd test – physical layer; Data Link Layer
3rd test – Medium Access Control Sublayer
At the date of the exam it is possible to replace the 2nd or 3rd test if invited by the professors
3. Laboratorial Part
The laboratorial part consists on one (1) training project to learn the development environment and two (2) projects for assessment. The final grade of the laboratorial part includes a continuous assessment of the student performance throughout the laboratorial sessions and an oral examination for the second project to discuss the way the student implemented the project. The continuous performance assessment includes the advanced preparation of the each project, the simplicity of the implementation structure and code, the meeting of the various deadlines (partial and final) and the distribution of the effort between the members of the group.
4. Control of the attendance to the laboratory
The attendance of the students to the laboratory is controlled. The following rules will apply:
1st miss – tolerated
2nd miss – the grade for the laboratorial part cannot be over 14
3rd miss – the final grade of the course is 12
4th miss – the students fails
5. Save of the final grade
If the student succeeds in the laboratorial part but fails in the theoretical part, the laboratorial grade can be used in the future for two scholar years. If the students does not succeed within this time frame (s)he will have to perform the laboratorial part again.
6. Admission to a Special Date of examination
The exam called “special date exam” can only be performed by those students who have a valid laboratorial grade.
7. Types of grades
* Ausente (Absent) A A student that did not subscribe the laboratory if (s)he has not a valid grade yet. Or the student that has a valid laboratorial grade but did not attend any exam.
* Excluído (Excluded) – E A student that stopped attending the laboratory (4 misses or over) *
Faltou (Missing) F A student that missed the sequence of mid-term tests, or miss the exam
* Reprovado (Fail) R A student that performed both theoretical and laboratorial parts but did not succeed to have the minimum grades that were demanded (in one of them or both).
* Aprovado (Approved) from 10 to 20 A student that succeeded in the course (both parts)