Mobile Communication Networks

Code:

CC4039

Acronym:

CC4039

Level:

400

Keywords
Classification	Keyword
OFICIAL	Computer Science

Instance: 2020/2021 - 1S

Active?	Yes
Web Page:	http://www.dcc.fc.up.pt/~slc/aulas/RCM/2021/index.html
Responsible unit:	Department of Computer Science
Course/CS Responsible:	Master in Computer Science

Cycles of Study/Courses

Acronym	No. of Students	Study Plan	Curricular Years	Credits UCN	Credits ECTS	Contact hours	Total Time
M:CC	4	Study plan since 2014/2015	1	-	6	42	162
MI:ERS	40	Plano Oficial desde ano letivo 2014	4	-	6	42	162
M:SI	6	Study plan since 2020/2021	1	-	6	42	162

Teaching language

Suitable for English-speaking students

Objectives

Knowledge of the fundamental principles of the operation of mobile communication networks, focusing on: the key technological aspects; wireless local area networks; the 2nd, 3rd, 4th, and 5th generation mobile networks; and the main services provided by mobile communication networks.

Learning outcomes and competences

At the end of the course, the students are expected to know:

1. A historical perspective of the evolution of wireless and cellular networks;
2. The charactheristics of the signal propagation over the wireless medium, and transmission techniques to cope these caractheristics;
3. The main modulation techniques of digital signals;
4. Multiple access techniques (TDMA, FDMA, OFDMA, CDMA, SDMA) for wireless communications, duplexing, cellular division and radio resource allocation, and techniques for medium access control (Aloha, Slotted Aloha, CSMA, CSMA/CA);
5. Mobility management solutions for mobile terminals;
6. Techniques for secure mobile communications;
7. The architecture and operation principles of 2nd, 3rd, 4th, and 5th generation cellular networks (GSM/GPRS, UMTS/HSPA, LTE/EPC, 5G);
8. The architecture and operation principles of wireless LANs (IEEE 802.11 access networks);
9. The architecture and operation of services provided by cellular networks, including voice, data, and location-based services.

 

Working method

Presencial

Pre-requirements (prior knowledge) and co-requirements (common knowledge)

Communication networks.

Program

Technological principles:

• Characteristics of signal propagation over the wireless medium and related transmission techniques.
• Coding and modulation schemes.
• Multiple access techniques (TDMA, FDMA, CDMA, OFDMA, SDMA) and duplexing.
• Cellular concept and of radio resource allocation.
• Medium access control (Aloha, Slotted Aloha, CSMA, CSMA / CA).
• Mobility management;
• Principles of secure mobile communications.

Systems:

• Architecture and operation principles of 2nd, 3rd, 4th, and 5th generation cellular networks (GSM/GPRS, UMTS/HSPA, LTE/EPC, and 5G);
• Wireless LANs (IEEE 802.11 access networks).

Services:

• Architecture and operation principles of services provided by mobile communication networks, namely, voice, data, and location-based services.

 

Mandatory literature

Cory Beard, William Stallings; Wireless Communication Networks and Systems, Pearson Education Limited, 2015. ISBN: 978-1292108711
000074377. ISBN: 0-321-12381-6

Complementary Bibliography

D. Agrawal and Q. Zeng; Introduction to Wireless and Mobile Systems, CL Engineering, 2010. ISBN: 978-1439062050
Vijay Garg; Wireless Communications & Networking, Morgan Kaufmann, 2007. ISBN: 978-0123735805
Jörg Eberspächer, Hans-Joerg Vögel, Christian Bettstetter, Christian Hartmann; GSM - Architecture, Protocols and Services, Wiley-Blackwell. ISBN: 978-0470030707
Stallings William; Wireless communications and networks. ISBN: 9780131918351
James Kurose, Keith Ross; Computer networking: a top-down approach, Pearson, 2016. ISBN: 978-0133594140

Teaching methods and learning activities

This course is based on lectures to present and discuss the fundamental concepts of Mobile communication networks (according to the program). Moreover, it encompasses practical examples and assignments to be solved by the students. The students will have to work on one project about topics of mobile communication networks.

keywords

Technological sciences > Engineering > Communication engineering > Telecommunications engineering
Technological sciences > Technology > Telecommunications technology > Terrestrial mobile technology

Evaluation Type

Distributed evaluation without final exam

Assessment Components

designation	Weight (%)
Teste	75,00
Trabalho escrito	25,00
Total:	100,00

Amount of time allocated to each course unit

designation	Time (hours)
Estudo autónomo	90,00
Frequência das aulas	42,00
Trabalho de investigação	30,00
Total:	162,00

Eligibility for exams

The evaluation will be based on a set of three tests and one project.

 

Calculation formula of final grade

The final grade (FG) is the weighted average of the grades obtained in the project (Prj) and in the three tests (T1, T2 and T3):

FG = 0.25*Prj + 0.25*T1 + 0.25*T2 + 0.25*T3

If CF < 9 (in 20 marks), then students are still eligible for "exame de recurso" (ExR). In this case FinalGrade is:

FG = 0.25*Prj + 0.75*ExR

Examinations or Special Assignments

Classification improvement

The final grade "Melhoria de Classificação" (CM) is the weighted average of the grades obtained in the project (Prj), and in the exam "Melhoria de Classificação" (Exm):

CM = 0.25*Prj + 0.75*Exm

Observations

Classes and the evaluation may be adjusted according to the evolution of the COVID-19 pandemic.