Telecommunication Systems

Code:

EEC0032

Acronym:

STEL

Keywords
Classification	Keyword
OFICIAL	Telecommunications

Instance: 2012/2013 - 2S

Active?	Yes
Web Page:	http://www.fe.up.pt/~mleitao/STEL
Responsible unit:	Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering
Course/CS Responsible:	Master in Electrical and Computers Engineering

Cycles of Study/Courses

Acronym	No. of Students	Study Plan	Curricular Years	Credits UCN	Credits ECTS	Contact hours	Total Time
MIEEC	49	Syllabus (Transition) since 2010/2011	4	-	6	63	162
		Syllabus	4	-	6	63	162

Teaching language

Suitable for English-speaking students

Objectives

This course aims to develop students’ knowledge and understanding in the area of concrete systems of large dimension and fixed telecommunication networks. This course also aims to act as a complement to other courses.

Learning outcomes and competences

Students should be capable of analysing and assessing new architectonic and technological solutions, since telecommunication systems area is an area which is rapidly growing. Students should be capable of dealing with new systems which may come across them in their professional life.

Working method

Presencial

Program

Introduction: telecommunications and information society; basic concepts related with telecommunications; area of telecommunications; indicators of the Portuguese telecommunications area. Fixed Telecommunication Networks: information transference; network architecture; networks: areas of application; network evolution. Transmission Network: analogue transmission; synchronous digital multiplexing; asynchronous digital multiplexing; plesiochronous multiplexing hierarchy; synchronous multiplexing hierarchy; long distance digital transmission; wavelength-division-multiplexing (WDM). Access to local loop: analogue telephone; digital transmission in local loop; voiceband modem; G.703-E; RDIS; DSL- Digital Subscriber Line (HDSL – High-speed Digital Subscriber Line; ADSL – Asymmetric Digital Subscriber Line; SHDSL – Symmetric High-speed Digital Subscriber Line; VDSL – Very high-speed Digital Subscriber Line). Ringing: analogue subscriber; channel signal between commuters; common channel signal between commuters; RDIS subscriber; IP networks signal Integrated services digital network: services; basic rate access; logical link to channel D; network layer; application ATM- Asynchronous Transfer Mode: basic concepts; network aspects; protocol reference model; specificities of protocol layers; operation and maintenance; traffic management Commutation: circuit switching; ATM switches; packet switching; Aspects of quality of service: basic concepts; indicators of performance and call processing; indicators of transmission performance Circuit switching networks traffic: characteristics of traffic; analysis of status; traffic analysis in systems of loss; blocking in systems of multiple levels Complementary themes: telephone, voice digital codification

Mandatory literature

John C. Bellamy; Digital telephony. ISBN: 0-471-34571-7

Teaching methods and learning activities

Theoretical classes will be based on the presentation of the themes with the support of transparencies, diagrams, tables, graphics and illustrations, which contain the most important topics of the course. Students will be asked to participate and to take part in discussions and to answer to questions. Students will also be asked to study autonomously and to do homework assignments. Practical classes will cover two themes: a) Traffic in telecommunication networks, with discussion of examples of application. Students will have to do a practical assignment on simulation; b) Signals in RDIS and IP networks with analysis of different registers

Evaluation Type

Distributed evaluation with final exam

Assessment Components

Description	Type	Time (hours)	Weight (%)	End date
Final Exam	Exame	1,50	60,00
Simulation	Trabalho laboratorial	16,00	20,00
Signalling	Trabalho laboratorial	2,00	10,00
Classroom exercises	Participação presencial	40,00	10,00
	Total:	-	100,00

Eligibility for exams

Continuous Assessment comprises the following elements: - written answers to questions asked in theoretical classes (individual or group work). They are class mini-test which are not scheduled, and students have to orally discuss their answers (students are randomly selected). These mini-tests comprise the themes that are covered in that class. It is an open book exercise. - Homework (homework mini-tests) has to be delivered at the beginning of the following theoretical class, and students have to orally discuss their answers (students are randomly selected). These mini-tests comprise the themes that will be covered in that class; - A practical assignment to be done as homework (plus report); - A practical assignment to be done in practical classes (plus a final test- last class of the semester); - Students’ participation in class, namely in what concerns students’ critical ability. Students who do not have a special status have to take part of the continuous assessment component. Students, who have a clash in their schedule or cannot attend to classes, can opt not to take the mini-tests. However, they have to inform the professor by e-mail up until 4 weeks after the start of the semester. Students will only complete the course if they attend to 75% of the practical classes, and if they achieve a minimum mark of 8 out 20 in the continuous assessment component.

Calculation formula of final grade

Final Mark will be based on the mark of the continuous assessment and the final exam. Continuous assessment elements are worth: - mini-tests and students’ participation in class: 10% - practical assignments: 30% (simulation: 20%; signals: 10%) Final exam is worth 60% of the final mark. Students who do not take the mini-tests, the final exam will worth 70%. Students will only complete the course if they achieve a minimum mark of 8 out of 20 in the final exam.

Special assessment (TE, DA, ...)

Students who attended the course in previous years, yet did not complete it, will only have to attend the final exam (80%) (Continuous assessment mark (20%) will remain the same). Students with a special status do not need to attend classes. However, they have to do two practical assignments, which have to be delivered in time. Final exam is worth 80%, while the continuous assessment component is worth 20%. They have to reach a minimum grade of 8 out of 20 in each of the components, to complete the course. However, students with a special status can opt to be assessed as ordinary students. They can opt not to take the mini-tests, but they have to inform the professor by e-mail.

Classification improvement

Students can improve their mark by attending an exam or two practical assignments. The exam is worth 80% and the assignments 20%. Students have to reach a minimum mark of 8 out of 20 in each of the components to complete the course.