Information and Communication

Code:

EEC0137

Acronym:

IC

Keywords
Classification	Keyword
OFICIAL	Physics
OFICIAL	Telecommunications

Instance: 2017/2018 - 2S

Active?	Yes
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	247	Syllabus	2	-	6	56	162

Teaching language

Portuguese

Objectives

Develop knowledge on the fundamentals of systems and networks of communication of data, important for Engº Eletrotécnico’s undestanding on the current world, supported in the digital era.
Discuss the Internet, its architecture and protocols, as network’s paradigm, in a "top-down" approach in Internet’s architecture of 5 layers.
Explain the principles of the most relevant techniques of digital communications, in physical layer.
Develop the necessary skills for team work.

Learning outcomes and competences

It is expected that at the end of the semester students will be able to:
1. Understand the basic principles of digital communications and communication networks; 2. Explain what the Internet is: network edge and network core; 3. Describe the layered architecture and its protocols; 4. Know and apply elementary metrics to assess network’s performance; 5. Describe and discuss the network layers: application, transport, network, data link and physical; 6. Use the Wireshark protocol analyzer; 7. At the physical layer, evaluate the impact of signal distortions on a point-to-point connection; 8. Calculate the energy balance of a connection and its associated noise; 9. Describe analog and digital modulations; 10. Explain the sampling, quantization and coding used in the digitalization of signals; 11. Relate basic knowledge of Information Theory in order to understanding data compression techniques; 12. Explain linear block codes in the context of error control coding; 13. Collaborative work, namely understanding, implementing, collecting and discussing data in small laboratory experiments for the production of the required reports.

Working method

Presencial

Program

- What is the Internet? Fundamental concepts. The network edge: peripheral systems, access networks, data links. The network core: circuit switching, packet switching, network topology. Protocols and their service models.
- Network performance evaluation: delay, losses, throughput. Network security: attacks and defenses.
- Application layer: principles of network applications; WWW, HTTP, FTP and DNS.
- Transport layer: connectionless transport (UDP); principles of reliable data communication; connection-oriented transport (TCP).
- Network layer: architecture of a router; IP protocol, IP addressing; DHCP, NAT.
- Data link layer: services, LANs, Ethernet.
- Physical layer: basic point-to-point connection.
- Disturbances introduced by a transmission channel or by a storage system. Distortions and noise.
- Analog communications. Signals and systems. AM and FM modulations.
- Digital encoding of analog sources: PCM. Advantages of digital systems. Baseband and passband systems.  Introduction to digital modulations.
- Data compression. Huffman and LZ codes. Encoding of audio, voice, images and video signals.
- Error-control coding.

Mandatory literature

Simon Haykin; Communication systems. ISBN: 0-471-17869-1
Kurose James F.; Computer networking. ISBN: 978-0-273-76896-8
Docentes da UC; Apontamentos fornecidos pelos docentes.
Docentes da UC; Guiões dos trabalhos laboratoriais

Complementary Bibliography

William Stallings; Data and computer communications. ISBN: 0-13-571274-2
Docentes da UC TSIN; Apontamentos de teoria do sinal

Teaching methods and learning activities

Theoretical lectures: topics are explored using transparencies with programme’s important aspects, diagrams, tables, graphs and illustrative examples. Particular attention will be given to the introduction of the theoretical subjects necessary for a proper understanding of laboratory experiments, which will be briefly presented and discussed before they are carried out.

Lab classes: experiments are based on written scripts, including the use of Wireshark, a protocol analyzer, MatLab / Simulink programmes, and using specific PCB hardware. The proposed experiments are necessarily diversified to address different aspects of the program of this UC. In addition to the lab work, some classes will be devoted to solving problems.

Software

MatLab / Simulink

Evaluation Type

Distributed evaluation without final exam

Assessment Components

Designation	Weight (%)
Teste	50,00
Trabalho laboratorial	50,00
Total:	100,00

Amount of time allocated to each course unit

Designation	Time (hours)
Estudo autónomo	106,00
Frequência das aulas	56,00
Total:	162,00

Eligibility for exams

To have access to the course grading process, the student must satisfy the following:

- obtain minimum of  7,00 (out of 20) on the average of the two written tests;

- perform the six proposed laboratory experiments; the final laboratory grade is the average of all laboratory experiments - a minimum of 9,50 out of 20 is required

- attend a minimum number of Laboratory sessions, as established by the general evaluation rules.

Missing the laboratory class dedicated to an experiment is equivalent to a grade of zero in that assignment, except in the cases provided for in the general regulations; evaluation may occur at a different moment (preferably in the same week).

Students that have already obtained a valid laboratory grade will keep this grade and should only do the two written tests.

Calculation formula of final grade

The final grade (NF) is obtained by the following weighted sum: 0,50 * (average(written tests)) + 0,50 * (laboratory grade). However, this final grade is limited to the minimum of CL and CT, plus 2,5 according to the following formula:

      NF= min [(CL+CT)/2; CL+2,5; CT+2,5]

The laboratory grade (CL) is given by the average:

CL= (L1+L2+L3+L4+L5+L6) / 6   (CL should be at least 9,50 out of 20).

The written tests grade (CT) is given by the average:

CT= (T1+T2) / 2  (CT should be at least 7,00 out of 20)

Special assessment (TE, DA, ...)

The students with special status that cannot attend the laboratory sessions must do three experiments of the six proposed experiments. The selection is by draw. They also should do the 2 written tests. The final grade is obtained by the following weighted sum: 0,50 * (average(test 1 and test 2)) + 0,50 * (laboratory grade (average(experiments 1 to 3)).

For the students with a laboratory grade, the final grade is obtained by  the formula as specified above for regular students.

Observations

Test 1: to be specified

Test 2: to be specified