Telecommunication Systems

Code:

EEC0032

Acronym:

STEL

Keywords
Classification	Keyword
OFICIAL	Telecommunications

Instance: 2020/2021 - 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	53	Syllabus	4	-	6	56	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

1. Introduction: basic concepts related with public telecommunications networks

2. Digital multiplexing systems: principles and techniques; synchronous digital multiplexing, synchronous digital hierarchy (SDH)

3. Long distance digital transmission: fibre optic systems; microwave systems; wavelength-division-multiplexing (WDM).

4. Signaling protocols : signaling in circuit switching networks (ISDN , SS7), signaling in multimedia communications (voice , video) over IP networks - SIP (Session Initiation Protocol), capture and analysis of signaling logs (practical classes) .

5. Switching systems: circuit and packet switching - basic principles , switching matrices , spatial-temporal architectures.

6. Local loop access: analog networks; bidirectional transmission techniques (mitigation of limitations, TDD , FDD and echo cancellation) ; xDSL access.

7. Broadband access : cable access; hybrid architectures (HFC), fibre optic access - passive networks (PON) architectures, international standards (GPON), home network.

8. Telecommunications networks in data centers: concepts and network protocols; server virtualization and storage.

9. Operator telecommunications networks: software defined networks (SDN) and network function virtualization; MPLS / Carrier Ethernet networks and most common network topologies.

Complementary topics:

A. Digital coding of speech, audio and video: general characteristics of the coders - attributes and perceptual quality measure (MOS scale). Coding techniques.

B. Aspects of quality service: management of Quality of Service model - general principles.

C. Traffic in communication networks: traffic analysis of loss and delay systems , discrete event traffic simulation - modeling of systems and development of simulation algorithms (practical classes.

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 slides with 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) Signaling in IP networks with analysis of different logs.

Evaluation Type

Distributed evaluation with final exam

Assessment Components

Designation	Weight (%)
Exame	60,00
Participação presencial	10,00
Trabalho laboratorial	30,00
Total:	100,00

Amount of time allocated to each course unit

Designation	Time (hours)
Estudo autónomo	26,00
Frequência das aulas	52,00
Trabalho laboratorial	13,00
Total:	91,00

Eligibility for exams

Continuous Assessment in classes

Assignments

Reports of lab work

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: - mini-tests and students’ participation in class: 10% - practical assignments: 30% (simulation: 20%; signaling: 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 and optionally 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.