Data Communication Technologies. Credit Value. 3. Level. 3. Pre-requisite/. Co-
requisite/. Exclusion. Nil. Objectives. To equip students with the fundamentals of ...
Subject Description Form Subject Code
EIE345
Subject Title
Data Communication Technologies
Credit Value
3
Level
3
Pre-requisite/ Co-requisite/ Exclusion
Nil
Objectives
To equip students with the fundamentals of data communication systems, and to train students to appreciate the underlying principle of modern communication systems.
Intended Subject Learning Outcomes
Upon completion of the subject, students will be able to: Category A: Professional/academic knowledge and skills 1. Understand the fundamentals of data communication systems and associated technologies. 2. Solve problems related to data communications. 3. Apply theory to practice by doing laboratory experiments on communication techniques. Category B: Attribute for all-roundedness 4. Team work and presentation skills will be developed through the case study. 5. Case studies will also allow students to develop a fuller understanding of social and community issues related to the application of communications technologies. 6. To appreciate the importance of creativity and critical thinking, and to realize that there is no perfect communication system for any particular situation and that engineers have to find “optimum” solutions, or make optimum designs.
Contribution of the Subject to the Attainment of the Programme Outcomes
Programme Outcomes: Category A: Professional/academic knowledge and skills Programme Outcome 1: This subject contributes to the programme outcome by providing the opportunity for students to solve practical problems pertaining to the field of communication systems. Programme Outcome 3: This subject contributes to the programme outcome through the teaching of the theories and concepts of communication systems and through providing the students with an opportunity to apply their knowledge. Programme Outcome 4: This subject contributes to the programme outcome through teaching the design and requirements of data communication systems. Category B: Attributes for all-roundedness Programme Outcome 10: This subject contributes to the programme outcome by providing the students with an opportunity to think critically about the design and analysis of telecommunication systems.
Subject Synopsis/ Indicative Syllabus
Syllabus: 1. Introduction A communication model. Digital data communications and networks. 2. Data Transmission and Channel
Review of time and frequency domain representations, Fourier Series, Fourier transform. Analogue and digital data transmission. Data rate and required bandwidth. Channel impairments. Characterisation and attenuation of transmission media, twisted pair, cable, optical fibre, free space. 3. Information Theory and Source Coding Measure of Information and entropy. Channel capacity. Source coding theorem. Source coding algorithms: Huffman coding, Shannon-Fano coding. 4. Data Encoding Sampling and aliasing. Pulse-code modulation, uniform and non-uniform quantization. Line coding: RZ, NRZ, AMI. Digital modulation: ASK, FSK, PSK, QAM. 5. Data Link Control Propagation delay, effective throughput. Sliding window protocol. Flow and Error Control, stop-and-wait ARQ, Go-back-N ARQ. 6. Error Detection and Correction Coding and decoding of linear block codes, cyclic codes and convolutional codes. 7. Data Communication Interface. Multiplexing and Switching Asynchronous and synchronous transmission. Line configurations, simplex, duplex and half-duplex. Clock synchronization. Frequency division multiplexing. Time division multiplexing. Code division multiplexing. Multiplexing hierarchies, T1, E1, T2 and T3 carrier systems. SONET and SDH transmission systems. Overview of Circuit and Packet Switching. 8. Current Applications Fixed telephone network. Private automated branch exchange. ADSL, discrete multitone, xDSL. Cable modem. Hybrid fibre coax. Other selected applications examples such as mobile cellular network, wireless LAN, satellite networks, global position system. Laboratory Experiment: 1. Construction and testing of a simple A-to-D converter 2. Simulation of digital line coding and estimation of BER using MATLAB Case Study: 1. A detailed study of one of the current applications of telecommunication technologies addressed in this course (for example, section 8 of the Syllabus). Teaching/ Learning Methodology
Teaching and Learning Method
Intended Subject Learning Outcome
Remarks
Lectures
1, 2, 6
fundamental principles and key concepts of the subject are delivered to students
Tutorials
1, 2, 6
supplementary to lectures and are conducted with smaller class size; students will be able to clarify concepts and to have a deeper understanding of the lecture material; problems and application examples are
given and discussed
Alignment of Assessment and Intended Subject Learning Outcomes
Laboratory sessions
3
students will make use of the software MATLAB to simulate various types of communication systems and evaluate their performance
Mini-project
3
students in groups of 3-4 are required to build a prototype of a modem
Case study
4, 5
students will form groups of 3-4. Each group is required to perform a detailed study on one of the current applications of telecommunication technologies
Specific Assessment Methods/ Task
% Weighting
Intended Subject Learning Outcomes to be Assessed (Please tick as appropriate) 1
2
3
4
5
6
1. Continuous Assessment (total 40%)
Short quizzes
4%
Assignments
4%
Tests
16%
Laboratory sessions, mini-project
10%
Case study
6%
2. Examination
60%
Total
100%
The continuous assessment consists of a number of short quizzes, assignments, the case study, laboratory reports and two tests. Explanation of the appropriateness of the assessment methods in assessing the intended learning outcomes: Specific Assessment Methods/Tasks
Remark
Short quizzes
mainly objective tests (e.g., multiple-choice questions, true-false, and matching items) conducted to measure the students’ ability to remember facts and figures as well as their comprehension of subject materials
Assignments, tests and examination
end-of chapter type problems used to evaluate students’ ability in applying concepts and skills learnt in the classroom; students need to think critically and creatively in order to come with an alternate solution for an existing problem
Laboratory sessions, mini-project
each group of students are required to produce a written report; accuracy and the presentation of the report will be assessed; oral
examination
based
on
the
laboratory
exercises will be conducted for each group member to evaluate his technical knowledge and communication skills Case study
each group of students will produce a written report and make a presentation of 20 minutes in front of the whole class; students will be assessed based on the content/organization of the report/presentation as well as their communication skills
Student Study Effort Expected
Class contact (time-tabled):
Lecture
24 Hours
Tutorial/Laboratory/Practice Classes
18 hours
Other student study effort:
Lecture: preview/review of notes; homework/assignment; preparation for test/quizzes/examination
36 Hours
Tutorial/Laboratory/Practice Classes: preview of materials, revision and/or reports writing
27 Hours
Total student study effort: Reading List and References
105 Hours
Textbook: 1. W. Stallings, Data and computer communications, 8th ed., Prentice-Hall, 2007. Reference Books: 1. L. Leon-Garcia and I. Widjaja, Communication Networks, McGraw-Hill, 2000. 2. B. Forouzan, Data Communications and Networking, McGraw-Hill, 2002.
