ECE 4700 Syllabus
No:
ECE 4700
Title:
Introduction to Communication Theory
Credits: 4
WSU Catalog Description:
Prereq: BE 2100 and ECE 4330. Open only to students enrolled in professional engineering
programs. Basic information transmission concepts. Spectral analysis. Transmission through
linear networks. Sampling principles. Digital and analog communication signals and systems. The
effect of noise in communication systems. Elementary decision theory. (T)
Coordinator: Yang Zhao, Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering
Instructor: Majed Marji, Ph.D., MBA
Office Hours: After class (as needed)
Phone: 586-575-0400
Email: ah3055@wayne.edu
Class Start/End Dates: 08/31/11 - 12/12/11
Class Meeting Time: T & Th, 5:30 - 7:20 PM
Class Meeting Location: 0154 MANO
Goals: This course presents the core communication topics of analog modulation and digital
pulse code modulation. It also presents the fundamental tools of probability theory and random
processes to be used in the design and analysis of digital communication systems. The course
also covers the fundamentals of digital communication systems. Students will be able to use
these concepts in the analysis and evaluation of modern communication systems.
Learning Objectives: At the end of this course, students will be able to:
1- Apply fundamental mathematical concepts to communication theory.
2- Perform essential signal analyses and processing in both time and frequency domains.
3- Identify the essential building blocks of communication systems and derive all governing
equations.
4- Write MATLAB programs to analyze signals and simulate simple modulation formats.
5- Integrate basic concepts and subsystems and apply them to communication system design,
analysis, and evaluation.
6- Apply concepts of probability and statistics in the area of noise and signal-to-noise ratios for
performance evaluation.
th
Textbook: Modern Digital and Analog Communication Systems, 3
University Press, 1998.
ed., B.P. Lathi, Oxford
Reference Texts:
1- Simon Haykin, Communication Systems, John Wiley & Sons, 2001 (4th Edition).
2- John G. Proakis and Masoud Salehi, Communication Systems Engineering, Prentice-Hall,
Inc. 2002 (2nd Edition).
Prerequisites by Topic: (BE 2100) Introduction to application of probability theory and statistical
methods in engineering, including design and manufacturing. (ECE 4330) (1) Electric circuits and
Kirchhoff’s laws, (2) Mechanical systems and Newton’s laws, (3) Differential equations and their
solutions, (4) Laplace transform and its properties, (5) Impulse responses and convolutions.
Corequisites by Topic: none
1
Topics:
1- Introduction to modern communications systems (1 week).
2- Review of linear systems and signal processing techniques (3 weeks).
3- Introduction to analog modulation techniques; amplitude modulation (AM) and angle
modulation (FM and PM) (4 weeks).
4- Introduction to digital communications; sampling, quantization, coding ( 3 weeks).
5- System evaluation in the presence of noise using probability and stochastic processes. (2
weeks)
Course Structure: The class meets twice a week, two hours each for a total of 4 credit hours.
Computer Resources: Students need to have access to computers with MATLAB software.
Laboratory Resources: none
Laboratory Policy: none
Distribution of Points: Homework and Quizzes: 15%; Exam1: 25%; Exam2: 25 %; Exam3
(probability review): 5%; Final Exam: 30 %.
Grading Scale: A[95-100]; A-[90-94], B+[87-89]; B[83-86]; B-[80-82]; C+[77-79]; C[74-76]; C-[7273]; D+[70-71]; D[60-69]; E[0-59]
Attendance: Students are expected to attend all lectures.
Schedule:






Test 1
Test 2
Test 3
Final
Quizzes
Homework
Covers Chapters 1, 2, 3
Covers Chapters 4, 5
Covers Chapter 8
Covers Chapters 6, 9, and 10
Will be announced
Assigned and posted on Blackboard
The last day to drop any class with a tuition refund is the end of the second week of classes. The
last day to withdraw from the class, without a notation of W on the transcript, is the end of the
fourth week of classes. It is the policy of the College of Engineering not to allow withdrawals from
courses after the end of the 5th week except under exceptional circumstances.
Exams and Makeup Assignment Policy: All exams and quizzes are closed book and closed
notes. No make-up quizzes or exams. No late assignments.
Outcome Coverage:
(a) an ability to apply knowledge of mathematics, science, and engineering
The exercises and exams in the course require direct application of mathematical, scientific,
and engineering knowledge for signal and system analyses. This requires performing various
transformations, as well as differentiation and integration, in a formal manner and many
supporting and follow-up calculations.
(c) an ability to design a system, component, or process to meet desired needs within
realistic constraints such as economic, environmental, social, political, ethical, health
and safety, manufacturability, and sustainability
This outcome is a minor component of the course, but nevertheless present. A few assigned
problems require students to find desired parameters of components for achieving a set
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performance of a system, rather than directly analyze system behavior. Design concepts are
discussed and checked against real world operating limits such as signal-to-noise
requirement and power limits.
(e) an ability to identify, formulate, and solve engineering problems
The course is primarily oriented toward modern communication systems, which is a typical
engineering problem in real world. It includes examples of important engineering problems,
including limited transmission power, channel noise, and detector sensitivity, which have to
be properly identified, formulated, and solved. Students will use the knowledge to identify the
system, formulate a communication model, and solve the problem to determine required
parameters and system performance.
(i) a recognition of the need for, and an ability to engage in life-long learning
Students should understand the ever changing world of communication systems and
networks. Examples of mobile phones, fiber optical systems, and broadband communications
should teach students to engage in life-long learning. Fundamental concepts and systems
taught in this course will provide students the ability to continue to learn new concepts and
knowledge by themselves.
(k) an ability to use the techniques, skills, and modern engineering tools necessary for
engineering practice.
Students will be able to use mathematical skills for signal analyses, system evaluation, and
general calculations. They will also use computer software packages (e.g., Matlab) to design
and analyze the performance of each units in the system as well as the entire system.
(l) an ability to apply knowledge of probability and statistics in the analysis of
communication systems.
Students will be able to apply probability and statistics to analyze error and signal-to-noise
ratio performance of analog communications systems and calculate the probability of bit error
for basic digital systems. Students will also apply these tools to understand, analyze, and
evaluate the behavior of communication systems.
Cheating Policy and Penalty for Cheating: Cheating is defined by the University as
“intentionally using or attempting to use, or intentionally providing or attempting to provide,
unauthorized materials, information, or assistance in any academic exercise.” This includes any
group efforts on assignments or exams unless specifically approved by the professor for that
assignment/exam. Evidence of fabrication or plagiarism, as defined by the University in its
brochure Academic Integrity, will also result in downgrading for the course. Students who cheat
on any assignment or during any examination will be assigned a failing grade for the course.
Prepared By: Majed Marji
Last Revised: Aug 28, 2011
3
Approximate Course Content and Timeline
Week
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
T
Th
T
Th
T
Th
T
Th
T
Th
T
Th
T
Th
T
Th
T
Th
T
Th
T
Th
T
Th
T
Th
T
Th
T
Th
T
Th
Date
Aug 30
Sep 1
Sep 6
Sep 8
Sep 13
Sep 15
Sep 20
Sep 22
Sep 27
Sep 29
Oct 4
Oct 6
Oct 11
Oct 13
Oct 18
Oct 20
Oct 25
Oct 27
Nov 1
Nov 3
Nov 8
Nov 10
Nov 15
Nov 17
Nov 22
Nov 24
Nov 29
Dec 1
Dec 6
Dec 8
Dec 13
Dec 15
Lecture
Chapter
Introduction
Introduction to Signals
Introduction to Signals (contd.)
Introduction to Signals (contd.)
Analysis and Transmission of Signals
Analysis and Transmission of Signals (contd.)
Analysis and Transmission of Signals (contd.)
Analysis and Transmission of Signals (contd.)
Analysis and Transmission of Signals (contd.)
1
2
2
2
3
3
3
3
3
Tests
Exam 1
Amplitude Modulation
Amplitude Modulation (contd.)
Amplitude Modulation (contd.)
Amplitude Modulation (contd.)
Amplitude Modulation (contd.)
Angle Modulation
Angle Modulation (contd.)
Angle Modulation (contd.)
Angle Modulation (contd.)
4
4
4
4
4
5
5
5
5
Sampling and Pulse Code Modulation
Sampling and Pulse Code Modulation (contd.)
Sampling and Pulse Code Modulation (contd.)
Sampling and Pulse Code Modulation (contd.)
Holiday
Probability and Random Processes
Probability and Random Processes (contd.)
Behavior in the presence of noise
Behavior in the presence of noise (contd.)
Study Day
6
6
6
6
Exam 2
8, 9
8, 9
10
10
Final
4