SIR SYED UNIVERSITY OF ENGINEERING & TECHNOLOGY,

KARACHI.
DEPARTMENT OF TELECOMMUNICATION ENGINEERING

Course Title: TE-331 Digital Communications Fall - 2019

Pre-requisite: TE-321 Digital Signal Processing
Instructor: Engr. Irfan Ahmed Usmani
Email and Contact Information: iausmani@ssuet.edu.pk ; Ext: 407
Office Hours: Wed 11:00am – 11:50am (Section B), Thu 11:00am – 11:50am (Section A)

Course Objective:
This course introduces fundamental principles and techniques needed to analyze and design
digital communication systems. The course focuses on the basic building blocks of a digital
communication systems: digital modulator/demodulator, channel characteristics, channel
encoder/decoder. The major emphasis of this course is on foundations of communication
theory and practical applications.

Course Outline:
Signals and Spectra: Overview of Digital Communication Signal Processing, Block Diagram
and Transformations, Digital Vs Analog Performance Criteria, Analog to Digital & Digital to
Analog Conversion. Classification of Signals: Deterministic and Random Signal, Periodic and
Non-periodic Signals, Analog and Discrete Signals, Energy and Power Signals, the Unit
Impulse Function. Spectral Density: Energy Spectral Density, Power Spectral Density.
Autocorrelation: Autocorrelation of an Energy Signal, Autocorrelation of a Periodic (Power)
Signal. Random Signals: Random Variables, Random Processes, Time averaging and
Ergodicity, Power Spectral Density and Autocorrelation of a Random Process. Signal
Transmission through Linear Systems: Impulse Response, Frequency Transfer Function,
Distortion-less Transmission. Bandwidth of a Digital Data: Baseband Vs Bandpass. Basic
Methods of Digital Transmission: Baseband Transmission: Waveform representation of
Binary Digits, PCM Waveform Types (Line Coding), Spectral Attributes of PCM Waveforms,
Bits per PCM word and Bits per Symbol, M-ary Pulse Modulation Waveforms. Baseband
Demodulation/Detection: Signals and Noise: Error-performance Degradation in
Communication Systems, Demodulation and Detection, A Vectorial View of Signals and
Systems, The Basic SNR Parameter for Digital Communication Systems, Eb/N0, Figure of
Merit. Detection of Binary Signals in Gaussian Noise: Maximum Likelihood Receiver
Structure, The Matched Filter, Correlation Realization of Matched Filter, Optimizing Error
Performance, Error Probability Performance of Binary Signaling. Intersymbol Interference
(ISI): Pulse Shaping to reduce ISI, Types of Error-Performance Degradation,
Demodulation/Detection of Shaped Pulses. Equalization: Channel Characterization, Eye
Pattern, Equalizer Filter Type. Bandpass Modulation and Demodulation: Introduction,
Digital Bandpass Modulation Techniques: Phasor Representation of a Sinusoid, Phase Shift
Keying, Frequency Shift Keying, Amplitude Shift Keying. Detection of Signals in Gaussian
Noise: Decision Regions, Correlation Receiver. Introduction to Information Theory &
Coding
 SIR SYED UNIVERSITY OF ENGINEERING & TECHNOLOGY,
KARACHI.
DEPARTMENT OF TELECOMMUNICATION ENGINEERING

Course Learning Outcomes (CLOs) & it’s mapping with Programme Learning Outcomes
(PLOs):

Program Learning Bloom’s

Sr. No. Course Learning Outcomes (CLOs)
Outcomes (PLOs) Taxonomy
Apply random variables and random processes
C3
1. in terms of their mean, variance, and PLO_2
(Apply)
correlation functions.
Design optimum receiver for digital C6
2. PLO_3
communication system. (Create)
Apply channel coding technique for error C3
3. PLO_1
detection and correction. (Apply)
Follow instructions to write P3
programs/Algorithm in MATLAB or other (Guided
4. PLO_5
programming tool to simulate digital Response)
communication system.

Complex Engineering Problem/Activity:

Included: Yes
Nature and details of Complex Engineering Problem (CEP):
It will be given in:
- Assignment # 02
- Final Paper
CEP will be based on CLO 2 "Design optimum receiver for digital communication
system". To solve the problem, students have to use in-depth knowledge related
to the following concepts:
Complex Signal Vector Space, Orthogonal and orthonormal signals, decision boundary,
LTI-Systems, Implementation of the concepts & its representation through block
Engineering
Problem diagrams
Details
Attributes could be: WP1, WP3, WP7, WK5, WA3

WP1: Depth of knowledge required

WP3: Depth of analysis required
WP7: Interdependence
WK5: Engineering Design
WA3: Design/Development of Solution

Assessment in: Assignment # 02 & Final Examination

Included: No
Complex
Engineering
Nature and details of Complex Engineering Activity:
Activity
Details
Assessment in: Midterm/Final/Quiz/Assignment
 SIR SYED UNIVERSITY OF ENGINEERING & TECHNOLOGY,
KARACHI.
DEPARTMENT OF TELECOMMUNICATION ENGINEERING

Relationship between Assessment Tools and CLOs:

Assessment tools CLO_1(25) CLO_2(36) CLO_3(19) CLO_4(20)

Quizzes 6%(1.5) 4.2%(1.5) 10.5%(02) -
Assignments 6%(1.5) 4.2%(1.5) 10.5%(02) -
Midterm Exam 48%(12) 22.2%(08) - -
Final Exam 40%(10) 69.4%(25) 79%(15) -
Lab - - - 100%(20)

Grading Policy:

Assessment tools Percentage

Assignments 05%
Quizzes 05%
Midterm Exam 20%
Final Exam 50%
Lab 20 %

Recommended Book:
• Bernard Sklar & Pabitra Kumar Ray, Digital Communications, Pearson Second
Edition.

Reference Books:
• John G. Praokis, Masoud Salehi, Digital Communications, McGraw-Hill Fifth Edition.
• B. P. Lathi, Modern Digital and Analog Communication Systems, Oxford University
Press 3rd Edition
SIR SYED UNIVERSITY OF ENGINEERING & TECHNOLOGY,
KARACHI.
DEPARTMENT OF TELECOMMUNICATION ENGINEERING

Course Breakdown with Lab Synchronization

- Both sides same Colors: Lab is synchronized with the topic

- Red Color: Lab is not synchronized (conducted before theory)
- No Color: Lab is to introduce new hardware or software skill /
Open Ended Lab / Lab is relevant to a topic taught in
pre-requisite and required for upcoming labs

Week No. Topics Laboratory Synchronization

1 Overview of Digital Communication System, - Introduction and Review of MATLAB
Signal Processing, Classification of Signals,
Spectral Density, Bandwidth

2 Convolution & Autocorrelation function, - Simulation of different Types of Pulse

Mathematical model of channel: Additive Modulation schemes (PAM, PPM and
noise channel, LTI filter channel, Linear time PWM).
variant filter channel. Random variables:
CDF, PDF, Expectation & Moments
3 Random Process: Sample Space, Stationary - Development of algorithm writing skills,
Process, Non-Stationary Process, Wide Sense with the help of convolution, & correlation
Stationary Process, Ergodic Process, using MATLAB
Ensemble Average & Time Average, Energy
& Power of signals, Autocorrelation of a
random signal
4 Pulse Code Modulation (PCM): Sampling, - Analysis of Pulse Code Modulation using
Aliasing, Nyquist Criteria, Sources of MATLAB.
corruption, Line Coding techniques
5 Baseband Transmission: Basic concept, - Simulation of different Line Coding
Signal Space (Scalar Product, distance Schemes (NRZ-L, NRZ-M, NRZ-S) using
between two signals, norm, algebraic MATLAB.
structure, coordinates of signal, Linear
combination of basis signals), Orthogonal &
Orthonormal Function/Signals, Binary
Transmission
6 Optimum Detection Method: MAP decision - Development of "random data generation"
rule, Maximum Likelihood decision rule & "modulation specific coding" modules
using MATLAB.
7 Receiver Structure: Optimal receiver for - Implementation of "Minimum Distance
binary transmission, Matched Filter, Variant Decision" rule through coding in MATLAB.
with difference signal
8 MID-TERM
9 Calculation of Bit Error Probabilities:
- Development of "modulation specific
Antipodal, on-off keying, bipolar,
decoding module" using MATLAB.
Optimization of Error Performance

10 Inter-symbol Interference (ISI), Pulse - Implement function to find Error rate in a

Shaping to reduce ISI, Raised-Cosine & Root Communication System
Raised-Cosine Filter, Bandwidth Efficiency
11 Equalization: Channel Characterization, - Scripting of Digital transmission system
MLSE, Equalization with filters over AWGN channel by integrating
 SIR SYED UNIVERSITY OF ENGINEERING & TECHNOLOGY,
KARACHI.
DEPARTMENT OF TELECOMMUNICATION ENGINEERING
modules & functions, developed in previous
labs
12 Transversal Filters (Zero-Forcing - Simulation and analysis of the system with
Equalizer)/Minimum Mean Square Error different channel models.
13 Bandpass Modulation and Demodulation - Scripting and simulation of Orthogonal
Frequency Division Multiplexing (OFDM)
transmission over AWGN channel using
MATLAB.
14 Detection of Signals in Gaussian Noise: Open Ended Lab
Decision Regions, Correlation Receiver
15 Introduction to Information Theory: Block Open Ended Lab
diagram of a communication System,
Information, Shannon's Coding Theorem,
Shannon's Capacity Formula, Discrete
Memory less (DMS) Source, Probability
Mass Function (PMF), Self-Information of a
Symbol, Information of a DMS (Entropy)
16 Linear Block Codes: Generating Matrix, Final Exam/Viva
Parity Check Matrix, Error detection and
correction capabilities of Linear Block
Codes, Hamming Weights, Hamming
Distance, Encoding and Decoding method,

__________________________________________________
Chairman, Department of Telecommunication Engineering