69774 - Digital Communications and Internet

Learning outcomes

After completing the course the student will possess basic knowledge of telecommunications systems and networks technologies, including the main design criteria. In particular, the student will be able to: understand analog and numerical modulation techniques; understand random phenomena and noise issues in telecommunications equipment; design baseband and passband numerical transmission systems; understand the architecture of cable, fiber optic and wireless transmission systems; understand the architecture of the Internet and the operating principles of major protocols; design and configure small local area networks from the physical layer (cabling) to the network layer (IP addressing and subnetting); compare the main local area network (LAN) technologies by identifying the most suitable ones for a given operational scenario; evaluate the efficiency of data link layer protocols (HDLC, PPP,...) with reference to channel characteristics.

Course contents

MODULE 1 - INTERNET AND TELECOMMUNICATION NETWORKS (Electronic Engineering)

TELECOMMUNICATIONS NETWORKS (Biomedical Engineering)

1. Introduction to telecommunication networks and services, ISO OSI and TCP/IP reference models.
2. Basic concepts of telecommunication network protocols: reliable communications, error control, multiple access, routing, basics of flow and congestion control.
3. Internet architecture, application protocols and HTTP, UDP and TCP transport protocols, IP network protocol, addressing, routing protocols.
4. Access and local area networks (LANs), Ethernet (IEEE 802.3) and its evolution, wireless local area networks (IEEE 802.11), LAN interconnection equipment and virtual local area networks (VLANs).

MODULE 2 - DIGITAL COMMUNICATIONS (Electronic Engineering)

1. Random processes. Stationarity and ergodicity. Gaussian random processes. PAM random processes.
2. Theory of modulation (bandpass signals and systems). Modulation schemes based on sinusoidal carrier.
3. The thermal noise in devices. The AWGN channel. Effect of noise on received signal quality.
4. Introduction to baseband and passband analog and digital transmission systems.

Readings/Bibliography

MODULE 1 - INTERNET AND TELECOMMUNICATION NETWORKS (Electronic Engineering)

TELECOMMUNICATIONS NETWORKS (Biomedical Engineering)

• A. Pattavina, "Internet e Reti: Fondamenti", 3a edizione, Pearson, 2022, ISBN: 9788891930910.
• A. S. Tanenbaum, N. Feamster, D. Wetherall, "Reti di Calcolatori", 6a edizione, Pearson, 2023, ISBN: 9788891915313.

MODULE 2 - DIGITAL COMMUNICATIONS (Electronic Engineering)

• L. Calandrino, M. Chiani, Lezioni di comunicazioni elettriche, Pitagora Editrice, Bologna.

Teaching methods

MODULE 1 - INTERNET AND TELECOMMUNICATION NETWORKS (Electronic Engineering)

TELECOMMUNICATIONS NETWORKS (Biomedical Engineering)

Lectures.

Practical experiments and demonstrations on:

• network traffic analysis (Wireshark);
• network virtualization;
• IP routing protocol analysis.

MODULE 2 - DIGITAL COMMUNICATIONS (Electronic Engineering)

Lectures.

Laboratory experiments on:

• signal processing;
• analysis of modulated signals;
• use of the spectrum analyzer.

Assessment methods

Two final examination tests, one for each teaching module, will assess the student's ability to understand the main concepts and the basic design techniques of telecommunications systems and networks.

MODULE 1 - INTERNET AND TELECOMMUNICATION NETWORKS (Electronic Engineering)

TELECOMMUNICATIONS NETWORKS (Biomedical Engineering)

Students will be asked to answer to a computer-based test followed by an oral exam. The test consists of 12 multiple-choice questions on all course topics and one written exercise. Out of 12 questions, 6 include mutually exclusive answers and 6 include non-mutually exclusive answers. Each question with mutually exclusive answers is worth 1 point, each question with non-mutually exclusive answers is worth 2 points, for a maximum of 18 points overall. To these points, up to 8 points must be added for the written exercise and up to 8 points for the oral interview, depending on their difficulty.

MODULE 2 - DIGITAL COMMUNICATIONS (Electronic Engineering)

Students will be asked to answer to a written test followed by an oral exam.

Teaching tools

Lecture notes and slides available on the VirtuaLE platform.

Office hours

See the website of Walter Cerroni

See the website of Davide Dardari