Courses

Signals, Information and Communication

General

Course Contents

Basic concepts: definitions and brief review of Fourier transform theory. Sampling in time. Representation of digital signals in both time and frequency domains. Signal bandwidth. Modulation techniques. Communication system design: constraints, legislation and market. Introduction to information theory. Entropy. Basic principles of data transmission. Channel capacity and noise. Natural channel modeling: sources and examples of channel degradation. Data transmission. Digital modulation ASK, FSK, PSK. Source encoding. Sampling Theorem. Quantization Noise. Compression and error protection techniques. Channel encoding and block encoding. Multiple access with frequency/time/code division. Communicatio networks and signalling protocols. Applications and examples.

Educational Goals

The course is designed as an introduction to the basic principles of communication relating to recording, storing and transmitting information via analog and digital communication systems. On completion of the course, students should be able to understand and evaluate the most important design issues and choices that arise when building a communication system. Namely, should be able to:
(a) analyze signals concerning communication systems and to measure their basic quantities in both time domain and frequency domain;
(b) describe the basic limitations on the compression and transmission of signals and information, perform simple calculations to assess these limitations and understand their significance in relation to transmission problems;
(c) identify the basic subsystems as well as their behavior and operation in the design of communication systems;
(d) compare and select transmission methods and techniques according to the requirements of actual transmission problems; and
(e) interpret the discrepancies between predicted and measurable behavior of communication systems.

General Skills

Research, analysis and synthesis of data and information, using corresponding technologies, Adaptation to new situations, Decision making, Working in an international environment, Independent work, Teamwork – distribution of responsibilities, Working in an interdisciplinary environment, Practicing criticism and self-criticism, Promoting free, creative and inductive thinking.

Teaching Methods

Lectures, Exercises, Online guidance, Projected Presentations, E-mail communication, Online Synchronous and Asynchronous Teaching Platform (moodle).

Students Evaluation

Assessment Language: English / Greek
The grade of the course is formed 100% by a written final examination including problem solving, graphs, diagrams and calculations based on data.

Recommended Bibliography

Digital Communications: Design for the Real World, Andrew Bateman, ISBN-13: 978-0201343014
Analog and Digital Communications (Schaum’s Outlines), 2nd E, Hwei P. Hsu, ISBN-13: 9780071402286
Modern Digital & Analog Communication Systems, 4th E, Lathi,B. P., Ding,Zhi, ISBN-13: 978-0195384932