COURSE OUTLINE

Academic Year AY2019-2020 Semester 1

Course Coordinator Li Kwok Hung
Course Code EE/IM4152
Course Title Digital Communications
Pre-requisites EE3012/IM3002 Communication Principles
No of AUs 3
Contact Hours Lectures: 26 hours; Tutorials: 12 hours
Proposal Date 07 Aug 2019

Course Aims
This course aims to provide you with a good understanding of digital communication theory and digital
transmission techniques required in the rapidly expanding field of digital signal transmission and
modulation in communication systems. Information theory related to entropy and channel capacity is
introduced to appreciate Shannon’s information theory. Both linear block codes and convolutional codes
are studied for error-correcting coding.

Intended Learning Outcomes (ILO)

By the end of this course, you should be able to
1. Explain the sampling theorem and determine the Nyquist rate;
2. Recognize the occurrence of aliasing;
3. Describe the importance of line coding;
4. Mention the relationship between pulse shaping and intersymbol interference;
5. Measure information numerically and compute channel capacity;
6. Employ matched filters for optimum signal detection and evaluate error performance;
7. Demonstrate the encoding and decoding processes of linear block codes; and
8. Use trellis diagrams for convolutional codes and conduct the Viterbi algorithm for decoding.

Course Content
• Digital Communication Principles – Sampling Theorem, Line coding, Intersymbol Interference.
• Information Theory – Entropy, Source Encoding, Channel Capacity.
• Optimum Signal Detection – Matched Filter, Signal Space, Optimum Receiver and Error Probability.
• Error-Correcting Codes – Linear Block Codes and Convolutional Codes.

Course Outline

S/N Topic Lecture Tutorial

Hours Hours
1 Digital Communication Principles – Sampling Theorem, Line coding, 7 3
Intersymbol Interference
2 Information Theory – Entropy, Source Encoding 2 1
3 Information Theory – Channel Capacity 2 1

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 4 Optimum Signal Detection – Matched Filter, Signal Space, Optimum 7 3
Receiver and Error Probability
5 Error-Correcting Codes – Linear Block Codes and Convolutional Codes 8 4
Total hours 26 12

Assessment (includes both continuous and summative assessment)

Related
Course
Programme LO or Team/ Assessment
Component LO Weighting
Graduate Individual rubrics
Tested
Attributes
1. Final Examination All EAB SLO (a), (b), (c) 60% Individual
2. CA1: Assignment EAB SLO* (a), (b),
1 10% Individual
(c)
3. CA2: Quiz 1 (OASIS) 1, 2 EAB SLO* (a), (b) 10% Individual
4. CA3: Project Report EAB SLO (a), (b), (c),
All 10% Individual
(i), (j)
5. CA4: Quiz 2 (OASIS) 3, 4 EAB SLO* (a), (b) 10% Individual

Total 100%
* Please refer to Appendix 2 on the EAB accreditation SLOs

Mapping of Course SLOs to EAB Graduate Attributes

Course Student EAB’s 12 Graduate Attributes*

Learning Cat
(a) (b) (c) (d) (e) (f) (g) (h) (i) (j) (k) (l)
Outcomes
Major-
EE4152 Digital
PE  ◐ ◐ ◐ ◐
Communications

1. Explain the sampling theorem and determine the Nyquist rate EAB SLO* (a), (b)

2. Recognize the occurrence of aliasing EAB SLO* (a), (b)

3. Describe the importance of line coding EAB SLO* (a), (b)

4. Mention the relationship between pulse shaping and intersymbol

EAB SLO* (a), (b)
interference

5. Measure information numerically and compute channel capacity EAB SLO* (a), (b)

6. Employ matched filters for optimum signal detection and evaluate error
EAB SLO* (a), (b)
performance

7. Demonstrate the encoding and decoding processes of linear block codes EAB SLO* (a), (b)

8. Use trellis diagrams for convolutional codes and conduct the Viterbi
EAB SLO* (a), (b)
algorithm for decoding

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Legend:  Fully consistent (contributes to more than 75% of Student Learning Outcomes)
◐ Partially consistent (contributes to about 50% of Student Learning Outcomes)
 Weakly consistent (contributes to about 25% of Student Learning Outcomes)
Blank Not related to Student Learning Outcomes

Formative feedback
You would be able to receive the feedback through
• Continuous Assessment 1 (CA1): Assignment;
• Continuous Assessment 2 (CA2): Quiz 1 (OASIS);
• Continuous Assessment 3 (CA3): Project Report;
• Continuous Assessment 4 (CA4): Quiz 2 (OASIS);
• Examination results; and
• Markers’ report on overall examination performance.

Learning and Teaching approach

How does this approach support students in achieving the learning

Approach
outcomes?
Present the course contents via lecture notes and videos, which provide the
LECTURE basic background and essential theory for achieving the Intended Learning
Outcomes (ILO) 1-8.

TUTORIAL Classroom discussions on tutorial problems and related topics

LABORATORY (if any) N/A

Reading and References

TEXTBOOK
1. B P Lathi and Z Ding, Modern Digital and Analog Communication Systems, 4/Ed, Oxford University
Press, 2010

REFERENCES
1. S Haykin and M Moher, Communication Systems, 5/Ed, John Wiley, 2010.
2. J G Proakis and M Salehi, Communication Systems Engineering, 2/Ed, Prentice-Hall, 2002

Course Policies and Student Responsibilities

General: You are expected to attend all lectures and participate in all scheduled continuous assessments.
During the course period, essential announcements will be broadcast online. You are required to follow up
with these announcements closely.

Absenteeism: Continuous assessments make up a significant portion of the total marks. Absence from
continuous assessments without official approved leave will result in zero marks and affect the overall
course grade.

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Academic Integrity
Good academic work depends on honesty and ethical behavior. The quality of your work as a student relies
on adhering to the principles of academic integrity and to the NTU Honor Code, a set of values shared by
the whole university community. Truth, Trust and Justice are at the core of NTU’s shared values.

As a student, it is important that you recognize your responsibilities in understanding and applying the
principles of academic integrity in all the work you do at NTU. Not knowing what is involved in maintaining
academic integrity does not excuse academic dishonesty. You need to actively equip yourself with
strategies to avoid all forms of academic dishonesty, including plagiarism, academic fraud, collusion and
cheating. If you are uncertain of the definitions of any of these terms, you should go to the academic
integrity website for more information. Consult your instructor(s) if you need any clarification about the
requirements of academic integrity in the course.

Course Instructors

Instructor Office Location Phone Email

A/P Li Kwok Hung EEE-S1-B1b-62 6790-5028 [email protected]

Planned Weekly Schedule

Week Topic Course LO Readings/ Activities

Course Overview
1 1, 2 No tutorial class this week
Topic: Sampling Theorem and Aliasing
Tutorial #1: Sampling Theorem and
2 Topic: Sampling and Interpolation 1, 2
Aliasing
Tutorial #2: Sampling and
3 Topic: Line Coding Schemes 3
Interpolation
Topic: Pulse Shaping and Intersymbol Tutorial #3: Line Coding Schemes
4 3, 4
Interference **Assignment (due week 5)
Tutorial #4: Sampling and
5 Topic: Entropy and Source Encoding 5
Interpolation
Tutorial #5: Entropy and Source
6 Topic: Channel Capacity 5 Encoding
**Quiz #1 (covering weeks 1 – 5)
Tutorial #6: Channel Capacity
Topic: Pulse Detection for Binary Signaling,
7 6 **Release Assignment Results
Digital Carrier Systems
**Project Report (due week 6)
Topic: Optimum Threshold Detection for Tutorial #7: Pulse Detection for
8 6
Binary Signaling Binary Signaling
Topic: Geometric Representation of Tutorial #8: Optimum Threshold
9 6
Signals, Optimum Receiver Detection for Binary Signaling
Tutorial #9: Geometric
Topic: Decision Regions and Error Representation of Signals, Optimum
10 6
Probability, Introduction to Channel Coding Receiver
**Release results of Project Report

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 Tutorial #10: Decision Regions and
Topic: Hamming Bound and Perfect Codes.
11 7 Error Probability
Linear Block Codes
**Quiz #2 (covering weeks 6 -- 10)
Topics: Hamming Codes, Bit-Error Rate for Tutorial #11: Hamming Bound and
12 7
Coded Systems Perfect Codes. Linear Block Codes
Tutorial #12: Bit-Error Rate for Block
Topics: Convolutional Codes and Trellis
13 8 Coded Systems, Viterbi Decoding for
Diagram, Viterbi Decoding
Convolutional Codes

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Appendix 2: The EAB (Engineering Accreditation Board) Accreditation SLOs (Student Learning Outcomes)

a) Engineering knowledge: Apply the knowledge of mathematics, natural science, engineering

fundamentals, and an engineering specialisation to the solution of complex engineering problems
b) Problem Analysis: Identify, formulate, research literature, and analyse complex engineering problems
reaching substantiated conclusions using first principles of mathematics, natural sciences, and
engineering sciences.
c) Design/development of Solutions: Design solutions for complex engineering problems and design
system components or processes that meet the specified needs with appropriate consideration for
public health and safety, cultural, societal, and environmental considerations.
d) Investigation: Conduct investigations of complex problems using research-based knowledge and
research methods including design of experiments, analysis and interpretation of data, and synthesis
of the information to provide valid conclusions.
e) Modern Tool Usage: Create, select, and apply appropriate techniques, resources, and modern
engineering and IT tools including prediction and modelling to complex engineering activities with an
understanding of the limitations
f) The engineer and Society: Apply reasoning informed by the contextual knowledge to assess societal,
health, safety, legal, and cultural issues and the consequent responsibilities relevant to the
professional engineering practice.
g) Environment and Sustainability: Understand the impact of the professional engineering solutions in
societal and environmental contexts, and demonstrate the knowledge of, and need for the sustainable
development.
h) Ethics: Apply ethical principles and commit to professional ethics and responsibilities and norms of
the engineering practice.
i) Individual and Team Work: Function effectively as an individual, and as a member or leader in diverse
teams and in multidisciplinary settings.
j) Communication: Communicate effectively on complex engineering activities with the engineering
community and with society at large, such as, being able to comprehend and write effective reports
and design documentation, make effective presentations, and give and receive clear instructions.
k) Project Management and Finance: Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of the engineering
and management principles and economic decision-making, and apply these to one’s own work, as a
member and leader in a team, to manage projects and in multidisciplinary environments.
l) Life-long Learning: Recognise the need for, and have the preparation and ability to engage in
independent and life-long learning in the broadest context of technological change.

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