6 points, SCA Band 2, 0.125 EFTSL
Undergraduate - Unit
Refer to the specific census and withdrawal dates for the semester(s) in which this unit is offered.
Faculty
Organisational Unit
Department of Electrical and Computer Systems Engineering
Coordinator(s)
J Armstrong (Clayton)
M H Jaward (Malaysia)
Unit guides
Synopsis
This unit provides an introduction to underlying technologies, major components and system-wide architectures of modern telecommunication systems. After introducing concepts of block and stream delivery, requirements of a telecommunications network and representation of analogue signals (e.g. voice and video) in digital form, the unit will cover all the major functions in layered architectures. Topics to be covered include multiplexing, basic line transmission and modulation, error protection and correction, packet switching, LAN protocols and the TCP/IP protocols on which the Internet is built. Particular emphasis is given to the major functions that combine to allow communication across key modern digital telecommunication systems such as the Internet, mobile telephony, digital TV and Digital Audio Broadcasting.
Outcomes
At the successful completion of this unit you will be able to:
- Identify major elements of telecommunication systems, including functions in layered architectures such as TCP/IP.
- Appraise alternative medium sharing protocols used in networks such as Ethernet and Wi-Fi.
- Analyse the error detection and correction capabilities of error control codes.
- Evaluate the impact of channel bandwidth and the channel noise on the performance of telecommunication systems.
- Analyse impairments experienced by a modulated signal transmitted through a communication channel.
- Evaluate addressing and routing algorithms, and strategies used in the transport of data packets in the Internet.
- Execute research on an assigned advanced telecommunications topic in a team for making a formal presentation.
Assessment
Continuous assessment: 30%
Examination (3 hours): 70%
Students are required to achieve at least 45% in the total continuous assessment component and at least 45% in the final examination component and an overall mark of 50% to achieve a pass grade in the unit. Students failing to achieve this requirement will be given a maximum of 45% in the unit.
Workload requirements
3 hours lectures, 3 hours of laboratory and practice classes and 6 hours of private study per week.
See also Unit timetable information
Chief examiner(s)
Prerequisites
VCE specialist mathematics and physics or equivalent.