ADVANCED MOBILE COMMUNICATIONS SYSTEMS - 2023/4

Module Overview

Expected prior/parallel learning:     N/A

Module purpose:  Mobile communications systems have been among the fastest growing sectors of the global economy in the past decade and are expected to drive tremendous developments in the upcoming decade. Modern mobile communication systems employ a range of advanced wireless communication techniques and networking technologies/protocols to deliver high rate and high-quality services for a variety of mobile applications. This module aims to cover a number of key advanced concepts that are either used in the modern mobile communication systems or expected to be deployed in the future. Module EEEM018 benefits from Module EEE3007 Data and Internet Networking in relation to Internet protocols.

 

Module provider

Computer Science and Electronic Eng

Module Leader

TAFAZOLLI Rahim (CS & EE)

Number of Credits: 15

ECTS Credits: 7.5

Framework: FHEQ Level 7

Module cap (Maximum number of students): N/A

Module Availability

Semester 2

Prerequisites / Co-requisites

None.

Module content

Indicative content includes the following:

Cellular communication system design and optimisation (Cellular Concept 2G/3G/4G/5G, Cell Planning and Optimisation, Techniques to increase system capacity)

Advanced Modulation and RA (CDMA, Spread Spectrum Techniques, MC-CDMA, Subcarrier Combining Techniques, Peak Power Problem in MC-CDMA, RAKE receivers, Adaptive Modulation Techniques, Channel estimation, Equalisation, MC-CDMA Transceiver Design)

Mobility management in modern access networks (Mobile IP and IP addressing. Network layer issues and Routing, Transport layer protocols (TCP/IP))

Radio Resource Management in modern Cellular Systems (Basic concept and definitions, resource allocation and scheduling techniques, admission control);

Advanced MAC Protocols for Small Cell Systems (Random Access MAC, IEEE802.11x Series, QoS Provisioning in Random Access MAC)

Assessment pattern

Alternative Assessment

N/A

Assessment Strategy

The assessment strategy for this module is designed to:

·         Assess students’ ability to use relevant tools to analyse advanced system level concepts in mobile communications and carry out basic design steps in simulation environments.

·         The written exam will assess their understanding of the various advanced communication techniques taught in this module, the underlying principles and their basic working.

 

Thus, the summative assessment for this module consists of the following.

·         1 written assignment (students will report on their computer-based practical work) within the duration of the module. The estimated time for carrying out the assignment work and writing up report is about 30 hours.

·         2-hour, closed-book written examination at the end of the module teaching during the examination week

 

Formative assessment and feedback

For the module, students will receive formative assessment/feedback in the following ways.

·         During lectures, by question and answer sessions

·         During lectures, by electronic voting

Module aims

• The aim of the lectures is to provide key system level knowledge of advanced wireless communication technologies, including important concept in network architectures and system level optimisation of modern wireless systems. The assignment will help the students further investigate some of the key concepts taught in this module and gain deep insight by simulating some of key relevant techniques.
• The module also aims to provide opportunities for students to learn about the Surrey Pillars listed below.

Learning outcomes

Methods of Teaching / Learning

The learning and teaching strategy is designed to achieve the following aims:

• developing students’ knowledge and skills in the field of mobile communications;


• adjusting lectures according to students’ level of understanding;


• promoting active learning and problem based learning; The module includes Wireshark exercises which provide practical experience related to the lectures.


• promoting research informed teaching; The module includes an assignment that promotes research into 5G/6G various topics.


• providing a stimulating educational environment, quiz exercises throughout the lectures

Learning and teaching methods include the following:

Lectures

Tutorials

Assignments: There is one mandatory assignment in this module which includes research and implementation of some of the advanced and key techniques in mobile communication systems. The estimated time for carrying out the assignment work and writing up report is about 30 hours.

Indicated Lecture Hours (which may also include seminars, tutorials, workshops and other contact time) are approximate and may include in-class tests where one or more of these are an assessment on the module. In-class tests are scheduled/organised separately to taught content and will be published on to student personal timetables, where they apply to taken modules, as soon as they are finalised by central administration. This will usually be after the initial publication of the teaching timetable for the relevant semester.

Reading list

https://readinglists.surrey.ac.uk
Upon accessing the reading list, please search for the module using the module code: EEEM018

Other information

The EEEM018 module contributes to the Surrey Pillars as follows: 

• Sustainability: EEEM018 enables the deep understanding of mobile communication systems (including 4G, 5G and the future 6G generations) that play an important role for the graduates to live and work well, while respecting the Earth’s ecological limits, from the prospective of mobile communication systems.

 

• Global and cultural intelligence: Mobile phones and communication systems are a global system, and EEEM018 helps to understand its details.  Thus this module promotes the critical thinking (with respect to the working of mobile networks) of our graduates as global citizens who can engage effectively and ethically with people from different backgrounds.

 

• Digital capabilities: The skills that EEEM018 provides, will enable graduates and their organisations to be able to participate actively in society and professional life, within a digital and the connected mobile world, that will play a critical role in providing future services such as driverless cars, remote surgency and smart grid and smart homes. 

 

• Employability: The importance of the understanding mobile communication systems and the related engineering skills cannot be underestimated.  As such, EEEM018 provide professionally focused learning (e.g. learning practical skills using Wireshark) that nurtures career ready graduates.

 

• Resourcefulness and resilience: EEEM018 with the gained mobile systems skills helps to produce resourceful and resilient student is able to respond positively and effectively to opportunities, challenges, difficulties and setbacks. Future mobile networks are expected to be large scale and adaptable to cater for varying user demand and security threats.  EEEM018 will help with deep to understand the enabling technologies for future mobile networks.

Please note that the information detailed within this record is accurate at the time of publishing and may be subject to change. This record contains information for the most up to date version of the programme / module for the 2023/4 academic year.