Programme structure
| Semester 1 | Communication Networks | |
| Digital Communication Systems | ||
| Thematic Learning Unit: Electromagnetic Engineering | ||
| Seminar | ||
| Semester 2 | Option 1 Option 2 Option 3 | Mobile Communications Laboratories |
| Mobile Communication Systems | ||
| Mobile Computing | ||
| Network Planning and Performance | ||
| Network Services and Applications | ||
| Optical Communications | ||
| Optical Communications Laboratories | ||
| Optical Networks | ||
| Wireless Networks and Protocols | ||
| Thesis Workplan | ||
Semester 1
Communication Networks
Lecturers: José Ruela (coordinator), Bruno Dias, Susana Sargento
Aims: The main objective of this course is to present the fundamentals of modern telecommunications systems and simultaneously enable students to consolidate and integrate previously acquired knowledge in this area. The course will mainly focus on two subjects: the network basic mechanisms and the TCP/IP architecture. The course will rely on a strong laboratorial component that will enable students to complement their theoretical knowledge with a set of guided experiments that will embrace the different layers and protocols of the TCP/IP architecture.
Syllabus:
1. Network basic mechanisms
2. TCP/IP architecture
3. Overview of telecommunications networks
Digital Communication Systems
Lecturers: José Cabral (coordinator), Artur Moura, José Vieira, Carlos Lima
Aims: The objective of the course is to expose the students to cutting-edge research topics in relevant areas of digital communications, covering both theoretical and applied issues of recognized importance in contemporary communications. The course is not intended as an exhaustive survey of the area. On one hand, it revisits or complements the student’s background in digital communications. On the other hand, it brings to the student’s attention some of the challenges and open issues of the field that are currently under vigorous investigation. It is planned that some of the course lectures will be crash-courses where the relevant background is revisited. The focus of the remaining lectures will be on advanced topics and recent results.
Syllabus:
1. Single-user information theory
2. Pulse modulation
3. Baseband pulse transmission
4. Passband digital transmission
5. Basic coding techniques
6. Multiple-user information theory
7. Multi-Carrier Digital Transmission
8. Spread-spectrum
9. Software Defined Radio
Electromagnetic Engineering
Lecturers: Paulo Mendes (coordinator), Inês Carvalho, Carlos Lima
Aims: The student must be able to identify and understand the main requirements, limitations, parameters, and the fundamentals associated with generation, propagation, and radiation of electromagnetic fields. Based on that knowledge, the student must be able to understand the solutions adopted in actual systems and to propose new solutions to solve new challenges in emerging systems.
Syllabus:
1. Time-varying electromagnetic fields. Maxwell equations. Boundary conditions. Power and energy.
2. Wave equation and its solutions.
3. Wave propagation and polarization. Transverse electromagnetic modes (TEM). Transverse electromagnetic modes (TEM) in lossy media. Polarization.
4. Reflection and transmission. Normal incidence – lossless media. Oblique incidence
lossless media. Normal incidence – lossy media. Oblique incidence – lossy media.
5. Auxiliary vector potentials Construction of solutions. Solution of the inhomogeneous vector potential wave equation. Far-field radiation.
6. Electromagnetic theorems and principles. Duality theorem. Uniqueness theorem. Image theory. Reciprocity theorem.
7. Transmission lines, waveguides and cavities. Coaxial lines. Stripline and microstrip lines. Dielectric waveguide.
8. Introduction to antennas