DIGITAL COMMUNICATION

Dr. Yousif H. SULAIMAN

THIRD STAGE

Chapter 1
INTRODUCTION
Why Digital?
Why in military and commercial communication systems use digits ?
There are many reasons . the main advantage is the ease of restoring digital
signals compared to analog .the pulse is amplified by a digital amplifier that restores its
original ideal forum.

Digital channels are less prone to distortion and interference than analog
channels. Since binary digital channels give a meaningful signal only when working in
one of two states- on or off- The outrage must be sufficiently large ,to translate the
channel work point from one state to another . Analogue signals , on the contrary , are
not signals with two states ; they can take a countless number of forms . With the use of
digital technologies , the very low error rate plus the use of detection and error
correction procedures make it possible to achieve high signal accuracy .Digital channels
are more reliable and can be produced at low prices , than analog . Besides, Digital
software allows for more flexible implementation than analog ( for example,
microprocessor, digital switch, large scale integrated circuit ).
Using digital signals and time division multiplexing (TDM) easier to use analog signal
and frequency division multiplexing (FDM). During transmission and switching separate
types of digital signal (data, telegraph, telephone, television ) can be considered as
identical ; after all-this bit is the bit. But digital systems require more intensive
processing then analog. In addition, foe digital systems-it is necessary to allocate a
significant amount of resources for synchronization at various levels. Conversely, analog
systems are easier to synchronize.
Another drawback of digital communication systems is that deterioration in quality is of
a threshold nature. If the ration S/N falls below a certain threshold, quality of service can

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jump from very good to very bad. In analog systems, the deterioration of quality occurs
more smoothly.
In digital communication the message signal to be transmitted is digital in nature . This
means that digital communication involves the transmission of information in digital
form .
Model of a digital communication system

The overall purpose of the system is to transmit the message or sequences of

symbols coming out of a source to destination point at as high a rate and accuracy as
possible .
Now let us have a detailed look at each of the functional blocks in a digital
communication system .

1.Discrete information source

The output of discrete information sources such as a teletype or the numerical
output of a computer consists of a sequence of discrete symbols or letters . Discrete
information sources are characterized by the following parameters :

a. Source alphabet : These are the letters , digits or special characters available from the
information source .
b. Symbol rate : It is the rate at which the information source generates source alphabets
. ( symbols / sec) .
c .Source alphabet probabilities : Hence probability of the occurrence of each source
alphabet can become one of the important property which is useful in digital
communication .
d. Probabilistic dependence of symbols in a sequence : The information carrying
capacity of each source alphabet is different in a particular sequence . This parameter

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defines average information content of the symbols . Entropy may be defined in terms of
bits per symbols .
Information rate = Symbol rate * Source entropy
(bits/sec) (symbols/sec) (bits/symbol)

2.Source Encoder and Decoder

The symbols produced by the information source are given to the source
encoder. These symbols cannot be transmitted directly. They are first converted into
digital form (i.e., binary sequence of 1's and 0's) by the source encoder. Each binary '1'
and '0' is known as a bit. The group of bits is called a code word. Source encoders must
have following important parameters:

a-Block size
Block size describes the maximum number of distinct code words which can be
represented by a source encoder. This depends on the number of bits in the code word.
As an example, the block size of 8 bits source encoder will be 28, i.e. 256 code words.
b-Code word length
Code word length is the number of bits used to represent each code word. As an
example, if 8 bits are assigned to each code ward, then the code word length will be 8
bits.
C- Average data rate
Average data rate is the output bits per second from the source encoder .
Data rate = Symbol rate * code word length
= 10* 8
Data rate = 80 bits / seconds
Also , since the information rate is the minimum number of bits per second
needed to convey information from source to destination .
d- Efficiency of the Encoder
The efficiency of the encoder is the ratio of minimum source information
rate to the actual output data rate of the source encoder .

3- Channel Encoder and Decoder

After converting the message or information signal in the form of binary source
encoder , the signal is transmitted through the channel .The communication channel adds
noise and interference to the signal being transmitted .Hence errors are introduced in the
binary sequence received at the receiver end .This means that the channel encoder and
coder serve to increase the a reliability of a received signal . The coding and decoding
operation at the encoder and decoder needs the memory and processing of binary data .

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THIRD STAGE

Output of Bit to be added channel Output of a

Source encoder encoder for an even parity Channel encoder
b3 b2 b1 b0 b3 b2 b1 b0
1 0 0 0 1 0 0 0
0 1 0 1 0 1 0 1
0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1
: : :
: : :

A channel encoder must have the following important parameters:

a)The coding rate that depends upon the redundant bits added by the cannel encoder .
b)The coding method used.
c)Coding efficiency which is the ratio of data rate at the input to the data rate at the
output of the encoder.
d)Error control capabilities.
e)Feasibility of the encoder and decoder.
4.Digital Modulators and Demodulators
If the modulation signal is digital ,then digital modulation techniques are used.
The carrier signal used by digital modulation is a always continuous sinusoidal wave of
high frequency . A digital modulation method must have following important parameters :
a-Bandwidth needed to transmit the signal ,
b-Probability of symbol or bits error ,
c-Synchronous or asynchronous method of detection,
d-Complexity of implementation .
5. Communication channel has some inherent problems .These are :
a- Signal attenuation.
b- Amplitude and phase distortion .
c- Additive noise interference .
d- Multipath distortion .
ADVANTAGES AND DISADVANTAGES OF DIGITAL
COMMUNICATION
Advantages:
1.The digital communication systems are simpler and cheaper compared to analog
communication systems because of the advances made in the IC technologies.
2. In digital communication, the speech, video and other data may be merged and
transmitted over a common channel using multiplexing.
3. Using data encryption, only permitted receivers may be allowed to detect the
transmitted data. This property is of its most importance in military applications.
4. Since the transmission is digital and the channel encoding is used, therefore the noise
does not accumulate from repeater to repeater in long distance communications.
5. Since the transmitted signal is digital in nature, therefore a large amount of noise
interference may be tolerated.

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6. Since in digital communication, channel coding is used, therefore the errors may be
detected and corrected in the receivers.
7. Digital communication is adaptive to other advanced branches of data processing such
as digital signal processing, image processing and data compression, etc.
Disadvantages
1-Due to analog to digital conversion, the data rate becomes high. Therefore more
transmission bandwidth is required for digital communication.
2-Digital communication needs synchronization in case of synchronous modulation.

Performance Comparison of Analog and Digital Modulation

S.NO. Analog modulation Digital modulation
(a) Transmitted modulated signal is analog in Transmitted signal is digital, i.e.
nature. train of digital pulses.
(b) Amplitude, frequency or phase variations in Amplitude, width or position of the
the transmitted signal transmitted pulses is constant. The
represent the information or message. message is transmitted in the form
of code words.

(c) It is not possible to separate out noise and It is possible to separate signal form
signal. Therefore, repeaters cannot be used. noise. Therefore, repeaters can be
used.
(d) Coding is not possible. Coding techniques can be used to
detect and correct the errors.

(e) Bandwidth required is lower that for the Due to higher bit rates, higher
digital modulation methods. channel bandwidth is required.

(f) FDM is used for multiplexing. TDM is used for multiplexing.

(g) Not suitable for transmission of secret Due to coding techniques, it is
information in military applications. suitable for military applications.

(h) Analog modulation systems are AM FM, PM, Digital modulation systems are
PAM, PWM, etc. PCM, DM, ADM, DPCM, etc.

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Signals may be classified as under:

a. Continuous –time and discrete – time signals .
b. Real and complex signals.
c. Deterministic and random signals.
d. Periodic and Non – periodic signals.
e. Even and odd signals.
f. Energy and power signals.
g. Analog and digital signals.

a. Continuous – time and Discrete – time signals

A signal x(t) is a continuous – time signal if t is a continuous variable . This
means that a continuous – signal is defined continuously in the time – domain . On the
other hand , if time t is a discrete variable , i. e. x(t) is defined at discrete times , then x(t)
is a discrete – time signal . since a discrete – time signal is defined at discrete times , it is
often identified as a sequence of numbers is denoted by x(n) , where n = integer . figure
2. 1 shows the graph of continuous – time and discrete – time signal.

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b. Real and complex signals

A signal x(t) is a real signal if its value is a real number . Similarly , a signal x(t)
is a complex signal if its value is a complex number

c. Deterministic and random signals

The nature and amplitude of deterministic signals at any time can be predicted .
A typical example of a random signal is thermal noise , generated in an electrical circuit
. such a noise signal has probabilistic behavior .

d. Periodic and Aperiodic signals

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THIRD STAGE

A periodic signal is that type of signal which has a definite pattern and repeats
over and over with a repetition period of T .

( ) ( )
T is the period of the signal . The smallest value of period T which satisfies above
equation is called the fundamental period T0 . Fig 2 .2 shows a periodic signal .
A signal is said to be Aperiodic if it does not repeat . Some times aperiodic signals are
said to pulse given by the equation :

( )
( ) ( ) ( )

( )
( )
Which is not equal to x(t) . This shows that the signal having period T0=∞ is nothing but
a periodic signal .
EXAMPLE 2.1 Determine whether the following signals are periodic or not:
a. x(t)=sin 15πt
b. x(t)=sin √2πt
Solution: (a) x(t)=sin 15πt is a periodic signals.
The fundamental period T is given as

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Or

T=0.133 seconds Ans.

[ω=15 π]
(b) x(t)=sin√2 πt is a period signal.
The fundamental period T is given as

[ω=√2 π]

Or

T =√2=1.41 seconds Ans.

e. Even and Odd signal

An even signal is that type of signal which exhibits symmetry in the time
domain.
Mathematically ,
( ) ( )
An odd signal is that type of signal which exhibits anti- symmetry .
Mathematically ,
( ) ( )

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THIRD STAGE

f. Energy and power signals

The energy signal is one which has finite energy and zero average power . The
power signal , is one which has finite average power and infinite energy .
Hence , ( ) is a power signal if :

Unit Impulse Function

An Unit Impulse Function is one of the most important functions in the analysis
of signals and system . This function was invented by (PAM) called Delta function .
Mathematically ,
( ) ,
And
∫ ( )

Shifting property of the Impulse Function

If we take the product of unit impulse function ( ) and any give function ( ) existing
only at since ( ) exists only at
Mathematically ,
∫ ( ) ( ) ( ) ∫ ( ) ( )

The shifting or sampling may also be done at any instant t=t0 if we define the impulse
function at the instant to , Mathematically
∫ ( ) ( ) ( )
EXAMPLE 1 Solve the following integral

∫ ( )

Solution : The given integral may be written as

∫ ( ) ∫ ( ) ∫ ( )

Using shifting property of impulse function for first factor

∫ ( )

= 0+1= 1

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EXAMPLE (2) Find the Fourier transform of an impulse function

( ) ( )
Solution : The expression for Fourier transform is given by

( ) ( ) ∫ ( ) ∫ ( )

Using shifting property of impulse function

( )
( )
( )
( )

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