VISVESVARAYA TECHNOLOGICAL UNIVERSITY, BELAGAVI

B.E: Electronics & Communication Engineering / B.E: Electronics & Telecommunication Engineering
NEP, Outcome Based Education (OBE) and Choice Based Credit System (CBCS)
(Effective from the academic year 2021 – 22)
V Semester

Digital Communication
Course Code 21EC51 CIE Marks 50
Teaching Hours/Week (L:T:P:S) 3:0:0:1 SEE Marks 50
Total Hours of Pedagogy 40 Total Marks 100
Credits 3 Exam Hours 3
Course objectives:
 Understand the concept of signal processing of digital data and signal conversion to symbols at the
transmitter and receiver.
 Compute performance metrics and parameters for symbol processing and recovery in ideal and
corrupted channel conditions.
 Understand the principles of spread spectrum communications.
 Understand the basic principles of information theory and various source coding techniques.
 Build a comprehensive knowledge about various Source and Channel Coding techniques.
 Discuss the different types of errors and error detection and controlling codes used in the
communication channel.
 Understand the concepts of convolution codes and analyze the code words using time domain and
transform domain approach.
Teaching-Learning Process (General Instructions)
The sample strategies, which the teacher can use to accelerate the attainment of the various course
outcomes are listed in the following:
1. Lecture method (L) does not mean only the traditional lecture method, but a different type of
teaching method may be adopted to develop the outcomes.
2. Arrange visits to nearby PSUs such as BHEL, BEL, ISRO, etc., and small-scale communication
industries.
3. Show Video/animation films to explain the functioning of various modulation techniques,
Channel, and source coding.
4. Encourage collaborative (Group) Learning in the class
5. Ask at least three HOTS (Higher-order Thinking) questions in the class, which promotes critical
thinking
6. Adopt Problem Based Learning (PBL), which fosters students’ Analytical skills, develop thinking
skills such as the ability to evaluate, generalize & analyze information rather than simply recall it.
7. Topics will be introduced in multiple representations.
8. Show the different ways to solve the same problem and encourage the students to come up with
their own creative ways to solve them.
9. Discuss how every concept can be applied to the real world - and when that's possible, it helps
improve the students' understanding.
Module-1
Digital Modulation Techniques: Phase shift Keying techniques using coherent detection: generation,
detection and error probabilities of BPSK and QPSK, M–ary PSK, M–ary QAM. Frequency shift keying
techniques using Coherent detection: BFSK generation, detection and error probability. Non coherent
orthogonal modulation techniques: BFSK, DPSK Symbol representation, Block diagrams treatment of
Transmitter and Receiver, Probability of error (without derivation of probability of error equation).
Teaching- Chalk and talk method, Simulation of modulation techniques, Power Point Presentation,
Learning YouTube videos Animation of BPSK, QPSK, BFSK and DPSK.
Process Problems on Generation and detection of DPSK, QPSK.
Self-study topic: Minimum shift keying and Non-coherent BFSK
RBT Level: L1, L2, L3
 Module-2
Signalling Communication through Band Limited AWGN Channels:
Signalling over AWGN Channels- Introduction, Geometric representation of signals, Gram- Schmidt
Orthogonalization procedure, Conversion of the continuous AWGN channel into a vector channel
(without statistical characterization), Optimum receivers using coherent detection: ML Decoding,
Correlation receiver, matched filter receiver.
Signal design for Band limited Channels: Design of band limited signals for zero lSI-The Nyquist
Criterion (statement only), Design of band limited signals with controlled lSI-Partial Response signals,
Probability of error for detection of Digital PAM: Symbol-by-Symbol detection of data with controlled
lSI.
Teaching- Chalk & talk method, PowerPoint Presentation, YouTube videos
Learning Self-study topics: Maximum Likelihood detection, Channel equalization
Process RBT Level: L1, L2, L3

Module-3
Principles of Spread Spectrum: Spread Spectrum Communication Systems: Model of a Spread
Spectrum Digital Communication System, Direct Sequence Spread Spectrum Systems, Effect of De-
spreading on a narrowband Interference, Probability of error (statement only), Some applications of DS
Spread Spectrum Signals, Generation of PN Sequences, Frequency Hopped Spread Spectrum, CDMA
based on IS-95.
Teaching- Chalk & talk method, Seminar about security issues in communication systems
Learning RBT Level: L1, L2, L3
Process
Module-4
Introduction to Information Theory: Measure of information, Average information content of
symbols in long independent sequences.
Source Coding: Encoding of the Source Output, Shannon’s Encoding Algorithm, Shannon-Fano
Encoding Algorithm, Huffman coding.
Error Control Coding: Introduction, Examples of Error control coding, methods of Controlling Errors,
Types of Errors, types of Codes.
Teaching- Chalk and talk method, Problems on source coding, error control codes
Learning RBT Level: L1, L2, L3
Process
Module-5
Linear Block Codes: Matrix description of Linear Block Codes, Error Detection & Correction capabilities
of Linear Block Codes, Single error correction Hamming code, Table lookup Decoding using Standard
Array.
Convolution codes: Convolution Encoder, Time domain approach, Transform domain approach, Code
Tree, Trellis and State Diagram.
Teaching- Chalk and talk method, Animation of convolution encoders
Learning RBT Level: L1, L2, L3
Process
Course outcomes (Course Skill Set)
At the end of the course the student will be able to:
1. Analyze different digital modulation techniques and choose the appropriate modulation technique
for the given specifications.
2. Test and validate symbol processing and performance parameters at the receiver under ideal and
corrupted bandlimited channels.
3. Differentiate various spread spectrum schemes and compute the performance parameters of
communication system.
4. Apply the fundamentals of information theory and perform source coding for given message
5. Apply different encoding and decoding techniques with error Detection and Correction.
Assessment Details (both CIE and SEE)
The weightage of Continuous Internal Evaluation (CIE) is 50% and for Semester End Exam (SEE) is 50%.
The minimum passing mark for the CIE is 40% of the maximum marks (20 marks out of 50). A student
shall be deemed to have satisfied the academic requirements and earned the credits allotted to each
subject/ course if the student secures not less than 35% (18 Marks out of 50) in the semester-end
examination (SEE), and a minimum of 40% (40 marks out of 100) in the sum total of the CIE (Continuous
Internal Evaluation) and SEE (Semester End Examination) taken together.
Continuous Internal Evaluation:
Three Unit Tests each of 20 Marks (duration 01 hour)
1. First test at the end of 5th week of the semester
2. Second test at the end of the 10th week of the semester
3. Third test at the end of the 15th week of the semester
Two assignments each of 10 Marks
4. First assignment at the end of 4th week of the semester
5. Second assignment at the end of 9th week of the semester
Group discussion/Seminar/quiz any one of three suitably planned to attain the COs and POs for 20
Marks (duration 01 hours)
6. At the end of the 13th week of the semester
The sum of three tests, two assignments, and quiz/seminar/group discussion will be out of 100 marks
and will be scaled down to 50 marks
(to have less stressed CIE, the portion of the syllabus should not be common /repeated for any of the
methods of the CIE. Each method of CIE should have a different syllabus portion of the course).
CIE methods /question paper is designed to attain the different levels of Bloom’s taxonomy as
per the outcome defined for the course.
Semester End Examination:
Theory SEE will be conducted by University as per the scheduled timetable, with common question
papers for the subject (duration 03 hours)
1. The question paper will have ten questions. Each question is set for 20 marks.
2. There will be 2 questions from each module. Each of the two questions under a module (with a
maximum of 3 sub-questions), should have a mix of topics under that module.
The students have to answer 5 full questions, selecting one full question from each module..
Suggested Learning Resources:
Text Books:
1. Simon Haykin, “Digital Communication Systems”, John Wiley & sons, First Edition, 2014, ISBN 978-
0-471-64735-5.
2. John G Proakis and Masoud Salehi, “Fundamentals of Communication Systems”, 2014 Edition,
Pearson Education, ISBN 978-8-131-70573-5.
3. K Sam Shanmugam, “Digital and analog communication systems”, John Wiley India Pvt. Ltd, 1996.
4. Hari Bhat, Ganesh Rao, “Information Theory and Coding”, Cengage, 2017.
5. Todd K Moon, “Error Correction Coding”, Wiley Std. Edition, 2006.

Reference Books:
1. Bernard Sklar, “Digital Communications – Fundamentals and Applications”, Second Edition,
Pearson Education, 2016, ISBN: 9780134724058.
2. K Sam Shanmugam, “Digital and analog communication systems”, John Wiley India Pvt. Ltd, 1996.
Web links and Video Lectures (e-Resources)
 https://nptel.ac.in/courses/108102096