Lecture 2: Modern Communications Systems
John M Pauly
September 19, 2021
Communication Systems Overview
L&D Chapter 1
I Information representation
I Communication system block diagrams
I Analog versus digital systems
I Performance metrics
I Data rate limits
Next week: signals and signal space (L&D chapter 2)
Based on Notes from John Gill
Types of Information
I Major classification of data: analog vs. digital
I Analog signals
I speech (but words are discrete)
I music (closer to a continuous signal)
I temperature readings, barometric pressure, wind speed
I images stored on film
I Analog signals can be represented (approximately) using bits
I digitized images (can be compressed using JPEG)
I digitized video (can be compressed to MPEG)
I Bits: text, computer data
I Analog signals can be converted into bits by quantizing/digitizing
The word “bit” was coined in the late 1940s by John Tukey
Analog Messages
I Early analog communication
I telephone (1876)
I phonograph (1877)
I film soundtrack (1923, Lee De Forest, Joseph Tykociński-Tykociner)
I Key to analog communication is the amplifier (1908, Lee De Forest,
triode vacuum tube)
I Broadcast radio (AM, FM) is still analog
I Broadcast television was analog until 2009
Digital Messages
I Early long-distance communication was digital
I semaphores, white flag, smoke signals, bugle calls, telegraph
I Teletypewriters (stock quotations)
I Baudot (1874) created 5-unit code for alphabet. Today baud is a unit
meaning one symbol per second.
I Working teleprinters were in service by 1924 at 65 words per minute
I Fax machines: Group 3 (voice lines) and Group 4 (ISDN)
I In 1990s the accounted for majority of transPacific telephone use. Sadly,
fax machines are still in use.
I First fax machine was Alexander Bain 1843 device required conductive ink
I Pantelegraph (Caselli, 1865) set up telefax between Paris and Lyon
I Ethernet, Internet
There is no name for the unit bit/second. I have proposed claude.
Communication System Block Diagram (Basic)
I Source encoder converts message into message signal (bits)
I Transmitter converts message signal into format appropriate for channel
transmission (analog/digital signal)
I Channel conveys signal but may introduce attenuation, distortion, noise,
interference
I Receiver decodes received signal back to message signal
I Source decoder decodes message signal back into original message
Communication System Block Diagram (Advanced)
Encoder
Channel
Modulator
Encrypt
Demodulator
Decrypt
Decoder
Channel
Source
Encoder
Sink
Source
Source
Decoder
Noise
Channel
I Source encoder compresses message to remove redundancy
I Encryption protects against eavesdroppers and false messages
I Channel encoder adds redundancy for error protection
I Modulator converts digital inputs to signals suitable for physical channel
Examples of Communication Channels
I Communication systems convert information into a format appropriate
for the transmission medium
I Some channels convey electromagnetic waves (signals).
I Radio (20 KHz to 20+ GHz)
I Optical fiber (200 THz or 1550 nm)
I Laser line-of-sight (e.g., from Mars)
I Other channels use sound, smell, pressure, chemical reactions
I smell: ants
I chemical reactions: neuron dendrites
I dance: bees
I Analog communication systems convert (modulate) analog signals into
modulated (analog) signals
I Digital communication systems convert information in the form of bits
into binary/digital signals
Physical Channels
I Physical channels have constraints on what kinds of signals can be
transmitted
I Radio uses E&M waves at various frequencies
I Submarine communication at about 20 KHz
I Cordless telephones: 45 MHz, 900 MHz, 2.4 GHz, 5.8 GHz, 1.9 GHz
I Wired links may require DC balanced codes to prevent voltage build up
I Fiber optic channels use 4B5B modulation to accommodate time-varying
attenuation
I CD and DVD media require minimum spot size but position can be more
precise
I The process of creating a signal suitable for transmission is called
modulation (modulate from Latin to regulate)
AM and FM Modulation
(a) Carrier
(b) Signal
(c) Amplitude modulated
(d) Frequency modulated
Analog vs. Digital Systems
I Analog signals
Values varies continously
I Digital signals
Value limited to a finite set
Digital systems are more robust
I Binary signals
Have 2 possible values
Used to represent bit values
Bit time T needed to send 1 bit
Data rate R = 1/T bits per
second
Sampling and Quantization, I
To transmit analog signals over a digital communication link, we must
discretize both time and values.
Quantization spacing is
2mp
L
; sampling interval is T, not shown in figure.
Sampling and Quantization, II
I Usually sample times are uniformly spaced (although, this is not always
true). Higher frequency content requires faster sampling. (Soprano must
be sampled twice as fast as a tenor.)
0 0.1 0.2 0.3 0.4 0.5 0.6 0.7 0.8 0.9
−0.2
−0.1
0
0.1
0.2
I Quantization levels can be uniformly spaced, but nonuniform
(logarithmic) spacing is often used for voice.
Digital Transmission and Regeneration
Simplest digital communication is binary amplitude-shift keying (ASK)
(a) binary signal input to channel; (b) signal altered by channel;
(c) signal + noise; (d) signal after detection by receiver
Channel Errors
If there is too much channel distortion or noise, receiver may make a
mistake, and the regenerated signal will be incorrect. Channel coding is
needed to detect and correct the message.
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
−2
−1
0
1
2
A
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
−4
−2
0
2
4
B
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
−2
−1
0
1
2
t
C
Pulse Code Modulation (PCM)
To communicate sampled values,
we send a sequence of bits that
represent the quantized value.
For 16 quantization levels, 4 bits
suffice.
PCM can use binary
representation of value.
The PSTN uses companded PCM
(similar to floating point)
Performance Metrics
I Analog communication systems
I Metric is fidelity, closeness to original signal
I We want m̂(t) ≈ m(t)
I A common measure of infidelity is energy of difference signal:
Z T
0
|m̂(t) − m(t)|2
dt
I Digital communication systems
I Metrics are data rate R in bits/sec and probability of bit error
Pe = P{b̂ 6= b}
I Without noise, never make bit errors
I With noise, Pe depends on signal and noise power, data rate, and
channel characteristics.
Data Rate Limits
I Data rate R is limited by signal power, noise power, distortion
I Without distortion or noise, we could transmit at R = ∞ and error
probably Pe = 0
I The Shannon capacity is the maximum possible data rate for a system
with noise and distortion
I This maximum rate can be approached with bit probability close to 0
I For additive white Gaussian noise (AWGN) channels,
C = B log2(1 + SNR)
I The theoretical result does not tell how to design real systems
I Shannon obtained C = 32 Kbps for telephone channels
I Get higher rates with modems/DSL (use much more bandwidth)
I Nowhere near capacity in wireless systems
Next
RTL SDR Lab Friday
I We will give you your RTL SDR’s
I Bring your laptops, and headphones
I We’ll get you up and running!
Next week
I (Very brief) review of EE102A
I Fourier series and Fourier transforms in 2πf
I Vector space perspective of signal processing
I L&D Chapter 2 (skim this, most of this should look very familiar)

lecture 1: introduction to wired and wireless communications

  • 1.
    Lecture 2: ModernCommunications Systems John M Pauly September 19, 2021
  • 2.
    Communication Systems Overview L&DChapter 1 I Information representation I Communication system block diagrams I Analog versus digital systems I Performance metrics I Data rate limits Next week: signals and signal space (L&D chapter 2) Based on Notes from John Gill
  • 3.
    Types of Information IMajor classification of data: analog vs. digital I Analog signals I speech (but words are discrete) I music (closer to a continuous signal) I temperature readings, barometric pressure, wind speed I images stored on film I Analog signals can be represented (approximately) using bits I digitized images (can be compressed using JPEG) I digitized video (can be compressed to MPEG) I Bits: text, computer data I Analog signals can be converted into bits by quantizing/digitizing The word “bit” was coined in the late 1940s by John Tukey
  • 4.
    Analog Messages I Earlyanalog communication I telephone (1876) I phonograph (1877) I film soundtrack (1923, Lee De Forest, Joseph Tykociński-Tykociner) I Key to analog communication is the amplifier (1908, Lee De Forest, triode vacuum tube) I Broadcast radio (AM, FM) is still analog I Broadcast television was analog until 2009
  • 5.
    Digital Messages I Earlylong-distance communication was digital I semaphores, white flag, smoke signals, bugle calls, telegraph I Teletypewriters (stock quotations) I Baudot (1874) created 5-unit code for alphabet. Today baud is a unit meaning one symbol per second. I Working teleprinters were in service by 1924 at 65 words per minute I Fax machines: Group 3 (voice lines) and Group 4 (ISDN) I In 1990s the accounted for majority of transPacific telephone use. Sadly, fax machines are still in use. I First fax machine was Alexander Bain 1843 device required conductive ink I Pantelegraph (Caselli, 1865) set up telefax between Paris and Lyon I Ethernet, Internet There is no name for the unit bit/second. I have proposed claude.
  • 6.
    Communication System BlockDiagram (Basic) I Source encoder converts message into message signal (bits) I Transmitter converts message signal into format appropriate for channel transmission (analog/digital signal) I Channel conveys signal but may introduce attenuation, distortion, noise, interference I Receiver decodes received signal back to message signal I Source decoder decodes message signal back into original message
  • 7.
    Communication System BlockDiagram (Advanced) Encoder Channel Modulator Encrypt Demodulator Decrypt Decoder Channel Source Encoder Sink Source Source Decoder Noise Channel I Source encoder compresses message to remove redundancy I Encryption protects against eavesdroppers and false messages I Channel encoder adds redundancy for error protection I Modulator converts digital inputs to signals suitable for physical channel
  • 8.
    Examples of CommunicationChannels I Communication systems convert information into a format appropriate for the transmission medium I Some channels convey electromagnetic waves (signals). I Radio (20 KHz to 20+ GHz) I Optical fiber (200 THz or 1550 nm) I Laser line-of-sight (e.g., from Mars) I Other channels use sound, smell, pressure, chemical reactions I smell: ants I chemical reactions: neuron dendrites I dance: bees I Analog communication systems convert (modulate) analog signals into modulated (analog) signals I Digital communication systems convert information in the form of bits into binary/digital signals
  • 9.
    Physical Channels I Physicalchannels have constraints on what kinds of signals can be transmitted I Radio uses E&M waves at various frequencies I Submarine communication at about 20 KHz I Cordless telephones: 45 MHz, 900 MHz, 2.4 GHz, 5.8 GHz, 1.9 GHz I Wired links may require DC balanced codes to prevent voltage build up I Fiber optic channels use 4B5B modulation to accommodate time-varying attenuation I CD and DVD media require minimum spot size but position can be more precise I The process of creating a signal suitable for transmission is called modulation (modulate from Latin to regulate)
  • 10.
    AM and FMModulation (a) Carrier (b) Signal (c) Amplitude modulated (d) Frequency modulated
  • 11.
    Analog vs. DigitalSystems I Analog signals Values varies continously I Digital signals Value limited to a finite set Digital systems are more robust I Binary signals Have 2 possible values Used to represent bit values Bit time T needed to send 1 bit Data rate R = 1/T bits per second
  • 12.
    Sampling and Quantization,I To transmit analog signals over a digital communication link, we must discretize both time and values. Quantization spacing is 2mp L ; sampling interval is T, not shown in figure.
  • 13.
    Sampling and Quantization,II I Usually sample times are uniformly spaced (although, this is not always true). Higher frequency content requires faster sampling. (Soprano must be sampled twice as fast as a tenor.) 0 0.1 0.2 0.3 0.4 0.5 0.6 0.7 0.8 0.9 −0.2 −0.1 0 0.1 0.2 I Quantization levels can be uniformly spaced, but nonuniform (logarithmic) spacing is often used for voice.
  • 14.
    Digital Transmission andRegeneration Simplest digital communication is binary amplitude-shift keying (ASK) (a) binary signal input to channel; (b) signal altered by channel; (c) signal + noise; (d) signal after detection by receiver
  • 15.
    Channel Errors If thereis too much channel distortion or noise, receiver may make a mistake, and the regenerated signal will be incorrect. Channel coding is needed to detect and correct the message. 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 −2 −1 0 1 2 A 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 −4 −2 0 2 4 B 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 −2 −1 0 1 2 t C
  • 16.
    Pulse Code Modulation(PCM) To communicate sampled values, we send a sequence of bits that represent the quantized value. For 16 quantization levels, 4 bits suffice. PCM can use binary representation of value. The PSTN uses companded PCM (similar to floating point)
  • 17.
    Performance Metrics I Analogcommunication systems I Metric is fidelity, closeness to original signal I We want m̂(t) ≈ m(t) I A common measure of infidelity is energy of difference signal: Z T 0 |m̂(t) − m(t)|2 dt I Digital communication systems I Metrics are data rate R in bits/sec and probability of bit error Pe = P{b̂ 6= b} I Without noise, never make bit errors I With noise, Pe depends on signal and noise power, data rate, and channel characteristics.
  • 18.
    Data Rate Limits IData rate R is limited by signal power, noise power, distortion I Without distortion or noise, we could transmit at R = ∞ and error probably Pe = 0 I The Shannon capacity is the maximum possible data rate for a system with noise and distortion I This maximum rate can be approached with bit probability close to 0 I For additive white Gaussian noise (AWGN) channels, C = B log2(1 + SNR) I The theoretical result does not tell how to design real systems I Shannon obtained C = 32 Kbps for telephone channels I Get higher rates with modems/DSL (use much more bandwidth) I Nowhere near capacity in wireless systems
  • 19.
    Next RTL SDR LabFriday I We will give you your RTL SDR’s I Bring your laptops, and headphones I We’ll get you up and running! Next week I (Very brief) review of EE102A I Fourier series and Fourier transforms in 2πf I Vector space perspective of signal processing I L&D Chapter 2 (skim this, most of this should look very familiar)