OVERVIEW

The aim of this teaching unit is to provide basic principles of spectral analysis of continuous and discrete signals and of their transformation by linear and nonlinear systems, of the probability theory, random variables, random processes, and of signal transmission techniques through noisy channels. Such topics are fundamental both for understanding the content of subsequent teaching units in the telecommunications field and in relation to methods and applications that make use of signals.

AIMS AND CONTENT

LEARNING OUTCOMES

The purpose of this course is to provide the students with the necessary principles and notions to understand the operation of a telecommunication system and to be able, in further occasions, to examine it in depth. The introduction of the concepts of deterministic and random signal, filtering and frequency analysis, proves useful to reach such an objective.

AIMS AND LEARNING OUTCOMES

At the end of the teaching unit the student will be able to:

- assess the properties of an analog signal (band, power, frequency, etc.);

- use the main tools for representing an analog signal in the frequency domain, observing its characteristics;

- know the characteristics and advantages of digital signals and be able to design analog-to-digital and digital-to-analog converters;

- know how to analyze noise and stochastic signal sources from a statistical and spectral point of view;

- be able to use frequency filtering and analog modulation techniques to analyze, process and transmit deterministic and stochastic signals;

- understand the functioning and block diagram of systems for transmitting signals over noisy channels, both baseband and band-pass;

- assess the performance of a simple telecommunications system by means of appropriate models and calculations, and understand its study in more advanced and complex cases;

- autonomously study topics related to signal processing, analog and digital transmission, characterization of signals and stochastic phenomena;

- acquire the correct technical terminology in the field of telecommunications and signal processing and be able to describe a system for the acquisition, transformation and transmission of a signal with an appropriate language.

PREREQUISITES

Mastery of the tools of mathematical analysis, as described in the first-year teaching units, with particular reference to real and complex functions of a real variable, limits, derivatives and integrals.

TEACHING METHODS

Lectures (often with the support of slides provided to students in advance) and classroom exercises. Attendance at these activities is recommended. Students are also offered optional activities on different parts of the syllabus: lab exercises or problems to solve on their own. The lab exercises let students get familiar with basic equipment (oscilloscope, signal generator) and put some of the knowledge gained in class into practice. Tackling the proposed problems - whose solutions are graded by one of the teachers - let them test themselves and see how well they’ve learned the topics of the teaching unit.

Students with valid certifications for Specific Learning Disabilities (SLD), disabilities, or other educational needs are invited to contact the teacher and the School Disability Coordinator at the beginning of the teaching unit to discuss possible teaching methods that, while respecting the teaching unit objectives, take into account individual learning styles. The contact details of the School Disability Coordinator are available at the following link: University Committee for the Inclusion of Students with Disabilities or SLD | UniGe | University of Genoa

SYLLABUS/CONTENT

Linear time-invariant systems (and filters). Impulse response and convolution integral. Fourier transform. Characteristic functions and frequency responses of linear time-invariants systems. Low-pass, band-pass, and high-pass filtering. Signal power/energy and power/energy spectral density. Sampling theorem. Ideal and real sampling. . Digital coding of analog signals by PCM (A/D and D/A conversions). PAM digital transmission over broadband and narrowband channels. Time-division (TDM) and frequency-division (FDM) multiplexing.

Probability theory, conditional probability, independent events, joint experiments, repeated trials, law of large numbers. Random variables, probability distribution and density functions, functions of a random variable, expectation, variance, moments. Random variable pairs, joint distribution and density functions, covariance and correlation coefficient. Sample-mean and sample-variance. Random processes, stationary processes, autocorrelation function and power spectral density, ergodic processes. Telegraphic and random binary signals. White noise.

Bandpass transmission methods for continuous signals: linear (AM, DSB, SSB, VSB) and angular (FM, PM) analog modulations. Bandwidth requirements. Basic diagrams of modulation and demodulation systems. Computation of the destination S/N ratio in linear and angular modulation systems. Threshold effect. Pre-emphasized FM. Comparison among different techniques (performances, cost, use).

RECOMMENDED READING/BIBLIOGRAPHY

Teaching material and reference textbooks

• Slides utilized during the lessons (available in Aulaweb).
• A.B. Carlson, P. B. Crilly, J. C. Rutledge, Communication Systems, Mc Graw-Hill, 2001 (4th edition).
• A. Papoulis, S. U. Pillai, Probability, Random Variables and Stochastic Processes, McGraw-Hill, 2002 (4th edition).

Further references

• R. Cusani, Teoria dei Segnali, Edizioni Ingegneria 2000, Roma, 1996.
• C. Prati, Segnali e sistemi per le telecomunicazioni, McGraw-Hill, Milano, 2003
• A. Papoulis, Fourier Integral and its Applications, Mc Graw-Hill, 1962.

TEACHERS AND EXAM BOARD

LESSONS

LESSONS START

https://corsi.unige.it/en/corsi/11911/studenti-orario

Class schedule

The timetable for this course is available here: Portale EasyAcademy

EXAMS

EXAM DESCRIPTION

The examination includes, in this order, a written test (which can be replaced, at the student's choice, by two intermediate written tests, known as compitini) and an oral test. The evaluation of the written test (or the average of the evaluations of the two intermediate tests) is expressed in thirtieths and constitutes the basis for the oral test, which must be taken within two years from such an evaluation. Although, in principle, the final result of the examination depends on the oral test and may deviate without limit from the previous evaluation of the written test, usually the final mark is located in a range, several thirtieths wide, centered on the evaluation of the written test.

Students with valid certifications for Specific Learning Disabilities (SLD), disabilities, or other educational needs may request compensatory and/or exemption measures for the exam. The procedures will be defined on a case-by-case basis, in accordance with the University Regulations, in consultation with the instructor and the School's Disability and SLD Coordinator.

ASSESSMENT METHODS

The written test will assess the student's ability to solve problems that require him/her to apply, by reasoning and calculation, the topics and tools presented along the teaching unit. Both the appropriateness of the student's applied procedure and the correctness of the final result will be assessed.

The oral test will assess the student's mastery and real understanding of the topics presented along the teaching unit, through questions of both theoretical and design nature. Correctness, completeness, clarity, confidence and appropriateness of technical language will be assessed in the answers. Particular importance is also devoted to the ability to make connections between different topics, synergistically using the tools learnt to answer questions.

FURTHER INFORMATION