revision 2013/2014

Topic 1: Overview of Wireless Networks

Contents and objectives:

• Review of the Unit Guide
• Assessment: Assignments and Exam
• Overview of Wireless Networks

Topic 2: The Internet Protocols

• The Internet as a network of networks
• Network models: OSI and the Internet models
• Moving messages through layers. Encapsulation
• Transport layer protocols: TCP and UDP
• TCP working fundamentals
• IP - the Internet protocol
• Addressing and routing
• Ethernet

Topic 3: Wireless Fundamentals

• Electromagnetic waves
• Electromagnetic spectrum
• Antennas
• Radiation patterns
• Modes of radio waves propagation
• Wireless transmission impairments
  
• Error compensation mechanisms
• Concept of MIMO antenna systems
• Introduction to digital modulation techniques
• QPSK and QAM

Topic 4: Wireless Local Area Networks. Part 1

• Dominant Wireless Standards
• WLAN, Wi-Fi, IEEE Std 802.11 - 2012
• Architecture of 802.11 networks. STA. AP
• Independent and Infrastructure Basic Service Sets
• Extended Service Set (ESS)
• Logical Service interfaces, SS and DSS
• The reference model
• More on services:
• Distribution and Integration Services.
• Association and Authentication Services.
• MAC Frames

Topic 5: WLAN Technology. MAC Layer Functionality.

• MAC layer functional description
• Contention Services. DCF
• Hidden Station Problem
• High throughput mode
• Frame aggregation

Topic 6: Physical Layer Fundamentals

• Error Detection: FCS/CRC
• Processing of bits by the physical layer
• Error Correction techniques: convolutional codes
• Interleaving and puncturing
• Scrambling
• Interleaving

Topic 7: Physical layer: from bits to signals

• Using QAM to convert a group of bits into a complex frequency
• OFDM -- Orthogonal Frequency-Division Multiplexing

Topic 8: Mobile/Cellular Wireless Networks

• Evolution of Mobile/Cellular Networks: from GSM to UMTS and LTE
• 3GPP Standards
• Principles of Cellular Networks
• Structure and components of of GSM and UMTS networks
• Mobile Switching Centre and its databases: HLR, AUC, VLR, EIR
• Introduction to LTE Architecture

Topic 9: LTE Mobile Broadband Network

• 3GPP Technical Specifications
• EPC + E-UTRAN architecture
• The Core Network (CN) and the Access Network (AN)
• The Home subscriber Server
• Mobility Management Entity
  
• The Serving Gateway and the Packet delivery Network Gateway
• Enhanced NodeB and User Equipment
• Fundamentals of the Physical Layer
• Link Layer - User Plane Protocol Stack
• HARQ and ARQ

Topic 10a: LTE Physical Layer and Scheduling

Topic 10b: WiMAX -- Broadband/Mobile Wireless Access Systems

• WiMAX vs LTE
• WiMAX Network Architecture
• Network Reference Model
• Protocol Stack
• Components of the layer 2
• Mobile Station State Diagram
• Physical Layer fundamentals
• The MAC layer
• HARQ and ARAQ
• Mobillity MAnagement and Handover
• Security

Topic 11: Wireless Mesh Networks

• SIngle-hop and multi-hop networks. Bridges.
• IP-based vs Data Link_based wireless networks
• The Mesh BSS
• WMN Architecture
• WMN Frame structure
• Proactive routing
• Path selection in 802.11s
• mesh Formation and management
• MAC in 802.11s

Topic 12: Wireless Personal Area Networks. Bluetooth.

• to do