Lecturer: Lorenzo Favalli  

Course name: Telecomunications networks
Course code: 502514
Degree course: Ingegneria Elettronica e delle Telecomunicazioni
Disciplinary field of science: ING-INF/03
L'insegnamento è caratterizzante per: Ingegneria Elettronica e delle Telecomunicazioni
University credits: CFU 6
Course website: n.d.

Specific course objectives

Provide a description of the main building blocks of a communications network with reference to existing systems and their design and analysis. At the end, the student will be able to understand the main steps in the analysis and dimensioning of a communications network

Course programme

The course presents an overview of the basic techniques to be used to transfer infeormation over a telecom network and aims to put in evidence thei main characteristics in order to allow the students to understand the underlying mechanisms. At the same time, telecom standards are introduced as examples to show how the theoretical pricples explained have been put in practice.

Structure of a TLC system

• source
• signalling
• protocols and interfaces
• Connection oriented and connectionless services
• Propagation, transmission media, signal generation, modulation (basics)

Basic concepts of traffic theory

• Markov systems, birth death processes.
• Offered and delivered traffic, arrival and departure frequencies
• Little’s result
• Kendall’s notation, M/M/// systems.

Multiplexing
Introduce the multiplexing techniques based on centralized assigmement and thair pros and cons.

• General characteristics of space, frequency, time and code multiplexing
• Alignement and justification
• Examples: voice FDM, PDH, SDH, GSM, UMTS

Random access
Introduction to traffic characteristics for connectionless services, relationship between traffic and performance, ALOHA/CSMA/token protocols.

Signalling
Tasks and purposes, in-band and out of band, associated and common channel.

Protocol architectures for packet networks

• OSI model: layered fucntions, layer interaction.
• CCSS7
• Generalities of TCP/IP and ATM
• Routing algorithms and protocols

Mobile radio systems
Cellualr structure, functional hierarchy, main procedures for mobility and security

Course entry requirements

Course structure and teaching

Lectures (hours/year in lecture theatre): 42
Practical class (hours/year in lecture theatre): 6
Practicals / Workshops (hours/year in lecture theatre): 0

Suggested reading materials

A. Pattavina. Reti di Telecomunicazioni. 2 ed.. McGraw-Hill..

O. Bertazioli, L. Favalli. GSM/GPRS. Hoepli.

Testing and exams

Written and oral test. Written must be positive before accessing oral part.