ME503 - Telecommunication System Engineering

Credit Points: 20 credit points

Workload: 60 hours

Prerequisite: ME502 Overview of Digital Communication

Co-requisite: N/A

Aims & Objectives

This is a second trimester core unit out of a total of 12 units in the Master of Engineering (Telecommunications) MEng (Tel). This unit addresses the MEng(Tel) course learning outcomes and complements other courses in a related field by developing students’ specialised knowledge of telecommunication systems, Public Switched Telecommunication Network (PSTN), Digital Microwave Link Designing, Economic Evaluation of Systems. For further course information refer to: http://www.mit.edu.au/study-with-us/programs/master-engineering-telecommunications.
Telecommunication is one of the fastest growing industry sectors in the world. The main aim of this unit is to provide the student with understanding of the basic principles and techniques fundamental to the analysis and design of telecommunication systems.
This unit will provide students with the knowledge and skills to analyse and understand the system engineering, Public Switched Telecommunication Network (PSTN), Digital Microwave Link designing, Economic Evaluation of the system and Radar systems, rationale behind its structure, and technical overview of telecommunication networks from a system point of view. It also covers all the concepts necessary for a complete understanding of the design of a practical telecommunication network.
This unit will cover the following topics:

  • Telecommunication Networks
  • Introduction to Telecommunications System Engineering
  • Telecommunications System Reliability Engineering
  • Single Channel Queuing Models
  • Teletraffic Engineering
  • Digital Microwave Radio Communication Systems
  • Microwave transmission links and coding
  • SS7 signaling and SIP
  • Microwave links design
  • Noise in telecommunication systems
  • Economic Evaluation of Systems

Learning Outcomes

At the completion of this unit students will be able to:

  1. Demonstrate indepth knowledge of system engineering and understand how to make a system more reliable and efficient;
  2. Acquire in-depth technical knowledge of signaling, switching and call routing in Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN) and population queuing models;
  3. Obtain conceptual knowledge and understanding of system reliability, maintainability, costing and design for affordability and human factors;
  4. Demonstrate an in-depth understanding and knowledge of Digital Microwave Radio Systems;
  5. Design Microwave links, path profile construction and acquire a comprehensive understanding of atmospheric effects on the performance of microwave links ;
  6. Undertake an economic evaluation of telecommunication systems;

Weekly Topics

This unit will cover the content below:

Week # Lecture Topic Reading Lab/Tute
1 Introduction to system engineering and telecommunication Networks: What is System; What is System Engineering?; System Design Considerations; The Elements of a System; The Hierarchy of Systems; Functional Areas of Telecommunication. Blanchard, Benjamin S., Fabrycky, Wolter J., " System Engineering and Analysis", Pearson Prentice Hall, 2011. Chapter 1& 2 Introduction to Emona Module and Setting up an Oscilloscope
2 Public Switched Telephone Networks: Telephone Network; Call Routing in PSTN. Numbering Concepts; What is Switching?: Switching Hierarchy; Private Branch Exchanges (PBX); Switching Functions; Network Dimensioning ; Busy Hour; Grade of Service; Erlang B & C Formula; Traffic Intensity. Freeman, R. L., "Telecommunication System Engineering” 4th Ed, Wiley- Interscience, 2004. Chapter 1& 2. Modelling of Telecom Equations using Emona Trainer
3 Teletraffic Engineering: Traffic Intensity/Erlang B Table Flood, J.E., “Telecommunication Noise in AM
4 Introduction to system reliability engineering: Reliability Analysis Methods Blanchard, Benjamin S., Fabrycky, Wolter J., " System Engineering and Analysis", Pearson Prentice Hall, 2011. Chapter 12 An Introduction to Telecom Trainer
5 Single-Channel Queuing Models Fabrycky, Wolter J., " System Engineering and Analysis", Pearson Prentice Hall, 2011. Chapter 10  
6 Maintainability in the System Life Cycle Blanchard, Benjamin S., Fabrycky, Wolter J., " System Engineering and Analysis", Pearson Prentice Hall, 2011. Chapter 13 MID Term Test
7 Digital Microwave Radio Communication System: Introduction; Digital Microwave Radio (DMR) Links Applications,; Propagation in free space; Link budget calculations; Atmospheric effects on communication; Fresnel Zone. Freeman, R. L., "Telecommunication System Engineering” 4th Ed, Wiley- Interscience,2004. Chapter 7 Freeman, R. L., "Radio Systems Design for Telecommunications”,  
8 Digital Microwave Radio Communication System Design: Causes of Radio Wave Fading; Diffraction by Knife Edge; Digital Microwave Radio(DMR) System Configuration; Passive Repeater Configuration; DMR Link Design Steps; Radio path profiling. Freeman, R.L., "Telecommunication System Engineering" 4th Ed, Wiley Interscience, 2004; Chapter 7 Freeman, R. L., "Radio Systems Design for Telecommunications”, 3rd Ed, Wiley-Interscience, 2007. Chapter 2 SNR and Eye Diagram
9 Economic Evaluation of System: Introduction; Time value of Money; Present Worth (PW) Analysis; Conventional Payback Period; Discounted Payback Period; Annual Worth (AW) Analysis. Blanchard, Benjamin S., Fabrycky, Wolter J., " System Engineering and Analysis", Pearson Prentice Hall, 2011. Blank, L., Tarquin, A., “Engineering Economy”, McGraw-Hill, 2011 Introduction to TIMS Module and PRBS Generation
10 Design for Usability (Human Factors) Blanchard, Benjamin S.,Fabrycky, Wolter J., " System Engineering and Analysis", Pearson Prentice Hall, 2011. Chapter 14  
11 Design for Affordability (Life-Cycle Costing) Blanchard, Benjamin S., Fabrycky, Wolter J., " System Engineering and Analysis", Pearson Prentice Hall, 2011. Chapter 17  
12 Review Review  

Assessment

Assessment Task Release Date Due Date A B Learning Outcomes Assessed
Laboratory and Problem Based Learning participation & submission Each week in Lab Each week in Lab 10%   a-f
Individual Formative assignment 1A (500 words)
Individual assignment 1B (face-to-face, In class test, on campus)
Week 1 Week 3
Week 6
5% 10% a-e
Group Project assignment (4000 words) Week 5 Week 10 25%   a-c,d-f
Final Examination (3 hours) (Face-to-face, On campus)       50% a-f
TOTALS     40% 60%  

Task Type: Type A: unsupervised, Type B: supervised.

Class Participation Assessment
This unit has class participation as an assessment. The assessment task and marking rubric will follow the Guidelines on Assessing Class Participation (https://www.mit.edu.au/aboutus/governance/institute-rules-policies-and-plans/policies-procedures-and guidelines/Guidelines_on_Assessing_Class_Participation). Further details will be provided in the assessment specification on the type of assessment tasks and the marking rubrics.

Textbook and Reference Materials

Text Book:

  • Freeman, R. L., "Telecommunication System Engineering” 4th Ed, Wiley-Interscience, 2004.

References:

  • Blanchard, Benjamin S., Fabrycky, Wolter J." System Engineering and Analysis", Pearson Prentice Hall, 2011
  • Freeman, R. L., "Radio Systems Design for Telecommunications”, 3rd Ed, Wiley-Interscience, 2007
  • Change, Kai, “RF and Microwave Wireless Systems”, John Wiley & Sons Inc.,(A Wiley-Interscience Publication), 2011

Graduate Attributes

MIT is committed to ensure the course is current, practical and relevant so that graduates are “work ready” and equipped for life-long learning. In order to accomplish this, the MIT Graduate Attributes identify the required knowledge, skills and attributes that prepare students for the industry.
The level to which Graduate Attributes covered in this unit are as follows:

Ability to communicate Independent and Lifelong Learning Ethics Analytical and Problem Solving Cultural and Global Awareness Team work Specialist knowledge of a field of study

Legend

Levels of attainment Extent covered
The attribute is covered by theory and practice, and addressed by assessed activities in which the students always play an active role, e.g. workshops, lab submissions, assignments, demonstrations, tests, examinations.
The attribute is covered by theory or practice, and addressed by assessed activities in which the students mostly play an active role, e.g. discussions, reading, intepreting documents, tests, examinations.
The attribute is discussed in theory or practice; it is addressed by assessed activities in which the students may play an active role, e.g. lectures and discussions, reading, interpretation, workshops, presentations.
The attribute is presented as a side issue in theory or practice; it is not specifically assessed, but it is addressed by activities such as lectures or tutorials.
The attribute is not considered, there is no theory or practice or activities associated with this attribute.