University of Manchester

School of Computer Science

CS624: Mobile Computing

Course leader: Dr, Barry Cheetham

Academic staff: Dr. Barry Cheetham & Dr. Nick Filer

Aim

To impart an understanding of fundamental concepts underlying current developments in mobile communication systems and wireless computer networks.

Level: M.Sc. Credit rating: 15 credits (7.5 ECTS)

Degrees ACS (& others for suitably qualified students)

Pre-requisites: Basic Mathematics

Preliminary course-work: 40 hours

Lectures & supervised laboratory work: 40 hours

Post course-work: 40 hours assessed laboratory work

Assessment: 67 % laboratory and 33 % exam

Course material:

Preliminary work: www.cs.man.ac.uk/~barry/mydocs/myCs6242/prelim06.htm

Barry's part : www.cs.man.ac.uk/~barry/mydocs/myCs6242/Barry

Nick's part: www.cs.man.ac.uk/~barry/mydocs/myCs6242/Nick

Coursework: www.cs.man.ac.uk/~barry/mydocs/myCs6242/Coursework

Exams: www.cs.man.ac.uk/~barry/mydocs/myCs6242/Exams

Learning Outcomes

At the end of the course, it is intended that students will have acquired the following knowledge and skills.

1) Understanding of characteristics of radio propagation and interference in multipath propagation and channel model description (A1,A2)

2) Understanding of a range of digital transmission systems as used for applications in mobile telephony and wireless computer networks, pulse shaping and equalisation techniques (A1,A2)

3) Understanding of the issues and techniques used in the design of Medium Access Control protocols for wireless Networks (A1,A2)

4) Understanding of the systems, protocols and mechanisms to support mobility for mobile internet users (A1,A2)

5) The ability to investigate fundamental aspects of transmission and modulation by writing MATLAB programs. The experience of using an industrial standard network simulation package, such as OPNET(B1,C1,C2,D4)

Assessment of learning outcomes

The first four outcomes are assessed through examination; all the outcomes are assessed through an assessed practical project.

Contribution to programme learning

A1,A2, B1,C1,C2,D4

Reading list

• J.Schiller, Mobile communications, ISBN: 0-321-12381-6, Addison-Wesley, 2003

Supplemental books

• T.S. Rappaport, Wireless communications; Principle and Practice, ISBN: 0-13-375536-3
• A S. Tanenbaum, Computer Networks (Fourth Edition), Publisher: Prentice Hall PTR; ISBN: 0130661023; August, 2002.

Detailed Syllabus

Introduction to wireless networking.

Advantages and disadvantages of wireless networking

Characteristics of radio propagation.

Antennas and radio propagation. Multipath effects including fading.

Introduction to digital transmission.

Calculation of bit-error probabilities when the channel is affected by the addition of Gaussian noise. The need for modulation. Binary and multi-level (M-ary) amplitude-shift keying (ASK), frequency-shift keying (FSK) and phase-shift keying (PSK).

Direct sequence spread spectrum Adaptive Equalization Orthogonal frequency division multiplex

Medium Access Control (MAC).

MAC protocols for digital cellular systems such as GSM. MAC protocols for wireless LANs such as IEEE802.11 and HIPERLAN I and II. The near far effect. Hidden and exposed terminals. Collision Avoidance (RTS-CTS) protocols.

Protocols supporting mobility.

Mobile network layer protocols such as mobile-IP, Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP). Mobile transport layer protocols such as mobile-TCP, indirect-TCP. Wireless Application Protocol (WAP).