Mobile Communication Systems

General

Educational goals

The objective of the course is to introduce the basic concepts of mobile communication systems, their structure, their operational principles as well as their contemporary realization and future trends. By the successful completion of the course the student should be able to:

  • Analyze the architecture of mobile communication systems.
  • Describe the multiple access methods used in mobile communications and recognize their commonalities and differences.
  • Explain the basic functionalities of mobile communication systems and identify the network elements which take part in their realization.
  • Compare mobile communication systems with respect to their capacity, coverage and offered services.
  • Understand and calculate basic quantitative and qualitative performance indicators of mobile communication systems.
  • Use international terminology and inspect relative specifications.
General Skills
  • Search, analysis and synthesis of information by using the appropriate means and technology.
  • Desicion making.
  • Independent and cooperative work.
  • Respect to the natural environment.
  • Criticism and self-criticism ability.
  • Free, creative and inductive thinking.

Course Contents

Mobile communications at a glance: Evolution of mobile communication systems. Description of basic services, service categories, use cases and quality of service (QoS). Present and future with numbers. Standardization.

Basic principles, functionanlities and techniques of cellular systems: Basic network elements. Duplexing and multiple access. The concept of the cell and the cellular structure. Introduction to basic functionalities of mobile communication systems. Review of signal processing techniques.

Radio propagation and modelling in mobile communication systems.

The GSM/GPRS system: Architecture of 2G-2.5G mobile communication systems (core network, access network, control pllane and user plane). Interfaces and protocol stacks. Air  interface. Radio resource management. Basic network functionalities (mobility management, access procedures, cell selection, location update, paging,  connection management and handover). Principles of planning and dimensioning.

UMTS/HSPA systems: Architecture of 3G-3.5G mobile communication systems. Interfaces and protocol stacks. Air  interface and CDMA. Radio resource management. Basic network functionalities. Differences with respect to 2G systems. HSPA. Principles of planning and dimensioning.

LTE/LTE Advanced systems: Architecture of 4G mobile communication systems.  Evolved packet system and communication protocols. Air interface, OFDM and SC-FDMA, MIMO techniques. Radio resource management. Enhancements with respect to 3G. Advanced techniques of carrier aggregation and Intecell Intereference Coordination. Principles of planning and dimensioning.

5G mobile comunications: ITU definitions and requirements, standardization procedures. Services and use cases. Network architecture, network slicing, NFV and SDN. Multiple access techniques, multi-user MIMO and beamforming.

Teaching Methods - Evaluation

Teaching Method
  • Lectures in the classroom.
Use of ICT means
  • Power point presentations.
  • Moodle.
  • Electronic communication with students.
Teaching Organization
Activity Semester workload
Lectures52
Writing and presenting compulsory work70
Individual study and analysis of literature58
Total 180
Students evaluation

Ι. Final written exam (WE) (50%) that includes:
- Short answer questions
- Multiple choice questions
- Problem solving

ΙΙ. Written project and presentation (WPP) (50%)
- Assigned to groups of two students.
- Requires study of contemporary bibliography, writing a report of 2500-3000 words and presentation of 15-20 minutes.
- The subject, specifications and evaluation criteria are defined around week 8.

The final score (WE*0,5 + WPP*0,5) should be at least five (5). Moreover, WE and WPP individual scores should be at least four (4).

The evaluation criteria are listed in the webpage of the course and are explained to the students in the classroom.

Recommended Bibliography

Recommended Bibliography through "Eudoxus"
  1. (Ελληνικά) Α. Κανάτας, Φ. Κωνσταντίνου, Γ. Πάντος, “Συστήματα Κινητών Επικοινωνιών”, Α. Παπασωτηρίου & Σια ΟΕ, 2η εκδ. 2013, ISBN: 978-960-491-086-1, Κωδικός Βιβλίου στον Εύδοξο: 33154041.
  2. Stallings and C. Beard, “Ασύρματες Επικοινωνίες, Δίκτυα και Συστήματα”, Εκδόσεις Α. Τζιόλα & Υιοί ΑΕ, 2016, ISBN: 978-960-418-549-8, Κωδικός Βιβλίου στον Εύδοξο: 50655989.
Complementary greek bibliography
  1. (Ελληνικά) Σ. Λούβρος, “Το Δίκτυο LTE: Από τις Βασικές Αρχές στο Σχεδιασμό”. Εκδόσεις Νέων Τεχνολογιών, Μον. ΕΠΕ, 2014.
Complementary international bibliography
  1. E. Dalhman, S. Parkvall, J Skold, 4G, “LTE-Advanced Pro and The Road to 5G”, Elsevier Academic Press, 3rd ed., 2016, ISBN: 9780128045756.
  2. A. Osseiran, J.F. Monserrat, P. Marsch, “5G Mobile and Wireless Communications Technology”. Cambridge University Press, 2016, ISBN: 9781107130098.
  3. S. Ahmadi, “LTE Advanced: A Practical Systems Approach to Understanding the 3GPP LTE Releases 10 and 11 Radio Access Technologies”, Elsevier Academic Press, 2014, ISBN: 9780124051621.
  4. F. Khan, “LTE for 4G Mobile Broadband: Air Interface Technologies and Performance”. Cambridge University Press, 2009, ISBN: 9780521882217.
  5. H. Holma and A. Toskala, “WCDMA for UMTS”, John Wiley & Sons Ltd., 4th ed., 20017, ISBN: 9780470319338.
  6. A.R. Mishra (editor), “Advanced Cellular Network Planning and Optimisation”, John Wiley & Sons Ltd., 2007, ISBN: 9780470014714 .
  7. W.C.Y. Lee, “Wireless and Cellular Communications”, Mc Graw-Hill, 3rd ed., 2006, ISBNQ 9787302164234.
Scientific journals
  1. IEEE Communications Magazine
  2. IEEE Wireless Communications
  3. IEEE Vehicular Technology Magazine
  4. IEEE Communications Surveys & Tutorials
  5. IEEE Access