Introduction.
This course provides fundamentals of radio network design: transmission techniques, algorithms and protocols.
The concepts that are interlaced in the program span from the radio channel, to the physical, data link and network layers of the protocol stack. This will allow the student to move from a detailed level to a bird-eye view of radio networks. Such approach is essential: networks have a complexity that grows like the square of the number of nodes, and an overall vision is required, to capture the global structure and architecture (system level); at the same time, the detail on the link level shows what techniques are used to communicate among nodes.
The course first provides fundamental concepts applicable to any radio network, like e.g. WiFi, sensor networks. Then, it focuses on the evolution of mobile radio networks from 2G (GSM) to 5G, in terms of network architecture, services offered, network and transmission techniques. The complexity of these systems make it possible however only introducing elementary aspects and fundamental concepts. More insight is possible through other courses, or the final project.
Owing to its nature, this course is essential for students willing to take a job in the field of wireless communications (there is a large number of job offers nowadays in this area, not satisfied by the few students graduating in Telecommunications Engineering). Not only if the job is offered by a telecom operator: radio communications have become pervasive, being embedded into systems of different nature, and this makes competences in radio networks useful in many different contexts
Course material.
Slides are provided as a support tool. The instructor records the audio of all lectures, which are made available to students that missed a lecture, or need to go through it again. All material is available through Virtuale.
The slides from the 2020 edition are available below, as a reference. However, the course contents are updated every year.
MRN20_handouts_RRM_sched_notes
Exam dates.
See Alma Esami.