525.722.81 - Wireless and Mobile Cellular Communications

Expanded Course Description

Prerequisites

525.614 Probability and Stochastic Processes for Engineers or equivalent and 525.616 Communication Systems Engineering.

Course Structure

Details on the course structure can be found in the separate Course Outline document and the Student Requirements Section of this Syllabus.

Course Topics

Course Goals

By the end of the course students will have a working knowledge and skill to evaluate wireless techniques in 3rd, 4th, and 5th generation digital cellular systems and waveforms. Students will also have the ability to work in advanced wireless and mobilecellular programs.

Course Learning Outcomes (CLOs)

• Synthesize and analyze wireless and mobile cellular communication systems over a stochastic fading channel.
• Evaluate the large-scale (shadowing) and small-scale (multipath) effects in the wireless channel and determine the appropriate signal parameters and performance enhancement techniques.
• Distinguish advanced multiple access techniques.
• Explain and quantify diversity reception and equalization techniques.
• Distinguish between digital cellular systems W-CDMA, LTE-A, and 5G waveforms.
• Design a cellular system.

Textbooks

Student Coursework Requirements

It is expected that the class will take approximately 5–8 hours per week: reading the assigned readings sections, viewing instructional videos, and preparing and uploading homework and special assignments.

This course will consist of the following basic student requirements:

Regular Assignments (10% of Final Grade Calculation)

Instructor provided readings and instructional videos in each course module will be important sources of material for your regular assignments. You are strongly encouraged to fully understand the regular assignments. Written solutions will be available after the assignment due date.

Special Problems (10% of Final Grade Calculation)

Instructor provided readings, instructional videos, and regular assignments will be important sources of material for your special problems. Special problems will be assigned and graded. Questions about the solutions to these problems will be addressed in the discussion forum. See course outline for which modules have special problems. The problems will be released in the assignments. All special problem assignments are due according to the dates in the calendar and assignments. The problems should be submitted to the appropriate area in the assignments in PDF. Special assignments will not be accepted late (no exceptions without prior coordination with the instructor). Keep a copy of your submission.

In preparing your written special problem assignments, please put the class assignment number and your name on each page of the assignment, even though it will also be submitted electronically. The purpose of the assignment is to give the students the opportunity to demonstrate their understanding of the course concepts.

Discussions (5% of Final Grade Calculation)

The instructor will propose four questions or problems on Canvas to promote discussion. There is no correct answer to the questions in the discussions. Your participation is graded not your opinions.

Questions are meant to stimulate your thoughts and expose you to differences of opinion. This is an academic discussion. Be respectful of your fellow students. You may respectfully disagree. A paragraph or two on each discussion topic is acceptable participation and will result in full credit.

First Exam (25% of Final Grade Calculation)

Exam’s length and complexity is similar to a three hour in-class exam. The student who has kept up with the readings and assignments should expect to spent about 4 to 5 hours to download, solve, scan, and upload a single PDF file. Students will have one week to complete and upload the file.

Second Exam (25% of Final Grade Calculation)

Exam’s length and complexity is similar to a three hour in-class exam. The student who has kept up with the readings and assignments should expect to spent about 4 to 5 hours to download, solve, scan, and upload a single PDF file. Students will have one week to complete and upload the file.

Design project (25% of Final Grade Calculation)

Will consist of a design project on either a 4G or 5G wireless system. Students will be given the design outline and the necessary parameters to complete the design. The design parameters and the project outline will be given in the 12th module. The draft of the project design will be due in the 13th module and at least 50% of the design topic calculations must be address in the draft submission. The completed design project is due at the end of the 14th module.

All Submissions must be in a single Adobe Portable Document Format (PDF) file.

The students may not collaborate with any other individuals on any graded assignments or exams Writing is expected to meet or exceed accepted graduate-level English and scholarship standards.

Grading Policy

Timely feedback on students' performance is an established learning tool, so we will endeavor to grade and return to you, as quickly as possible, all material that you submit.

EP uses a +/- grading system (see “Grading System”, Graduate Programs catalog, p. 10).

A grade of A- or above indicates achievement of consistent excellence and distinction throughout the course—that is, conspicuous excellence in all aspects of assignments and discussion in every week.

A grade of B or above indicates work that meets all course requirements on a level appropriate for graduate academic work. Finalgrades will be determined by the following weighting:

Academic Policies

Deadlines for Adding, Dropping and Withdrawing from Courses

Students may add a course up to one week after the start of the term for that particular course. Students may drop courses according to the drop deadlines outlined in the EP academic calendar (https://ep.jhu.edu/student-services/academic-calendar/). Between the 6th week of the class and prior to the final withdrawal deadline, a student may withdraw from a course with a W on their academic record. A record of the course will remain on the academic record with a W appearing in the grade column to indicate that the student registered and withdrew from the course.

Academic Misconduct Policy

All students are required to read, know, and comply with the Johns Hopkins University Krieger School of Arts and Sciences (KSAS) / Whiting School of Engineering (WSE) Procedures for Handling Allegations of Misconduct by Full-Time and Part-Time Graduate Students.

This policy prohibits academic misconduct, including but not limited to the following: cheating or facilitating cheating; plagiarism; reuse of assignments; unauthorized collaboration; alteration of graded assignments; and unfair competition. Course materials (old assignments, texts, or examinations, etc.) should not be shared unless authorized by the course instructor. Any questions related to this policy should be directed to EP’s academic integrity officer at ep-academic-integrity@jhu.edu.

Students with Disabilities - Accommodations and Accessibility

Johns Hopkins University values diversity and inclusion. We are committed to providing welcoming, equitable, and accessible educational experiences for all students. Students with disabilities (including those with psychological conditions, medical conditions and temporary disabilities) can request accommodations for this course by providing an Accommodation Letter issued by Student Disability Services (SDS). Please request accommodations for this course as early as possible to provide time for effective communication and arrangements.

For further information or to start the process of requesting accommodations, please contact Student Disability Services at Engineering for Professionals, ep-disability-svcs@jhu.edu.

Student Conduct Code

The fundamental purpose of the JHU regulation of student conduct is to promote and to protect the health, safety, welfare, property, and rights of all members of the University community as well as to promote the orderly operation of the University and to safeguard its property and facilities. As members of the University community, students accept certain responsibilities which support the educational mission and create an environment in which all students are afforded the same opportunity to succeed academically. 

For a full description of the code please visit the following website: https://studentaffairs.jhu.edu/policies-guidelines/student-code/

Classroom Climate

JHU is committed to creating a classroom environment that values the diversity of experiences and perspectives that all students bring. Everyone has the right to be treated with dignity and respect. Fostering an inclusive climate is important. Research and experience show that students who interact with peers who are different from themselves learn new things and experience tangible educational outcomes. At no time in this learning process should someone be singled out or treated unequally on the basis of any seen or unseen part of their identity. 
 
If you have concerns in this course about harassment, discrimination, or any unequal treatment, or if you seek accommodations or resources, please reach out to the course instructor directly. Reporting will never impact your course grade. You may also share concerns with your program chair, the Assistant Dean for Diversity and Inclusion, or the Office of Institutional Equity. In handling reports, people will protect your privacy as much as possible, but faculty and staff are required to officially report information for some cases (e.g. sexual harassment).

Course Auditing

When a student enrolls in an EP course with “audit” status, the student must reach an understanding with the instructor as to what is required to earn the “audit.” If the student does not meet those expectations, the instructor must notify the EP Registration Team [EP-Registration@exchange.johnshopkins.edu] in order for the student to be retroactively dropped or withdrawn from the course (depending on when the "audit" was requested and in accordance with EP registration deadlines). All lecture content will remain accessible to auditing students, but access to all other course material is left to the discretion of the instructor.