6 ECTS credits
150 h study time
Offer 1 with catalog number 4016447ENR for all students in the 1st semester at a (E) Master - advanced level.
Channel coding is the art of transforming your data such that it gets protected against errors. Shannon proved that using the appropriate channel coding, it is possible to get the maximum amount of data over a given communication channel. This theoretical maximum is also known as the channel capacity.
This course starts from the results on information theory and provides an in-depth analysis of state-of-the-art channel coding. As different application domains results into different optimal channel coding techniques, the course is split into three application domains, namely
- digital storage (QR-code, CD/DVD, hard disc, solid-state discs)
- power-limited communication (satellite and space communications)
- bandwidth-limited communication (WiFi and 5G communications)
The course will also include the introduction/recap of the above-mentioned communication standards, giving the students a good overview of the different techniques.
The theoretical aspects will be covered in the 24u of lectures. To get a practical understanding of the techniques, 52u of hands-on labs are foreseen to cover the three domains. The techniques will be tested and demonstrated using a wireless setup which is built around a Universal Software Radio Peripheral (USRP).
Student notes in the format of slides, articles and book references will be provided to the students.
Content of the lectures (24u)
Channel capacity for different application domains
1. Digital storage
2. Power-limited communication
3. Bandwidth-limited communication
Introduction to channel coding
* Error detection, erasures and error correction
* Binary versus Non-binary (2^m-ary) Codes (Galois Fields)
* Algebraic and probabilistic coding (hard versus soft decisions)
* Combining codes: Serial and parallel concatenated codes
Part I: Digital storage
* Data representation using polynomials
* Cyclic block encoding
* Cyclic Redundancy Check (CRC)
* Reed-Solomon coding
* Studying datasheets and performances of RAID controllers, CD/DVD, QR-codes
Part II: Power-limited communication
* Linear binary block codes (Hamming)
* Low Density Parity Check (LDPC)
* Convolutional codes
* Viterbi decoder
* Hard versus soft decoding
* Turbo decoding
* LDPC decoding
* Studying datasheets and performances of Deep Space communicatio, DVB-S and LDPC in LDPC in SSD storage
Part III: Bandwidth-limited communication
* Trellis Code modulation (TCM)
* Turbo TCM
* Bit-Interleaved Coded Modulation (BICM)
* Studying datasheets and performances of Ethernet IEEE 802.3, xDSL, DVB-S2 and DVB-T2, WLAN IEEE 802.11, and LTE - 5G
Content of the Labs (52u)
Three assignments that cover each of the three domains.
1. Digital storage: Implementation RS / CIRC for CD/DVD standard
2. Power-limited communication: Deep Space communication (CCSDS) using concatenated RS and Turbo Coding. Tested using a BPSK modulation/demodulation over a USRP-based hardware emulation setup.
3. Bandwidth-limited communication: DVB-S2: concatenated BCH, LDPC, and BICM. Tested using an OFDM modulation/demodulation setup over a USRP-based hardware emulation setup.
The final grade is composed based on the following categories:
Oral Exam determines 100% of the final mark.
Within the Oral Exam category, the following assignments need to be completed:
The oral examination will have the following format: It is an open book oral exam that focusses on the practical aspects of the techniques. The student will individually defend the decisions and findings of the lab assignments of the three application domains. This will include questions to check the understanding of the theory behind the techniques.
This offer is part of the following study plans:
Master in Applied Sciences and Engineering: Applied Computer Science: Standaard traject
Master of Applied Sciences and Engineering: Computer Science: Artificial Intelligence
Master of Applied Sciences and Engineering: Computer Science: Multimedia
Master of Applied Sciences and Engineering: Computer Science: Software Languages and Software Engineering
Master of Applied Sciences and Engineering: Computer Science: Data Management and Analytics
Master of Photonics Engineering: On campus traject
Master of Photonics Engineering: Online/Digital traject
Master of Electrical Engineering: Standaard traject BRUFACE J