School of Electrical, Electronic

and Computer Engineering

MSc Communications
and Signal Processing

2010-2011
Your Degree Programme Director is:

Dr Charalampos Tsimenidis

Contact Details:

Room E2.16, Merz Court

Tel. 44 (0)191 222 7347
Internal Extension 7347
E-mail: charalampos.tsimenidis@ncl.ac.uk

Matters common to all the MSc Programmes in the School of Electrical,

Electronic and Computer Engineering (EECE) are described in the MSc
Handbook. This covers general guidance, assessment details, facilities,
safety, etc.

This handbook contains issues specific to the Communications and Signal

Processing programme, such as the aims of the programme and module
choices.

If you are unsure about any point raised in this document or have further
queries relating to the Course you should contact your Tutor or the Degree
Programme Director.
 CONTENTS
1. Introduction 1
1.1 Course Aims 1
1.1.1 Factual Knowledge 1
1.1.2 Skills and Techniques 2
1.2 Course Objectives 2

2. The Course 3
2.1 Taught Modules 3
2.2 Coursework 4
2.3 Penalties 4
2.4 Additional Support Courses 5
1. Introduction

Established in 1995, the MSc in Communications and Signal Processing provides a

much needed bridge between a typical electrical and/or electronic engineering first
degree and employment in known skill shortage areas or a research degree. Its major
features when compared to similar courses offered by other UK academic institutions
are:

• An unparalleled coverage of all of the major disciplines in communications

engineering and signal analysis methodology.
• A comprehensive treatment of advanced communication systems both from
theoretical and practical approaches.
• Innovative educational techniques designed to equip students with practical
design skills and research methodologies.

The Newcastle MSc derives its unique character from the strength of the
Communications and Digital Signal Processing Group, one of the largest of its kind in
the UK. Since its formation in 1980, it has gained a world-wide reputation for high
quality research at the leading edge of communications technology. Research
contracts over the last two years amount to £1.5M and cover a diverse range of
applications in the general areas of telecommunications, digital signal processing,
optoelectronics and satellite engineering. In addition, the Group has many years of
experience in dealing with industrial projects and in running short courses for industry.

1.1 Course Aims

The purpose of the course is to equip graduates of electrical and/or electronic

engineering with the theoretical knowledge and practical experience necessary to
embark on a career as a design or development engineer in the field of communications
and signal processing and to develop transferable skills in research and knowledge
acquisition. It is targeted, primarily, at graduates who find themselves inadequately
prepared to participate successfully in this technology area. Students are expected, on
successful completion of the course, to progress into employment as design and
development engineers in telecommunications and digital signal processing areas or
onto a higher research degree programme.

1.1.1 Factual Knowledge

Three core modules aim to enhance knowledge in the following key areas:

1. Signal Processing and Estimation:

sampling, aliasing and data conversion, discrete and fast Fourier
transforms, digital filters, design of FIR and IIR filters, correlation and
convolution, adaptive filters, spectral estimation.

2. Mobile and Cellular Communications:

historical overviews of data communication systems, cellular networks,
wireless communication environment, multiple access technology,
standards, receiver structures, future of wireless data communication
systems, wireless channel models.

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 3. Advanced Modulation and Coding Techniques:
overview of digital and mobile communication systems, digital modulation;
digital receivers, coding, error correction and information theory.

The MSc course contains three coursework modules focusing on simulation in

MATLAB and DSP implementation of digital receivers, and protocol design of
“Zigbee” based wireless sensor networks. Two additional taught modules chosen
from a list of subjects relevant to communications and signal processing, a
research methods module and a practical project complete the course content.

1.1.2 Skills and Techniques

The transferable skills of report writing, oral presentation and knowledge

acquisition, the use of CAD packages and the planning, execution and prompt
delivery of project work are all features of the course. Self-directed learning
exercises in all taught modules aim to give experience of knowledge acquisition.
The associated seminar/tutorial sessions are intended as a forum for discussion
in which you are encouraged to present and exchange views on your learning
experiences with other members of the group and the Module Leader. Course
work gives you experience of knowledge acquisition, report writing and
experience in the use of CAD tools. The individual project is a major piece of
work and requires detailed planning and background research. Oral presentation
skills, experimental techniques and report writing all take their place in the final
assessment of this piece of work.

1.2 Course Objectives

On successful completion of the course of study you can reasonably expect to have
secured the following learning outcomes:

1. You will possess a sound knowledge of the key subject areas of communication
systems, telecommunications engineering and digital signal processing
techniques. In addition, you should possess in-depth knowledge of your chosen
specialist subject areas. In all subject areas, you should be able to apply your
knowledge to perform elementary analyses and have an appreciation of current
technology and its application.

2. You will have developed the skills of knowledge acquisition so that you might, in
the future, extend your current knowledge through a programme of self directed
study given the appropriate knowledge resources.

3. You will have enhanced your ability to plan, execute and report on a programme
of project work within a closely specified time scale.

4. You should be able to devise experiments and carry them out safely with due
regard for the safety of others.

In addition to the skills described above, you will have developed further your
transferable skills of oral presentation and report writing.

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2. The Course

The programme of study begins annually in mid-September and lasts for a period of 12
months. To successfully complete the MSc programme you are required to take
modules to a total value of 180 credits over three semesters. Taught modules take
place during the first and second semesters with examinations being held in January
and May/June. An individual project is carried out over the full year: background
reading and design work take place during the first and second semesters whilst the
bulk of experimental work and preparation of the dissertation take place during the
summer term.

2.1 Taught Modules

Compulsory Modules

You must take the following compulsory modules:

Code Credits Sem Descriptive title Module Leader

EEE8001 (15) 1 Signal Processing and Estimation Dr WL Woo
EEE8002 (15) 2 Mobile & Cellular Communications Dr WL Woo
EEE8003 (15) 1 Advanced Modulation and Coding Dr S LeGoff
Techniques
EEE8076 (15) 1 Reconfigurable Hardware Design Dr A Bystrov
(Coursework)
EEE8077 (10) 1 Simulation of Wireless Dr C Tsimenidis
Communications (Coursework)
EEE8091 (10) 2 Implementation of Wireless Receiver Dr C Tsimenidis
Algorithms (Coursework)
EEE8092 (10) 1 Sensor Network Group Project Dr C Tsimenidis
(Coursework)
EEE8097 (60) 2 & 3 Individual Project Dr D Giaouris

Optional Modules

In addition to the above compulsory modules you will have to select modules, in
approved combination, to a total value of 30 credits from the following list:

Code Credits Sem Descriptive title Module Leader

EEE8008 (15) 2 RF Engineering Prof G Y Tian
EEE8009 2 Wired and Wireless Network Prof S Boussakta
(15)
Technologies
EEE8010 (15) 2 Advanced Multimedia Systems Prof S S Dlay
EEE8020 (15) 2 Advanced VLSI Design Prof A Yakovlev
EEE8064 (15) 2 Biometrics and Recognition Prof S S Dlay

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Timing of Modules

The timing of modules is designed to produce an equitable division of workload between

the three semesters. Certain combinations of options may, however, result in you
having a higher workload in either semester 1 or semester 2.

Code Semester 1 Credits Semester 2 Credits Semester 3 Credits

EEE8001 15 (compulsory) 0 0
EEE8002 0 15 (compulsory) 0
EEE8003 15 (compulsory) 0 0
EEE8008 0 15 0
EEE8009 0 15 0
EEE8010 0 15 0
EEE8020 0 15 0
EEE8064 0 15 0
EEE8076 15 (compulsory) 0 0
EEE8077 10 (compulsory) 0 0
EEE8091 0 10 (compulsory) 0
EEE8092 10 (compulsory) 0 0
EEE8097 10 (compulsory) 50 (compulsory)

2.2 Course Work

There are four coursework-based modules; EEE8076, EEE8077 and EEE8092 which
are undertaken during Semester 1 and EEE8091 undertaken in semester 2. EEE8076
covers reconfigurable hardware design using FPGA, while EEE8077 deals with the
simulation of wireless communication links in MATLAB. In contrast, EEE8091
concentrates on the real-time implementation of receiver algorithms on SHARC-based
DSP boards, while EEE8092 focuses on wireless sensor network protocols and
embedded programming using Zigbee-based development boards.

The course works are assessed on the basis of a report and software demonstration.
The reports must be submitted to the School Office at a specified date. Further details
will be provided by the individual Module Leader and the Degree Programme Director.

2.3 Penalties

Penalties will be applied for late submission of coursework reports and written
assignments, more information can be found in the MSc handbook:
http://www.ncl.ac.uk/eece/postgrad/taught/MSc-EECE-General-Handbook-10.pdf

The penalty for plagiarism in any written work is covered in the MSc handbook:
http://www.ncl.ac.uk/eece/postgrad/taught/MSc-EECE-General-Handbook-10.pdf

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2.4 Additional Support Courses

During Welcome Week, students will be offered an interactive Introduction to MATLAB

and C Programming languages that are extensively used in the course for both
simulation and embedded hardware based modules, as well as for project-related work.
Although the target audience for these crash courses are students with limited or no
previous experience in programming, a selection of advanced, subject-related topics will
be covered too.