Mobile and Personal Communication Networks

Professors Angelos Rouskas
Efthymios Oikonomou
Course category OPT/T&N
Course ID DS-323
Credits 5
Lecture hours 3 hours
Lab hours 2 hours
Digital resources View on Aristarchus (Open e-Class)

Learning Outcomes

The course presents the architectures and functional characteristics of modern mobile communication networks. Emphasis is given on the networking physical and functional entities and their interoperability, the communication and signaling protocols, the fixed network infrastructure and the mobile services in 2nd generation (GSM), 3rd generation (UMTS) and 4th generation (LTE) networks.

Upon successful completion of the course, the students will be in position to:

  • understand, analyze and evaluate the basic design options in the development, operation and maintenance of the different generations of mobile communication networks
  • know the architecture and physical and functional entities of the different generations of mobile communication networks
  • know of the basic functionalities of radio resource, handover, mobility and communication management of the different generations of mobile communication networks
  • dimension cellular networks based on the offered traffic load and the desirable quality of service

Course Contents

  • Overview of mobile communication networks with emphasis on 2nd generation GSM and 3rd generation UMTS systems.
  • Network architecture (network subsystems, functional layers, physical architecture, radiocoverage, mobility).
  • Radio resource management (functions and procedures for radio management, handover procedure, handover in multi-layer architecture).
  • Mobility management (paging and location update procedures).
  • Communication management (call control, call setup, call release, complementary services, message services).
  • Systems and standards GSM, HSCSD, GPRS, UMTS and LTE. Signalling protocols (SS7).
  • Location based services (architectures, methods).

Recommended Readings

  • M. Theologou, “Mobile and Personal Communication Networks”, Tziola Publishers, (Greek).
  • Holma and Toskala, “WCDMA for UMTS: Radio Access for Third Generation Mobile Communications”, Wiley.
  • Holma and Toskala, “HSDPA/HSUPA for UMTS: High Speed Radio Access for Mobile Communications”, Wiley.
  • Michel Mouly and Marie–Bernadette Pautet, “The GSM System for Mobile Communications”, Telecom Publishing.