CHAPTER 1

INTRODUCTION

1.1 Definitions

A communication system is defined as a system consisting of an information source,

information sink, and a communication link to move information between source
and sink.
Figure 1.1 shows a block diagram of a basic communication system. The blocks
may be defined in terms of the functions to be performed,and the equipments or
devices to carry out the functional requirements.

a) Information Source
Represents a person or a device generating the original information to be trans-
mitted. For instance, human voice, scene in a TV, message from Teleprinter
keyboard, information stored in a memory, ets · · ·
b) Source Encoder
Source encoding attempts to compress the data from a source in order to trans-
mit it more efficiently. This practice is found every day on the Internet where
the common Zip data compression is used to reduce the network load and make
files smaller.
Communication Systems I, First Edition. 1
By Osama A. Alkishriwo Copyright c 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
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Information Source Channel

source Modulator
encoder encoder

Noise, Interference, Communication

and Distortion channel

Information Source Channel

Demodulator
sink decoder decoder

Figure 1.1 Block diagram of a communication system.

c) Channel Encoder
Channel encoding, adds extra data bits to make the transmission of data more
robust to disturbances present on the transmission channel. The ordinary user
may not be aware of many applications using channel coding. A typical mu-
sic CD uses the Reed-Solomon code to correct for scratches and dust. In this
application the transmission channel is the CD itself.

d) Modulator
The modulator accepts a bit stream as its input and converts it to an electrical
waveform suitable for transmission over the communication channel. Modula-
tion is one of the most powerful tools in the hands of a communication systems
designer. It can be effectively used to minimize the effects of channel noise,
to match the frequency spectrum of the transmitted signal with channel charac-
teristics, to provide the capability to multiplex many signals, and to overcome
some equipment limitations.

e) Communication Channel
The communication channel provides the electrical connection between the
source and the sink. The channel may be a wire line such as a pair of wires,
a telephone link, coaxial cable, fiber optics cable or wireless like microwave,
satellite, mobile over which the information bearing signal is radiated. Due
to physical limitations, communication channels have only finite bandwidth
(B Hz), and the information bearing signal often suffers amplitude and phase
distortion as it travels over the channel.

f) Demodulator
Modulation is a reversible process, and the extraction of the message from the
information bearing waveform produced by the modulator is accomplished by
the demodulator. For a given type of modulation, the most important parame-
ter of the demodulator is the method of demodulation. There are a variety of
techniques available for demodulating a given modulated waveform; the actual
procedure used determines the equipment complexity needed and the accuracy
of demodulation.
 CONTAMINATIONS 3

g) Channel Decoder
Channel decoder uses the extra added bits to the message in the channel encoder
stage to detect and correct errors which may appear in the received message due
to channel effects.
h) Source Decoder
Source decoder is an automated source code analyzer. It is a complement to
source encoder. It decompresses and retrieves the information from the encoded
signal. We can say that source decoder decodes the coming signal to extract the
information out of it.
i) Information Sink
Is the destination of the information being transmitted through the channel from
the information source.

1.2 Contaminations

As the transmitted signal travelled through communication system, certain unwanted

and undesirable effects take place. These effects are distortion, interference, and
noise. It is common practice to lump all these effects in one block as shown in
Fig. 1.1 though they are introduced throughout the system. Noise is a random and
unpredictable electric signals generated from natural and manmade causes and it may
be internal or external to the system. Noise can never be completely eliminated, but
its effect can be minimized by appropriate design to a tolerable value.
Interference is caused by undesired signals which are generated from extraneous
sources. Its effect may be severe and may cause a loss of the desired signal. In
general perfect elimination of interference is possible, but sometimes it is difficult to
be achieved practically.
Distortion is caused by the imperfect response of the system to the desired signal.
It may be linear or nonlinear; the distortion may be in the amplitude or phase of
the signal. The distortion is introduced into the transmitted signal and it disappears
when the signal is turned off. Improved system design and equalization networks
can reduce the distortion to a tolerable value.

1.3 Communication System Requirements

Definition of communication system requirement is the fundamental first step in sys-

tem design. In many cases the most difficult task since most communication system
design involve a great many factors which are technical factors, economical factors,
and environmental factors. The parameters of system design can be listed as fillows
1. Communication objective, i.e. the purpose of establishing the communication
service. This considers type of communication and information to be transmit-
ted.
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2. Traffic analysis will determine volume and loading requirements on the system.
3. Criteria of acceptability which will set constraint on quality and grade of ser-
vice.
The grade of service in telephone system usually refers to the percentage of
completed calls which will fall within a certain acceptable quality specification
with respect to received volume, distortion, noise and fidelity. There are other
definitions for the term associated with line switching systems.
4. Operating requirements, service schedule, i.e. start of operating the system.
5. Initial survey, geography of the system which includes a study of location at
both transmitting and receiving sides and media in between.
6. Facilities surveys, available services, facilities, and transmission mediums. Means
have to satisfy the following transmission requirements
Bandwidth
Overall signal–to–noise ratio
Phase delay distortion
Grade of service
7. Survey of communication techniques and equipments. This includes type of
electronics and mechanical equipments, modulation techniques, desirability of
multiplexing, desirability of adding special equipment to detect and/or correct
errors by either self correcting or retransmission techniques.
8. Service quality and reliability versus cost.
9. Volume, growth, new services, and future prospects versus cost.

1.4 Telecommunication Standards

In telecommunication system design, the standards play a very important role. Be-
fore embarking on any system design, the designer has to look at international/national
standards for the interfaces and protocols. Various standards for telecommunica-
tion/data communications are
American National Standards Institute (ANSI)
Electronics Industries Association (EIA)
European Telecommunication Standardization Institute (ETSI)
International Standardization Organization (ISO)
International Telecommunication Union–Telecommunication Services Sector
(ITU-T), earlier known as CCITT
 EXAMPLES OF COMMUNICATION SYSTEMS 5

Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineering (IEEE)

The standards documents are very important to get an in depth knowledge of the
specifications, particularly during implementation.

1.5 Examples of Communication Systems

There are numerous examples of communication systems, either wire or wireless

systems. Among these systems are the following
1. Telephone System
It makes possible the transmission of human voice over a network from source
to destination. It requires transducer (Microphones) to convert acoustic sig-
nals into electric signal which is sent along a network towards the destination
in which a transducer (Loud Speaker) is used to convert the electric signal to
acoustic waves.
2. Facsimile (FAX) Systems
Still standing pictures and documents are communicated usually over telephone
networks. They use special transducers to convert light signals to electric sig-
nals.
3. Video Telephone System
A telephone system in which subscribers can listen as well as watch each other.
4. Television Broadcasting System
Broadcasting television programs through conventional techniques to the pub-
lic.
5. Voice Over IP System
Transmission of Voice signals over internet protocols (IP).
6. Cable TV Systems (CATV)
A TV system which uses cable for transmission of TV programs.
7. Coaxial Cable Systems
A communication network utilizing coaxial cables for interconnection of its
nodes.
8. Digital Subscriber Line System (DSL
A system utilizing subscriber lines for data transmission.
9. Fiber Optic Communication Systems
A communication network utilizing fiber optic cables for interconnection of its
nodes.
10. Power Line Communication Systems (PLC)
A communication network utilizing power cables for transmission of voice and
data between network nodes.
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11. Cellular Mobile Phone Systems

A wireless network which utilizes cellular concept in which a base station is
installed in each cell and interconnected to switching center, and subscribers are
connected to each other through radio channels in the base station and through
the switching center.
12. Digital Microwave Communication Systems
A communication network utilizing digital microwave links for transmission of
audio, video, and data signals between network nodes.
13. Satellite Communication Systems
A communication network utilizes satellite links for transmission of informa-
tion between network nodes.
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Questions

1.1 Differentiate between noise, interference, and distortion.

1.2 Justify the following statement “Noise in a communication system can never be
completely eliminated”.
1.3 State the function with examples: Communication channel, Channel encoder,
and Source encoder.