• Blended Learning & Flipped Classroom

The goal of the course is to teach students the methodologies for modelling, analyzing, and designing wireless networks. Moreover, the course provides the students the instruments for understanding of the modern standard technologies related to Mobile Radio Networks and Wireless Internet. Each topic related to modelling methodologies is treated both theoretically and practically. Selected topics related to advanced technologies are provided with the blended classroom approach with online material and in-class discussion/activities.

The course is divided in two modules of 5 credits each.

Mobile Radio Networks

1         Basics

• Multiple access techniques for radio systems with central channel. 
• Cellular coverage and resource reuse
• Network architecture and functional elements
• Mobility management: cell selection, location management, and handover.

2         Capacity and radio planning

• Mathematical models and algorithms for coverage optimization.
• Mathematical models and algorithms for static frequency assignment.
• Dynamic channel allocation techniques.

3         Performance analysis

• Models for the capacity of CDMA systems
• Traffic models for the performance evaluation at session level.
• Models for the dimensioning of cells and location areas.

4         2G systems (GSM and GPRS/EDGE)

• Architectures, interfaces, physical and logical channels
• Signalling architecture, signalling protocols, network databases, call management procedures, mobility management procedures.
• GPRS/EDGE: radio interface, IP network, interconnection nodes, mobility management, protocol architecture

5         3G systems (UMTS and HSPA)

• Radio access network,
• Core network
• Radio resource management
• High speed packet data services

6         4G systems (LTE and EPC)

• System architecture
• Radio Interface
• Core Network

7        5G systems

• Basic concepts and network architecture
• New radio interface
• Network slicing

Wireless Internet

1. Wireless internet technologies

• Wi-Fi (Architectures and protocols of WLANs, IEEE specifications 802.11, multiple access mechanism, frame formats, distribution system, mobility management),
• Bluetooth (Bluetooth & IEEE 802.15.1 specifications, picocells and scatternets, channel access, stations states, network formation and signaling),
• WMAN (IEEE 802.16 – WiMaX specifications, network architecture, Point-To-Multipoint mode, MESH mode, channel access and scheduling).

2. Network and transport levels

• Network management at network level (Mobile IP, micro-mobility protocols).
• TCP on wireless 

3. Packet access

• Aloha protocol (infinite population model, finite population model, single-buffer model)
• Algorithms for stabilizing random access (stabilized Aloha, stack algorithms)
• Models of CSMA (Carrier Sense Multiple Access), CSMA/CD (CSMA with Collision Detect), CSMA/CA (CSMA with Collision Avoidance),
• Polling systems (waiting time models, exhaustive service, gated service, limited service, round robin service)
• Scheduled radio access (signalling needs, channel state dependent scheduling, multi-carrier scheduling).

4. Ad hoc networks

• Routing in ad-hoc networks (proactive routing, reactive routing, geographic routing, hybrid routing).

Students are required to know the principles of networking and communications systems. They are also expected to have a basic knowledge of traffic models and optimization.

The assessment will be based on a written exam at the end of the course and on additional experimental/project activities.

The written exam is based on numerical exercises (2-3), open questions (2-3) on the network analysis and dimensioning models, and closed questions (5-7). The written exam can assign up to 30 points. The student can select one of the additional experimental/project activities proposed in the course and get assigned up to 5 additional points. 30 cum laude will be assigned when the total score is greater or equal 31.