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Wireless Access Systems
Last Updated: 2026-02-05 15:47:11
Abstract
The lecture course covers current and upcoming wireless systems for data communication and localization in diverse applications. Important topics are broadband data networks, indoor localization, internet-of-things, biomedical sensor networks and smart grid communications. The course consists of two tracks, the lecture part “Technology & Systems” and the group exercise part “Simulate & Practice”.
Objective
General learning goals of the course: By the end of this course, students will be able to - understand and illustrate the physical layer and MAC layer limits and challenges of wireless systems with emphasis on data communication and localization - understand and explain the functioning of the most widely used wireless systems - model and simulate the physical layer of state-of-the-art wireless systems - explain challenges and solutions of indoor localization - understand research challenges of future wireless networks Specific learning goals include: - Understanding the principles of OFDM and analyzing its performance on the physical layer - Understanding and evaluating the challenges regarding current applications of wireless networks, e.g. for the internet-of-things, smart grid communication, biomedical sensor communication - Illustrating the characteristics of the wireless channel - Simulation of localization and user tracking based on wireless systems - Explaining the basics of smart grid communications approaches (including narrowband PLC, G3-PLC)
Content
- Introduction - Wireless communication: fundamental Physical layer and MAC layer limits and challenges - Basics of OFDM - Wireless systems: WiFi / WLAN - Wireless systems: Bluetooth, RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) and NFC (Near Field Communication) - Indoor localization based on wireless systems - Internet-of-things: Challenges and solutions regarding wireless data communication and localization - Smart grid communications - Biomedical sensor communication - Next generation designs (glimpse on current research topics) The goal of the course is to explain and analyze modern and future wireless systems for data communication and localization. The course covers designs for generic applications (e.g. WiFi, Bluetooth) as well as systems optimized for specific applications (e.g. biomedical sensor networks, smart grid communications). The course consists of two parallel tracks. The track "Technology&Systems" is structured as regular lecture. In the introduction, we discuss the challenges and potential of wireless access and study some fundamental limits of wireless communications and localization approaches. The second part of this track is devoted to the most widely used wireless systems, WiFi/WLAN, Bluetooth, RFID, NFC. Furthermore, we study the potential of using existing wireless communication systems for indoor localization. The third part follows with an introduction to the internet-of-things, where we focus on data communication and localization challenges and solutions in wireless networks with a massive number of nodes. Next, we study communication technologies for the smart grid, which combine wireless as well as power line communication approaches to optimize availability and efficiency. The track is completed by a comprehensive survey of short-range magneto-inductive micro sensor networks for communication and localization - as a promising technology for biomedical sensor communication (in-body, out-of-body). In the track "Simulate&Practice" we form student teams to simulate and analyze functional blocks of the physical layer of advanced wireless systems (based on MATLAB simulations). The track includes combination tasks in which different teams combine their functional blocks (e.g. transmitter, receiver) in order to simulate the complete physical layer of a wireless system. The focus is on data communication and localization. The tasks include modeling and simulating of single-carrier systems (as, e.g., used in Bluetooth), multi-carrier OFDM systems (e.g. used in WiFi or power line communication), and indoor localization approaches (e.g. relevant for IoT and sensor networks).
Resources
Lecture Notes
Lecture slides are available.
Literature
Will be announced in the lecture.
Learning Materials (Links)
- Main link
- Information
General Information
- Language
- English
- Levels
- MSC
- Frequency
- Yearly recurring
Examination
- Type
- session examination
- Mode
- oral 30 minutes
Course Components
| Type | Title | Time & Place | Hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| lecture |
Wireless Access Systems
Does not take place this semester.
This lecture will be moved to the spring semester. Next date spring 2022.
|
No time listed | 2 h weekly |
| exercise |
Wireless Access Systems
Does not take place this semester.
This lecture will be moved to the spring semester. Next date spring 2022.
|
No time listed | 2 h weekly |
Offered In
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Communication (The core courses and specialisation courses below are a selection for students who wish to specialise in the area of "Communication", see . The individual study plan is subject to the tutor's approval.)
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Core Courses (These core courses are particularly recommended for the field of "Communication". You may choose core courses form other fields in agreement with your tutor. A minimum of 24 credits must be obtained from core courses during the MSc EEIT.)
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Advanced Core Courses (Advanced core courses bring students to gain in-depth knowledge of the chosen specialization. They are MSc level only.)
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Major Courses (A total of 42 CP must be achieved during the Master Programme. The individual study plan is subject to the tutor's approval.)
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Core Subjects (These core subjects are particularly recommended for the field of "Communication".)
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