Communication System Block Diagram

(Basic)

• Source encoder converts message into message signal (bits)

• Transmitter converts message signal into format appropriate for channel
transmission (analog/digital signal)
• Channel conveys signal but may introduce attenuation, distortion, noise,
interference
• Receiver decodes received signal back to message signal
• Source decoder decodes message signal back into original message

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 Communication System Block Diagram
(Advanced)

• Source encoder compresses message to remove redundancy

• Encryption protects against eavesdroppers and false messages
• Channel encoder adds redundancy for error protection
• Modulator converts digital inputs to signals suitable for physical channel

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 Communication Channels

• Communication systems convert information into a format appropriate for

the transmission medium
• The channel is central to operation of a communication system
– Linear (e.g., mobile radio) or nonlinear (e.g., satellite)
– Time invariant (e.g., fiber) or time varying (e.g., mobile radio)
• The information-carrying capacity of a communication system is
proportional to the channel bandwidth
• Pursuit for wider bandwidth
– Copper wire: 1 MHz
– Coaxial cable: 100 MHz
– Microwave: GHz
– Optical fiber: THz
• The process of creating a signal suitable for transmission is called
‘modulation’
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AM and FM Modulation

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 Multiplexing

• To combine multiple signals (analog or digital) for transmission over a

single line or media.
• A common type of multiplexing combines several low-speed signals for
transmission over a single high-speed connection.
• The following are several examples of different multiplexing methods:

– Space Division Multiplexing (SDM): each signal is assigned a different physical link
– Frequency Division Multiplexing (FDM) : each signal is assigned a different frequency
– Time Division Multiplexing (TDM) : each signal is assigned a fixed time slot in a fixed
rotation . A variant of it is the Statistical Time Division Multiplexing (STDM) where time
slots are assigned to signals dynamically to make better use of bandwidth
– Wavelength Division Multiplexing (WDM) : each signal is assigned a particular
wavelength; used on optical fiber.
– Code Division Multiplexing (CDM) :The signals can be transmitted at the same time and
frequency band , but they can be made orthogonal by using special coding.

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