COURSE OUTLINE (2023)

COURSE TITLE: Mobile Computing and Wireless

COURSE CODE:
YEAR/SEMESTER:
CREDITS:
DURATION:
PRE-REQUISITES: None
LECTURER:
CONTACT:

week

1 Introduction to Wireless Communication

systems: Frequencies for Radio Transmission, Regulations
and Signals,

2 Signal Propagation, Path Loss of Radio Signals, Additional

Signal Propagations Effects, Multipath Propagatio

3 Multiplexing, SDM, FDM, TDM, CDM.

4 Modulation, ASK,FSK,PSK

5 Spread Spectrum, Direct Sequence Spread Spectrum(DSSS),

Frequency Hoping Spread Spectrum (FHSS)

6 Spread Spectrum, Direct Sequence Spread Spectrum(DSSS),

Frequency Hoping Spread Spectrum (FHSS)

7 Medium Access Control (MAC): Motivation for specialized

MAC, SDMA, FDMA, TDMA,CDMA,Comparison S/T/F/CDMA

8 Cellular Concepts: Introduction, Cell Area, Types of Cell,

Signal Strength and Cell Parameters, Frequency Reuse

9 Cellular or Mobile Networks, Fundamentals of Cellular

Systems, Cellular System Infrastructure

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10 Handoff: Introduction, Types of Handoff, Practical
consideration of Handoff, hard and soft handoff

11 Cell Splitting and Cell Sectoring, Channel Allocation:

Introduction, Static and Dynamic Allocation, Fixed and Dynamic
Channel Allocation Schemes, other channel allocation
schemes

12 GSM, Mobile Services, System Architecture, Radio Interface,

Localization and Calling, Handover and Security

13 Mobile Radio Propagation: Large Scale Path Loss,

introduction, Types of Radio Waves, Propagation Mechanism

14 Free Space Propagation, Land Propagation, Path Loss

15 Two Ray Ground Reflection Model, Diffraction Model ( Knife

Edge Diffraction Model) with examples and applications

Course Learning Outcomes

This course examines the characteristics of mobile and wireless networks and the impact of these
characteristics on the development of software and supporting protocols. Topics covered include: mobile
and wireless application design and development environments, middleware support, protocol
requirements for ad-hoc and sensor networks, wireless & mobile security vulnerabilities and standards,
supporting reliable communication in lossy and intermittently connected networks; challenges and
architectures for wireless mobility - 4G networks, Wi-Fi, Wi-Max, Bluetooth, Mobile IP, convergence of
voice and data networks.

Course Description: COMP 4310/6310 – Wireless Mobile Computing (3) Internet architecture and
design, IPv4 and IPv6, routing algorithms, TCP congestion control, peerto-peer applications, wireless
LAN, mobile IP, mobile ad hoc networks, wireless sensor networks. PREREQUISITE: COMP3825.

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Course description
This course will cover state-of-the-art topics in wireless networking and mobile
computing. The objective of the course is to introduce students to recent advances in
mobile networking and sensing, with an emphasis on practical design aspects of
mobile systems.

We will start with introductory topics in wireless networking and mobile sensing
which will cover design of today's wireless networks such as 802.11n and 802.11ac,
and smartphone/wearable sensing techniques including activity and context
recognition. In the second part of the course, we will cover more advanced topics
including next generation multi-gigabit wireless networks (5G) such as millimeter
wave (802.11ad) and visible light communication, integrated sensing paradigms
including localization and RF sensing, low power networking with a focus on RFID
backscatter and Internet-of-Things (IoT) devices, and networking aspects of future
mobile systems such as drones and autonomous cars.

A list of topics that will be covered in the course is provided below. Please note that
this is a tentative list and is subject to change (including the order of topics) based on
our progress. Instructor will provide required and optional reading material (lecture
notes and research papers) for each class. Detailed schedule and course material will
be posted on the course website.

1. Wireless networking [3.5 weeks]

Primer on wireless communications and networking
A. Physical layer
- OFDM and 802.11 (WiFi) PHY
- Multi-antenna systems and MIMO
- Overview of 802.11n/ac PHY including beamforming
B. MAC layer
- CSMA/CA and WiFi MAC overview
- Wide bandwidth channel access techniques (802.11n/ac)
- Energy efficiency and rate control

2. Mobile and wearable sensing [2.5 weeks]

A. Overview of smartphone/wearable sensors
- Accelerometer, gyroscope, magnetometer etc.
- Smartphone orientation and heading detection
B. Activity recognition and healthcare
- Identifying human activities and context through sensors
- Health monitoring and fitness tracking

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 C. Wearables overview
- Wrist-worn wearables - gesture and remote interaction
- Sensor fusion in body-area networks

3. Multi-gigabit wireless networks [2.5 weeks]

Next generation (5G) wireless technologies
Upper Gigahertz and Terahertz wireless communications
A. Millimeter wave networking
- Directionality and beamforming
- Mobility and signal blockage
- IEEE 802.11ad (60 GHz WLAN) MAC and PHY overview
B. Visible light communication
- High-speed networking using LEDs
- IEEE 802.15.7 PHY and MAC overview
C. Sensing through visible light
- Visible light indoor localization and positioning

4. Indoor localization and RF sensing [2 weeks]

A. Smartphone localization
- WiFi fingerprinting - protocols and challenges
- Non-WiFi localization
B. Device-free sensing with radio frequency
- Mining wireless PHY channel state information
- Device-free localization and indoor human tracking
- Activity and gesture recognition through RF

5. Low-power networking [2 weeks]

A. Backscatter communication
- Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) technology overview
- Energy harvesting tags and applications
B. Internet-of-Things (IoT)
- IoT protocol overview - CoAP and MQTT
- IPv6 networking in low-power PANs (6LoWPAN)

Required and reference textbooks

The course has no required textbook. The course is based on lecture notes and a list of
research papers from recent conferences and journals, both of which will be provided
by the instructor.

The following textbooks can serve as good references -

1. Wireless Communications: Principles and Practice, by Theodore S. Rappaport,

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Prentice Hall.
2. 802.11n: A Survival Guide, by Matthew Gast, O'Reilly Media.
3. 802.11ac: A Survival Guide, by Matthew Gast, O'Reilly Media.
4. Wireless Networking Complete, by Pei Zheng et al., Morgan Kaufmann.

Course Objective
Mobile computing and wireless networks is a young and dynamic field. Ubiquitous access

to information, anywhere, anyplace, and anytime, will characterize whole new kinds of

information systems in the 21

st century. These are being enabled by rapidly emerging

wireless communicationssystems such as Cellular transmissions, Personal

Communications Systems, Mobile IP, Wireless Local Area networks (LANs), Ad Hoc

networks, and Sensor networks. Moreover, the next generation communication systems

are expected to provide a range of services to mobile users to support voice, video,

multimedia, conventional data, and Internet access in an integrated fashion. However this

comes at a price, in terms of capacity, quality, security and network complexity. The

wireless Internet cannot really offer the same as the wired Internet. In order to understand

the opportunities and limitations of wireless and mobile networking and computing, their

potential for growth, how they relate to Internet technology, and how they can cooperate,

this course brings the insight and knowledge of the underlying networking technologies,

architectures and protocols, as well as principles of mobile computing and its enabling

technologies together.

Course Description
This course will examine the area of wireless networking and mobile computing, looking

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at the unique network protocol challenges and opportunities presented by wireless

communications and host or router mobility. The course will give a brief overview of

fundamental concepts in mobile wireless systems and mobile computing, it will then cover

system and standards issues including wireless LANs, mobile IP, ad-hoc networks, sensor

networks, as well as issues associated with small handheld portable devices and new

applications that can exploit mobility and location information. This is followed by several

topical studies around recent research publications in mobile computing and wireless

networking field. This course will make the system architecture and applications

accessible to the electrical engineer and computer scientist.

Course Outline
• Overview of fundamental challenges in wireless networking and potential techniques

• Wide area wireless networks: Mobile IP

• Wireless local area networks (WLAN): MAC design principles, 802.11 (WiFi)

• Wireless person area networks (WPAN): 802.15.4 (ZigBee), bluetooth

• Mobile ad hoc and sensor networks

• Mobile computing and applications

• Advanced topic in wireless networks and mobile computing

Prerequisites
The course 505, Wireless Communications, is recommended, or permission of instructor

Course Benefits
• Learn state-of-the-art wireless technologies;

• Obtain background for original research in wireless networking and mobile

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computing field

• Learn the skill of independently identifying a problem and solving the problem.

Besides grasping basic course knowledge, as a graduate student, you are expected to

be the technical leader in your future career. The class also trains the students with

presentation skill, writing skill, leadership, and teamwork spirit.

Lesson 1 - The Components of a Telecommunications System

Lesson 2 - Wireless Transmission Characteristics: Components & Examples

Lesson 3 - Telecommunications Hardware: Routers, Modems, Switches, Bridges, and Gateways

Lesson 4 - Network Node: Definition, Components & Examples

Lesson 5 - Mobile Networking: Definition, Components & Comparison

Lesson 6 - Characteristics of Mobility in Wireless Networking

Lesson 7 - Specialized Components of Mobile Networks: Characteristics & Requirements

Lesson 8 - User Experience & Seamless Network Environments

Lesson 9 - Mobile App: Definition, Development & Management

Lesson 10 - Wireless Network Modes: Applications & Differences

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 Lesson 11 - Practical Application for Wireless & Mobile Networking: Creating a Wireless Telecommunication Network

Course Content:

1. Introduction and applications of Mobile and Wireless Networks.

2. Overview of Wireless Network Topologies (Infrastructure/Infrastructure-less, Stationary/Mobile),

their layered architectures, current and emerging technologies.

3. Fundamentals of mobile and wireless network communications in the presence of a noisy channel,
multiple access techniques.

4. Wireless radio resource management (RRM), rate adaptation, handover, power allocation and
control.

5. Mobility models for Wireless Networks and their effects on end-to-end communication.

6. Fundamentals of modern Cellular Networks and their architectures.

7. Routing protocols for Wireless Networks and solutions to obstacles induced by mobility. 8.
Performance analysis of remotely hosted communications, metric interpretation, QoS metrics and
techniques based on requirements of delay sensitive wireless Internet applications.

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Course Outline

Note: Each session represents a 3 hour lecture/discussion session.

Session Major Topic Required Reading` Comments and Additional Details
1 Introduction and the Big (Ch.1) Establish framework for discussion and explain the
Picture Sections 1.1 through main building blocks.
1.8)
2 Mobile business, (Ch. 1, Discuss the wireless business,

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 regulations, standards, Sections 1.9-1.11) regulations, management and market issues.
and applications (Ch. 2, Sections 2.1 Introduce mobile applications briefly
and 2.2) Discuss case studies in section 1.11
3 Mobile Computing (Ch. 2, Sections 2.3 Highlight the main applications (wireless messaging,
Applications to Support M- through 2.10) M-Commerce, M-CRM, M-Portals, sensor applications,
Business and M- location-based services,). Skip mobile agent
Government applications.
Discuss case studies in section 2.10
4 Wireless (Ch.3) Concentrate on key ideas
Internet, Mobile IP, and Skip sections 3.4 and May ask the students to review (U -Appendix A) for
the Wireless Web 3..6 basic Networking Concepts, if needed.
Discuss case studies in section 3.8
5 Mobile Computing (Ch.4) Examine the principles of the platforms with a practical
Platforms, Wireless Skip technical analysis of the various platforms and wireless
Middleware, WAP, i- discussions in sections middleware services.
mode, VoiceXML 4.5, 4.6, 4.7. Discuss case studies in Section 4.8
6 Wireless Communication (Ch. 5) Quick overview of principles of wireless
Fundamentals Cover sections 5.1 communications with a review of frequency allocations,
through 5.4. location management, transmission impairments, error
detection and correction, and multiple access
Only cover first strategies (CDMA versus TDMA).
subsections of Section
5.5 through 5.10. Discuss case studies in Section 5.11

7 Wireless LANs (Ch. 6, skip sections Principles of wireless LANs, key characteristics of IEEE
and WPANs 6.3 and 6.5) 802.11 LANs, Wi-Fi LANs, and Mobile Ad Hoc
Networks. Discuss case studies in Section 6.6
(Ch. 7, skip section 7.3 Principles of wireless personal area networks with
and technical emphasis on Bluetooth. The concepts of UWB and
discussion in 7.4) wireless sensor networks are briefly reviewed. Discuss
case studies in Section 7.7.
8 Midterm exam or project Student project may be building a WAP application,
(student presentations) survey and analysis of mobile computing applications
and platforms (depending on background).
9 Cellular Networks (Ch. 8, skip sections Principles of cellular networks ranging from 1G to 5G
8.3, 8.4, 8.6, 8.10, 8.11) with emphasis on 2G, 2.5G, and 3G
Discuss case studies in Section 8.11
10 Fixed Wireless Networks, (Ch. 9, skip design Principles of WLLs, LMDS/MMDS, and their role in the
Wireless Local Loops issues in section 9.4 last mile. A discussion of satellites and
(WLLs), Satellite and skip section 9.5) GEOs/MEOs/LEOs with a brief review of deep space
Communications communications.
Discuss case studies in Section 9.6
11 Wireless Architectures (Ch. 11) Review of how the different components of a wireless
Skip technical system (networks, platforms, and applications can be
discussions packaged together to build integrated architectures.

12 Wireless Security (Ch. 12) Principles of security, special issues in wireless

Skip technical security, and approaches to secure a complete
discussions wireless system from networks to applications.

13 Wireless Management (Ch. 13, concentrate Planning, organization, staffing, deployment and
and Support on sections 13.1 support issues in wireless systems.
through 13.4)
14 Wireless Management (Ch. 13, concentrate on Special discussion of management platforms for
and Support sections 13.5 through wireless systems and organizational issues.
13.6)
15 Final exam or project The students may make presentations on topics of
(student presentations) their choice or may give demos of small prototypes
they build.

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Course Outline

Note: Each session represents a 3 hour lecture/discussion session.

Session Topic
1 Introduction and the Big Picture
2 Mobile Computing Applications to
Support M-Business and M-
Government
3 Wireless Internet, Mobile IP, and
the Wireless Web
4 Mobile Computing Platforms,
Wireless Middleware, WAP, i-
mode, VoiceXML
5 Wireless Communication
Fundamentals
6 Wireless LANs and IEEE 802.11
LANs
7 Midterm exam or project (student
presentations)
8 WPANs, Bluetooth, UWB, Sensor
Networks
9 Cellular Networks
10 Fixed Wireless Networks, Wireless
Local Loops (WLLs), Satellite
Communications
11 Special Topics in Wireless
Networks: Adhoc Networks, FSO,
Flash OFDM, sensor networks
12 Wireless Architectures and Traffic
Engineering
13 Wireless Security
14 Wireless Management and Support
15 Final exam or project (student
presentations)
Required Reading Comments and Additional Details
`
(Ch.1) Establish framework for discussion and explain the main
building blocks
(Ch. 2) Highlight the main applications (wireless messaging, M-
Commerce, M-CRM, M-Portals, sensor applications,
location-based services, and mobile agent applications).
(Ch.3). May ask the students to review (U -Appendix A) for basic
Networking Concepts, if needed.
(Ch.4) Examine the principles of the platforms with a practical
analysis of the various platforms and wireless middleware
services.
(Ch. 5) Principles of wireless communications with a review of
frequency allocations, location management, transmission
impairments, error detection and correction, and multiple
access strategies (CDMA versus TDMA)
(Ch. 6) Principles of wireless LANs, key characteristics of IEEE
802.11 LANs, Wi-Fi LANs, and Mobile Ad Hoc Networks
Student project may be building a WAP application, survey
and analysis of mobile computing applications and
platforms (depending on background).
(Ch. 7) Principles of wireless personal area networks with
emphasis on Bluetooth. The concepts of UWB and
wireless sensor networks are briefly reviewed.
(Ch. 8) Principles of cellular networks ranging from 1G to 5G with
emphasis on 2G, 2.5G, and 3G. Design of cellular
networks is briefly reviewed.
(Ch. 9) Principles of WLLs, LMDS/MMDS, and their role in the last
mile. A discussion of satellites and GEOs/MEOs/LEOs with
a brief review of deep space communications.
(Ch.10): This session may be conducted by students reporting on
details of emerging wireless networks and their
strengths/weaknesses
(Ch. 11) Review of how the different components of a wireless
system (networks, platforms, and applications can be
packaged together to build integrated architectures.
(Ch. 12) Principles of security, special issues in wireless security,
and approaches to secure a complete wireless system
from networks to applications.
(Ch. 13) Planning, organization, staffing, deployment and support
issues in wireless systems. Special discussion of
management platforms for wireless systems.
The students may make presentations on topics of their
choice or may give demos of small prototypes they build. .

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