ECE 608: Multiaccess Communication Theory

Spring, 2006

Instructors: Lang Tong
Schedule: TR 8:40-9:55, PH 217.

Website: blackboard.cornell.edu

Course Description

This is a graduate level course on multiaccess communication theory and its related applications. The course aims to provide three complementary perspectives on multiaccess. Using information theoretic formulations, we investigate fundamental limits on reliable rates of communications for multiaccess channels. For physical layer communications, we present techniques of multiuser transmission and multiuser detection. From a network protocol perspective, we consider techniques of random and scheduled medium access control. Practical algorithms, protocols, and emerging applications in sensor networks, mesh networks, and dynamic spectrum access will also be discussed.

Prerequisite: Probability and random processes (ECE310, ECE411). Digital communications (ECE567) or Information Theory (ECE562).

Tentative Course Outline

  1. Introduction to Multiaccess Communications. Applications
    • Information theoretic and network theoretic views on multiaccess communications.
    • Multiaccess in practical applications.

  2. Information Theoretic Analysis of Multiaccess Communications
    • Elements of information theory: entropy, mutual information, and asymptotic equal partition.
    • Information theoretic formulation: encoding, decoding, and reliable communications.
    • Capacity regions of multiaccess and interference channels.
    • Advanced topics: cooperative broadcast and relay.

  3. Multiuser Communications
    • Elements of modulations and demodulations.
    • Code division multiple access (CDMA) and multiuser detection.
    • Multiuser OFDM
    • Advanced Topics: Asymptotical analysis and scaling behavior.

  4. Medium Access Control
    • Elements of Markov-chain and renew process. Throughput-delay tradeoff.
    • Scheduled transmission: TDMA, FDMA, CDMA.
    • Random access: ALOHA, CSMA, splitting protocols.
    • Advanced topics: Medium access for mutiuser communications.

  5. Practical Applications
    • Wireless LAN (802.11-x) MAC.
    • Medium access for mobile ad hoc networks, sensor networks, and mesh networks.
    • Multiaccess for ultra wideband (UWB) communications.
    • Dynamic spectrum access.