ITC304

Principle of Communication
• Communication Systems
The communication system is a system which describes
the information exchange between two points. The process of
transmission and reception of information is called communication.
The major elements of communication are the Transmitter of
information, Channel or medium of communication and
the Receiver of information.
Types Of Communication Systems
Depending on Signal specification or technology, the
communication system is classified as follows:

(1) Analog
Analog technology communicates data as electronic signals of
varying frequency or amplitude. Broadcast and telephone transmission are
common examples of Analog technology.

(2) Digital
In digital technology, the data are generated and processed in two
states: High (represented as 1) and Low (represented as 0). Digital
technology stores and transmits data in the form of 1s and 0s.
Depending on the communication channel, the communication system
is categorized as follows:

1. Wired (Line communication)
• Parallel wire communication
• Twisted wire communication
• Coaxial cable communication
• Optical fiber communication

2. Wireless (Space communication)
• Ground wave communication
• Sky wave communication
• Space wave communication
• Satellite communication
The following are a few examples of communication systems:

• 1. Internet
• 2. Public Switched Telephone network
• 3. Intranet and Extranet
• 4. Television
Elements Of Communication Systems
• Information
Message or information is the entity that is to be transmitted. It
can be in the form of audio, video, temperature, picture, pressure, etc.
• Signal
The single-valued function of time that carries the information.
The information is converted into an electrical form for transmission.
• Transducer
A device or an arrangement that converts one form of energy to
the other. An electrical transducer converts physical variables such as
pressure, force, temperature into corresponding electrical signal
variations. Example: Microphone – converts audio signals into
electrical signals. Photo detector – converts light signals into electrical
signals.
Amplifier
The electronic circuit or device that increases the amplitude or the strength of
the transmitted signal is called an amplifier. When the signal strength becomes
less than the required value, amplification can be done anywhere in between
transmitter and receiver. A DC power source will provide for the amplification.

Modulator
As the original message signal cannot be transmitted over a large distance
because of their low frequency and amplitude, they are superimposed with high
frequency and amplitude wave called carrier wave. This phenomenon of
superimposing of message signal with a carrier wave is called modulation. And
the resultant wave is a modulated wave which is to be transmitted.

Transmitter
It is the arrangement that processes the message signal into a suitable form for
transmission and subsequently reception.
Antenna
An Antenna is a structure or a device that will radiate and receive electromagnetic
waves. So, they are used in both transmitters and receivers. An antenna is
basically a metallic object, often a collection of wires. The electromagnetic waves
are polarized according to the position of the antenna.

Channel
A channel refers to a physical medium such as wire, cables, space through which
the signal is passed from the transmitter to the receiver. There are many channel
impairments that affect channel performance to a pronounced level. Noise,
Attenuation and distortion to mention the major impairments.

Noise
Noise is one of the channel imperfection or impairment in the received signal at
the destination. There are external and internal sources that cause noise.

Attenuation
Attenuation is a problem caused by the medium. When the signal is propagating
for a longer distance through a medium, depending on the length of the medium
the initial power decreases.
Distortion
It is also another type of channel problem. When the signal is distorted, the
distorted signal may have frequency and bandwidth different from the transmitted
signal. The variation in the signal frequency can be linear or non-linear.

Receiver
An arrangement that extracts the message or information from the transmitted
signal at the output end of the channel and reproduces it in a suitable form as the
original message signal is a receiver.

Demodulator
It is the inverse phenomenon of modulation. The process of separation of
message signal from the carrier wave takes place in the demodulator. The
information is retrieved from the modulated wave.

Repeaters
Repeaters are placed at different locations in between the transmitter and receiver.
A repeater receives the transmitted signal, amplifies it and send it to the next
repeater without distorting the original signal.
Block Diagram of Communication Systems
Communication Channels
There are three different types of telecommunication and
computer networking channels to be aware of: simplex, half-duplex, and full-
duplex. Here are the definitions of those terms:

1. Simplex Channel-
 A simplex communication channel can send the signals only in one direction.
Thus, entire bandwidth of the channel can be used during the transmission.

 Example-   Radio station

• Radio station is a good example of a simplex communication channel.

• A radio station always sends signals to its audience.
•It never receives signals from the audience.
2. Half Duplex Channel-  
A half duplex communication channel can send signals in both the directions but in
only one direction at a time.
It may be considered as a simplex communication channel whose transmission
direction can be switched.
 
Example- Walkie-Talkie
• Walkie-Talkie is a good example of a half duplex channel.
• Walkie-talkie has a push-to-talk button.
• This button is used to turn on the transmitter but turn off the receiver.
• When the button is pressed, transmitter can not hear the receiver but receiver can hear the
transmitter.

3. Full Duplex Channel-

  A full duplex communication channel can send signals in both the directions at the
same time.
Full duplex communication channels greatly increases the efficiency of
communication.
 
Example- Telephone
•Telephone is a good example of a full duplex channel.
•Both the persons can speak as well as hear each other at the same time.
Fourier Transform

Fourier Transform is a mathematical model which helps to

transform the signals between two different domains, such as transforming
signal from frequency domain to time domain or vice versa. Fourier
transform has many applications in Engineering and Physics, such as
signal processing, RADAR, and so on. In this article, we are going to
discuss the formula of Fourier transform, properties, tables, Fourier cosine
transform, Fourier sine transform with complete explanations.
The term “Fourier transform” can be used in the mathematical
function, and it is also used in the representation of the frequency domain.
Fourier Transform Formula

The Fourier transform is considered to be a generalisation of the

complex Fourier series in the limit L→∞. Also, convert discrete An to the
continuous F(k)dk and let n/L→k. Finally, convert the sum to an integral.

Thus, the Fourier transform of a function f(x) is given by:

Fourier Transform Properties

The following are the important properties of Fourier transform:

• Duality – If h(t) has a Fourier transform H(f), then the Fourier

transform of H(t) is H(-f).

• Linear transform – Fourier transform is a linear transform. Let h(t)

and g(t) be two Fourier transforms, which are denoted by H(f) and
G(f), respectively. In this case, we can easily calculate the Fourier
transform of the linear combination of g and h.

•Modulation property – According to the modulation property, a

function is modulated by the other function, if it is multiplied in time.
Applications of Fourier Transform

Fourier transform is used in a wide range of applications, such as:

• Image Compression
• Image Analysis
• Image Filtering
• Image Reconstruction
Signal to Noise Ratio

To detect the quality of a signal, the signal to noise ratio term is used. Simply, it is the
ratio of the light signal to the noise signal. 

Signal to noise ratio is often written as S/N or SNR. 

Amplitude Modulation

Amplitude modulation is a process by which the wave signal is

transmitted by modulating the amplitude of the signal. It is often called
AM and is commonly used in transmitting a piece of information through a
radio carrier wave. Amplitude modulation is mostly used in the form of
electronic communication.
Currently, this technique is used in many areas of communication such
as in portable two-way radios; citizens band radio, VHF aircraft radio and
in modems for computers. Amplitude modulation is also used to mention
the medium wave AM radio broadcasting.
In general, amplitude modulation definition is given as a type of
modulation where the amplitude of the carrier wave is varied in some
proportion with respect to the modulating data or the signal.
What is Modulation?
Basically, it is a process in a communication system. For communication, we need some
fundamental elements. One is the high-frequency carrier wave, and the other is the
information that has to be transmitted (modulating signal) (or) input signal. These are
essential for communication which is done using a device from one place to another. All in
all, we need the help of the communication system.

Modulation is defined as,

Varying any one of the fundamental parameters of a carrier wave in accordance with the
modulating signal. A carrier wave can be represented as a sine (or) cosine.
C(t) = Ac sin (ωct + Ɵ)
Why Do We Need Modulation?

Practically speaking, modulation is required for;

•High range transmission

•Quality of transmission

•To avoid the overlapping of signals.

Amplitude Modulated Waveform
Applications of Amplitude Modulation

•Broadcast Transmissions: AM is used in broadcasting transmission over

the short, medium and long wavebands. Since AM is easy to demodulate,
radio receivers for amplitude modulation are therefore easier and cheaper
to manufacture.

•Air-band radio: AM is used in the VHF transmissions for many airborne

applications such as ground-to-air radio communications or two-way radio
links for ground staff personnel.

•Single sideband: Amplitude modulation in this form is used for HF radio

links or point-to-point HF links. AM uses a lower bandwidth and provides
more effective use of the transmitted power.

•Quadrature amplitude modulation: AM is used extensively in

transmitting data in several ways, including short-range wireless links
such as Wi-Fi to cellular telecommunications and others.
Amplitude modulation
Types of Amplitude modulation:

1. Double Sideband Suppressed Carrier(DSB SC)

Double sideband is a type of Amplitude modulation in which the frequency spectrum of
the message signal is symmetrically situated above & below the carrier signal’s frequency.
The upper & lower frequencies are known as sidebands of the modulated
signal. Upper sideband (USB) has frequency components higher than the carrier
frequency and the lower sideband (LSB) has lower frequency components than the carrier
frequency.

Mathematical Expression:
Suppose the message signal is sinusoidal signal.
m(t) = Amcos ωmt
The carrier signal is a high frequency sinusoidal signal.
c(t) = Ac cos ωct
The Amplitude modulated DSB SC signal will be
ADSB  = Ac + m(t)
 The first term represents the carrier signal. The second term represents the message
signal’s frequency shifted to the left by ωc. The third term represents the message signal’s
frequency spectrum shifted to the right by ωc as shown in the figure below.

The message spectrum is centered at ωc having two halves. The upper half (ωc + ωm ) of
the message spectrum is called upper sideband & lower half (ωc – ωm ) of the message
spectrum is called lower sideband. Because of these two sidebands, it is
called double sideband AM transmission.
2. Single sideband (SSB)
The type of Amplitude modulation, in which only single sideband is transmitted
through an antenna is called single sideband communication.
Unlike DSB, the SSB modulated signal has only single side-band either upper side-band
(usually) or lower side-band.
The SSB modulated signal is made from DSB signal by passing it through
a bandpass filter. The bandpass filter cutoff the DSB modulated signal at ω c­ and filter
out either upper sideband or lower sideband.
Advantages of Single sideband
•Bandwidth is equal to message signal.
•Save half power by transmitting one sideband.

Disadvantages of Single sideband

•Filtering one sideband is very difficult and add complexity to the transmitter circuit
•It needs a bandpass filter with a very sharp cutoff. An ideal filter.