Communications Engineering: Essentials For Computer Scientists And Electrical Engineers

Communications technologies increasingly pervade our everyday lives, yet the underlying principles are a mystery to most. Even among engineers and technicians, understanding of this complex subject remains limited. However, there is undeniably a growing need for all technology disciplines to gain intimate awareness of how their fields are affected by a more densely networked world.

The computer science field in particular is profoundly affected by the growing dominance of communications, and computer scientists must increasingly engage with electrical engineering concepts. Yet communications technology is often perceived as a challenging subject with a steep learning curve.

To address this need, the authors have transformed classroom-tested materials into this accessible textbook to give readers an intimate understanding of fundamental communications concepts. Readers are introduced to the key essentials, and each selected topic is discussed in detail to promote mastery. Engineers and computer scientists will gain an understanding of concepts that can be readily applied to their respective fields, as well as provide the foundation for more advanced study of communications. Provides a thorough grounding in the basics by focusing on select key concepts Clarifies comprehension of the subject via detailed explanation and illustration Helps develop an intuitive sense of both digital and analog principles Introduces key broadcasting, wireless and wired systems Helps bridge the knowledge gap between software and electrical engineering Requires only basic calculus and trigonometry skills Classroom tested in undergraduate CS and EE programs

"Communications Engineering" by Lee, Chiu, and Lin will give advanced undergraduates in computer science and beginning students of electrical engineering a rounded understanding of communications technologies. The book also serves as a key introduction to specialists in industry, or anyone who desires a working understanding of communications technologies.

The writing of this book was motivated by the authors' observation that convergence is requiring computer science students to gain a better understanding of communications concepts. The authors have therefore written a book that addresses this gap, delivering to the computer science student the key essentials in a thorough manner. The book walks the reader through the Fourier transform, analog and digital modulation techniques, multiple access communications, spread-spectrum communications, and source coding and channel coding. The book has already been used in the classroom and was met with great success in universities as an introductory text in electrical engineering programs.