Introduction to Digital Communications

This book provides an introduction to the basic concepts in digital communications for students with little or no previous exposure to either digital or analog communications. The intent is to help the student develop a firm understanding of digital communication system engineering in order to be able to conduct system-level design and analysis for digital communication systems of the future. As a result, the book emphasizes the basic principles of digital communications theory and techniques, rather than presenting specific technologies for implementation.

Michael B. Pursley joined Clemson University in 1992 as the Holcombe Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering. He received the B.S. (with highest distinction) and M.S. degrees in electrical engineering from Purdue University and the Ph.D degree in electrical engineering from the University of Southern California. He has several years industrial experience, primarily with the Space and Communications Group of the Hughes Aircraft Company. He served on the faculty of the University of Illinois for nearly 20 years, he has held visiting positions at the California Institute of Technology and the University of California at Los Angeles, and he has served as a consultant in digital communications to several industrial and government organizations.

Dr. Pursley was elected Fellow of the IEEE in 1982 and president of the IEEE Information Theory Society in 1983. He has held editorial and organization positions for several journals and conferences in information theory and communications. He received an IEEE Centennial Medal, an IEEE Millennium Medal, the IEEE Communications Society Ellersick Award, and the IEEE Military Communications Conference Award for Technical Achievement. His most recent award is the 2002 IEEE Communications Society Edwin Howard Armstrong Achievement Award.

Dr. Pursley's current research interests include mobile wireless communication systems and networks, spread-spectrum communications, applications of error-control coding, and adaptive protocols for packet radio networks.