Principles of Digital Communication

Discussing the basic principles of coding, modulation, detection and information processing, as required to understand and appreciate the modern digital communication systems, this book starts with the mathematical and conceptual background for random signals and Gaussian-derived processes, and goes on to discuss the digital representation of signals, optimum detection and estimation, and error-correcting codes in subsequent chapters. The last chapter on information theory includes a discussion on the evaluation of practical communication systems. The major emphasis has been on digital techniques as all futuristic networks will be all-digital only. While discussing different topics, more emphasis has been placed on the conceptual understanding of the subject matter than on mathematical rigour; and the usual practice of 'theorem and proof' method of treatment has been avoided. Basic concepts and results have been clarified with suitable examples from the engineering field. Specifically while discussing optimum detection and estimation, a unified approach has been taken for both radar and communication signals.