​Master of Wireless Communication Networks

Description:   

This multidisciplinary program prepares professionals for the exciting and rapidly expanding industry of wireless communications. The world is increasingly abandoning the wire, so future careers in communication will invariably depend on professionals who fully understand wireless protocols and devices at multiple scales.

This program focuses on contemporary and novel topics in wireless communications, including network layering, digital communication, wireless protocols (from 2G to 5G, leading to 6G), spectrum regulation, management, and security. Topics include space representation of signals, detection of signals in noise, band-pass modulation techniques, cellular systems, propagation modeling, digital transmission techniques, diversity, and multiple access techniques. Other topics include optical fibers, waveguides, light sources, IoT principles and application requirements, network management standards, models, and protocols, frequency planning, spectrum management authorities, global interoperability, standardization bodies, testing and certifications, and wireless communications development.

Conferment of "Master of Wireless Communication Networks" requires successful completion of 30 credit hours of graduate level courses and a successful engineering project directed by a faculty advisor. The 30 credit hours represent 8 courses each of 3 credit hours and an engineering project of 6 credit hours.

 Eligibility:

• BSc in physics, computer science or engineering, electrical engineering, systems engineering, mathematics, or equivalent.
• A Grade Point Average – GPA – of 2.5 or higher on a scale of 4.00 or equivalent
• A strong motivation and a good command of the English language.  (Completion of TOFEL with minimum score of 550 or equivalent in TOFEL or IELTS with minimum score of 6, for non-KFUPM graduates).
  
  Note: Satisfying the minimum admission requirements does not guarantee admission into the program, as final admission is subject to an evaluation of the entire application, and the personal interview. Based on the assessment of the applicant file and the personal interview, the admission committee might offer conditional acceptance for students who need to take deficiency courses
  

Courses: 

Course Offering Plan

Course Descriptions

EE 572:  Principles of Digital Communications: 

Review of probability and random processes. Space representation of signals. Optimal detection of signals in Gaussian noise. Matched filter and correlator receivers. Band-pass modulation techniques. Error performance of binary and M-ary modulation techniques. Differential modulation and non-coherent receivers. Introduction to source coding, channel capacity and block and convolutional error control coding.

Pre-requisite: Graduate Standing

 COE 540: Computer Networks:     

Review of Computer networks layering concepts and quality of service requirements. Physical Layer, Data Link Layer; ARQ Strategies; Analysis of ARQ Strategies. Multi-access communication. Network layer. Routing in Data Networks. Flow and Congestion Control. Transport layer. Application Layers: peer-to-peer networking, Content Distribution networks.

Pre-requisite: Graduate Standing.

 EE 577: Wireless Communications I:

The cellular concept, propagation modeling, cellular frequency planning and link budget analysis, link control, handoffs, power control, traffic capacity, digital transmission techniques, diversity, and spread spectrum, multiple access techniques and OFDM, introduction to 2G and 3G wireless standards. Propagation, link budget analysis, and optimization tools and simulators.

Pre-requisite: EE 571 or EE 572

EE 579: Wireless Communications II:

Review of propagation models, modulation, and diversity for second-generation systems. Single-user MIMO systems: channel models, capacity, and trans-receive schemes. Multiuser-user MIMO systems: trans-receive schemes. Multi-user scheduling and multi-user diversity. Introduction to cooperative communications and relaying. Introduction to 4G and 5G standards and simulators.

Pre-requisite: EE 577

EE-534 : Optical Communications: 

Optical fibers, ray theory, step-index and graded-index fibers, attenuation, dispersion, numerical aperture, fiber splicing and OTDR. Light sources and optical detectors. Optical devices and components: amplifiers, modulators, splitters, switches, filters, isolators. Introduction to optical communication system and networks: TDM and DWDM systems, access networks, PONs and xPONs, link budgeting. Simulation of optical systems. Free-space optical communication (FSO) and visible light communication (VLC): Channel modeling, modulation, transmission schemes, and standards.

Pre-requisite: Graduate Standing

 COE 554: Internet of Things- Wireless Applications:

Study of IoT principles, IoT applications requirements, Design issues in IoT. IoT access technologies such as 802.15.4, LoRaWAN and Sigfox. Industrial access control techniques for wireless sensors, such as ISA100 and WirelessHart. Publish/Subscribe messaging protocols such as MQTT and COAP protocols. Security and privacy issues in IoT and IoT communication protocols. Data analytics for IoT. Simulation tools will be used to demonstrate different components of the course.

Pre-requisite: COE 540

COE 555: Network Management and Security

Network Management Standards, Models, and protocols. Network Management Applications, Tools, and Systems. Remote Monitoring and Management (RMM). Large scale wireless network management techniques and systems. Security of LANs, wireless LANs, and cellular networks. Authentication and authorization of wireless networks. Firewalls and Intrusion Detection and Prevention Systems. Study of diverse attack types and countermeasures for each of attack. Hands-on experiences in network security using Kali Linux. Hands-on experiences in implementing secure, manageable networks.

Pre-requisite: COE 540

EE 584:  Spectrum Regulations, Management, and Policies:

Frequency bands, carrier frequency and bandwidth relation, link budget, signal propagation, co-existence, noise vs interference.  Terrestrial and satellite broadcast systems, sensing and environmental monitoring, the Internet of Things, connectivity and Internet access for remote and rural areas   spectrum scarcity, spectrum licensing and monitoring, ISM band, ultra-wide band communications,  frequency planning, national, regional, and international spectrum management authorities, global interoperability, standardization bodies, testing and certifications, wireless communications development.  Cognitive spectrum access, interference management, mm-Wave, Teraheartz, visible light, and free space optics.  Health hazards for exposure to radio frequency, guidelines and recommendations for safe exposure, power density, specific absorption rate.  Response to emergencies, public safety, resilient communication services, search and rescue operations, response to epidemics, social distancing, infection tracking, and the Covid-19 case study.

Pre-requisite: Graduate Standing

EE 619 Project:  

A graduate student will arrange with a faculty member to conduct an industrial research project related to Wireless Communications Networks. Subsequently the students shall acquire skills and gain experiences in developing and running actual industry-based project. This project culminates in the writing of a technical report, and an oral technical presentation in front of a board of professors and industry experts.

Pre-requisite: Graduate Standing.