Student Info > Masters & Ph.D. > Qualifying Exam Syllabi
Communications and Networking (COMM)
Area I: Probability, Random Variables & Random Processes
Probability fundamentals, one and multiple random variables, expectations, characteristic functions, independence/uncorrelatedness. Laws of large numbers. Markov Chains, Stationary Distributions, Limit Theorems for MCsBasic Concepts in Poission and Renewal Process (First Renewal Theorem); Familiarity with Gaussian Process
Classification of random processes - 2nd order characterization (correlation, power spectral density), ergodicity; Filtering by LTI systems
Suggested Reference: (level of competency expected): current EE505 and EE508 texts
Area II: Communication Systems
Coherent/diff-coherent/noncoherent modulation in Gaussian noise.Basic concepts of equalization and Multiple-access schemes (FDMA/TDMA/CDMA).
Suggested Reference (level of competency expected): current EE506 text
Area III: Communication Networks
Link-level ARQ schemes (Stop-and-wait, go-back-N, selective repeat).Elementary queueing models for networks (M/M/1, M/G/1, M/M/K/K, etc.). Queueing networks. Random Multiaccess schemes and their performance (e.g. Aloha, CSMA, splitting algorithms).
Basic understanding of the protocols used for routing and congestion control in the Internet.
Suggested Reference (level of competency expected): current EE565 text
