Introduction to Communication Science and Systems

1. Front Matter

   Pages i-xvi

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2. Antennas and Transmission

   • John R. Pierce, Edward C. Posner

   Pages 1-25

3. Sources of Noise

   • John R. Pierce, Edward C. Posner

   Pages 27-51

4. Signals and Frequencies

   • John R. Pierce, Edward C. Posner

   Pages 53-84

5. Modulation and Noise

   • John R. Pierce, Edward C. Posner

   Pages 85-109

6. The Link between Continuous and Pulsed Signals—Sampling and Digitization

   • John R. Pierce, Edward C. Posner

   Pages 111-128

7. Autocorrelation and Stationarity

   • John R. Pierce, Edward C. Posner

   Pages 129-140

8. Pulse Shape, Filtering, and Arraying

   • John R. Pierce, Edward C. Posner

   Pages 141-172

9. Random Pulses and the Gaussian Distribution

   • John R. Pierce, Edward C. Posner

   Pages 173-193

10. Random Processes and Gaussian Signals and Noise

    • John R. Pierce, Edward C. Posner

    Pages 195-219

11. Some Aspects of Data Transmission

    • John R. Pierce, Edward C. Posner

    Pages 221-248

12. Limits to Error Performance: Information Theory

    • John R. Pierce, Edward C. Posner

    Pages 249-293

13. Applying Information Theory—Coding and Randomization

    • John R. Pierce, Edward C. Posner

    Pages 295-334

14. Sources, Source Encoding, and Source Characterization

    • John R. Pierce, Edward C. Posner

    Pages 335-373

15. Back Matter

    Pages 375-390

    PDF

There are many valuable and useful books on electrical communication (References 1-5 are some examples), but they have certain disadvantages for the beginner. The more advanced books present some things in a basic way, but they are very narrow for an introduction to communica­ tion. The introductory books are broader but still narrow by our stan­ dards. Further, they often pick things out of thin air rather than derive them. This book is aimed at giving the beginner a basic understanding of a wide range of topics which are essential in communication systems. These include antennas and transmission, thermal noise and its consequences, Fourier transforms, modulation and noise, sampling and pulse code modulation, autocorrelation and power spectrum, optimum filtering, gauss­ ian noise and errors in digital transmission, data transmission, limits on data rate including information theory and quantum limits, and source encoding. We have not included communications traffic, switching, and multiplexing, nor protocols for digital and computer communications. For these, Reference 6 is excellent. In general, our book does not discuss the circuits used for communication or the physics of radio propagation. We assume that these will be taught in specialized courses, but such courses are not prerequisites for this one. Chapter 1 introduces the transmission formula or antenna equation and antenna directivity. Only a very basic sophomore physics knowledge of electromagnetic theory is assumed. The radar equation is also treated.

• Modulation
• Signal
• Switching
• communication
• communication system
• communication systems
• computer
• computer communications
• data transmission
• information theory
• radar
• radio
• transmission

• California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, USA

  John R. Pierce, Edward C. Posner

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