Jochen Schiller
MOBILE COMMUNICATIONS, 2/e
Soft cover, pp. 492, plus XIX, $ 50.99
Addison-Wesley, London, 2003
ISBN 0-321-12381-6
http://www.pearsoneduc.com

In general about the book

Mobile communications constitute one of the most dynamically developing fields of telecommunications. During the last two decades this field has advanced rapidly in diverse parts, such as wireless data networks, cellular telephony, advanced local area networks, etc. These networks are primarily intended to carry a wide range of services such as voice, fax, computer data, and video. The proliferation of small, handheld communication devices and the need for location independent network connectivity make wireless network access prevalent. With the increasing prevalence of wireless networking and numerous communications functions in data processing systems, communication \& computer system designers, students, managers, and buyers need to understand the principles of this kind of data communications. The understanding should go beyond a grasp of the various standard transmission techniques and services. This book addresses this need. It points to the principles and techniques of data transmission in mobile communications, and is of great value for teachers, students, researchers, and communication designers. The book contains eleven chapters, two appendices, and an Index. Here is a brief summary and explanation of the contents.

Chapter content

Chapter 1 (Introduction, pp. 1-24) gives a brief overview of mobile and wireless communications. It differentiates communication devices according to the following characteristics: fixed, wired, mobile, wireless, and their combinations. After that, it presents a short history of wireless communication, points to the market for mobile communication, and concludes with some open research topics.

From aspect of computer science Chapter 2 (Wireless transmission, pp. 24-67) concentrates on the basics of wireless technology. The main topics discussed here relate to signal propagation, multiplexing, modulation, and spread spectrum.

Chapter 3 (Media access control, pp. 69-92) describes several medium access control algorithms that are specifically adapted to the wireless domain. Chapters 4-7 discuss principles of operation of several different wireless communications systems.

Chapter 4 (Telecommunications systems, pp. 93-163) firstly, explains the global system for mobile communications (GSM), as a most popular public phone system. After that, some details concerning digital enhanced cordless telecommunications (DECT) system are given. Finally, future developments of universal mobile telecommunications system (UMTS) are presented.

Chapter 5 (Satellite systems, pp. 165-181) covers the concept of satellite communications. Basics related to three classes of satellites GEO, MEO, and LEO are discussed.

Chapter 6 (Broadcast systems, pp. 183-199) addresses the principles of operation of two broadcasting technologies, digital audio broadcast (DAB), and digital video broadcast (DVB).

Chapter 7 (Wireless LAN, pp. 201-301) deals with possibilities, principles of operation, technologies, distinctions, and limitations, of three different wireless LANs, IEEE 802.11, HiperLAN and Bluetooth.

Chapter 8 (Mobile network layer, pp. 303-349) discusses protocol and mechanisms intended to support mobility defined by network layer. Mobile IP, as an extension of the Internet protocol, and mobile ad-hoc networking are covered. Chapter 9 (Mobile transport layer, pp. 351-374) gives an overview of the mechanisms implemented within the TCP as connection- oriented protocol in a mobile environment.

The major part of Chapter 10 (Support for mobility, pp. 375-447) presents the wireless application protocol (WAP) standard that enables wireless and mobile devices to use parts of the WWW from fixed Internet.

Chapter 10 (Outlook, pp. 449-453) briefly discusses the architectures of the fourth generation mobile communication network. Two appendices are provided to supplement material in the main text. Appendix A represents acronym of all abbreviations used within the text, while Appendix B presents a glossary, short explanations of some crucial notions.

Useful book for senior level undergraduate-, junior level graduate-students, and telecommunication engineers

The basic objective of this book is to present an up-to-date version of mobile communications in a context useful to the designers, students and researchers. Specific objectives are:

1. To describe the basic principles and performance of the mobile communications systems;

2. To provide a general review of mobile communications in its broadest sense;

3. To provide, at global level, an analysis and principle of operation & function of almost all crucial building blocks installed within most real mobile communications systems.

In addition to meeting the above objectives, the author has attempted to provide a single volume book, which summarizes present-day mobile communications systems for students and communication engineers.

This book is a timely contribution and a valuable reference for academic and R & D engineers in mobile communications. I encourage everyone who uses or teaches mobile communications to get a copy of this book.