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Digital and analog communication systems (2nd edn)
Digital and analog communication systems (2nd edn) Leon W Couch II Collier Macmillan, UK (1987) 650 pp, £18.95, ISBN 0-02-325380-0 This book was written by an author who has been teaching in this area for quite a while. It is clearly intended to be a textbook for electrical engineering courses. The mass of information if contains, however, is beyond undergraduate level. Therefore, it could also be used as a reference book by graduate students and electrical engineers. The author also suggests that it be used for different course structures from the undergraduate to graduate level. The book is divided into eight chapters and three appendices. The fundamental theories in signals and noise, such as waveforms, modulation, coding, filtering, etc., are given in chapters 2 to 4, while the first chapter highlights some historical aspects and gives a flavour of what a communication system looks like. Chapter 5 discusses some basic communication systems in some details. Chapters 6 to 8 address more advanced concepts in communications, where a knowledge of probability and random processes is required. Since all theoretical aspects throughout the book are presented on a mathematical basis, a summary of some useful mathematical techniques and tables is provided in Appendix A. The topics of probability and random variables covered in Appendix B are sufficient for readers who may not be familiar with probability and random processes, in order to pursue to the advanced chapters 6 to 8. Appendix C outlines standards, and gives terminologies, that are used in computer communication systems, although some of these are not directly related to the main contents of the book, and may consequently not be very useful. As it was written as a textbook, relevant problems are given at the end of every chapter, and at the end
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of Appendix B, which could be used for lectures before moving on to attack chapters 6 to 8. The use of theoretical principles is
well presented throughout the book by many examples, which is definitely one of this book's strengths. In addition, the numerous figures associated with the text are well illustrated, and significantly facilitate reading. As a textbook or reference book it is certainly worth the price. Rungroj Kositpaiboon Bell Northern Research Canada
Books received
E-mail S A Caswell, Artech House (1988) 250 pp, £39, ISBN 0-89006303-6
Local area network architectures D Hutchison, Addison-Wesley (1988) 264 pp, £16.95, ISBN 0 201 14216 3
An attempt is made in this book to cut through the many and varied technologies of the electronic mail industry, exploring telex, facsimilie, communicating word processors, PCs, voice mail systems and computer conferencing. The strengths, weaknesses, applications and implementation of the technologies, and the industry as a whole, are discussed. The author aims to remember that at the heart of e-mail is non-interactive communication, with people communicating with people, and the technologically complex subject, so it is claimed, is treated 'in terms all can understand'.
This book gives a detailed account of LAN technology from an architectural point of view, giving equal prominence to hardware and software issues. An outline of Ethernet, token ring and slotted ring networks is given, along with the presentation of standards activities based on OSI. Sections on network management, higher level protocols and distributed computing systems, along with an appendix on the main standards organizations complete the work.
Technical aspects of data communication (3rd edn) ] E McNamara, Digital Press (1988) 383 pp, £40, ISBN 1-55558-007-6 This new edition presents up-to-date material on layered protocols, fast and error-correcting modems, smart multiplexers, digital transmission, packet-switching and ISDN. The book begins with a simple asynchronous interface implemented with a specialized integrated circuit, and then moves on to connect this device to communication lines. A discussion of modems, protocols, LANs and transmission systems follows, with a final chapter on how data communication can provide the key to information sharing in networks of PCs and networks of workstations.
An introduction to queueing networks J Walrand, Prentice Hall (1988) 384 pp, £42.80, ISBN 0-13-474487-X Based on a course taught by the author to first year graduate students in electrical engineering, computer science and operation research, this book assumes no prior knowledge of the subject matter. The text is organized to facilitate the teaching of a one term course, beginning with general concepts, methods and results of theory, then moving on to the theory of Markov chains, numerical issues and methods (e.g. matrix-geometric solutions), the stability of queuing systems with stationary and ergodic arrivals, and statistical issues. Throughout the book, each chapter contains exercises, comments and references.
computer communications
332
of Appendix B, which could be used for lectures before moving on to attack chapters 6 to 8. The use of theoretical principles is
well presented throughout the book by many examples, which is definitely one of this book's strengths. In addition, the numerous figures associated with the text are well illustrated, and significantly facilitate reading. As a textbook or reference book it is certainly worth the price. Rungroj Kositpaiboon Bell Northern Research Canada
Books received
E-mail S A Caswell, Artech House (1988) 250 pp, £39, ISBN 0-89006303-6
Local area network architectures D Hutchison, Addison-Wesley (1988) 264 pp, £16.95, ISBN 0 201 14216 3
An attempt is made in this book to cut through the many and varied technologies of the electronic mail industry, exploring telex, facsimilie, communicating word processors, PCs, voice mail systems and computer conferencing. The strengths, weaknesses, applications and implementation of the technologies, and the industry as a whole, are discussed. The author aims to remember that at the heart of e-mail is non-interactive communication, with people communicating with people, and the technologically complex subject, so it is claimed, is treated 'in terms all can understand'.
This book gives a detailed account of LAN technology from an architectural point of view, giving equal prominence to hardware and software issues. An outline of Ethernet, token ring and slotted ring networks is given, along with the presentation of standards activities based on OSI. Sections on network management, higher level protocols and distributed computing systems, along with an appendix on the main standards organizations complete the work.
Technical aspects of data communication (3rd edn) ] E McNamara, Digital Press (1988) 383 pp, £40, ISBN 1-55558-007-6 This new edition presents up-to-date material on layered protocols, fast and error-correcting modems, smart multiplexers, digital transmission, packet-switching and ISDN. The book begins with a simple asynchronous interface implemented with a specialized integrated circuit, and then moves on to connect this device to communication lines. A discussion of modems, protocols, LANs and transmission systems follows, with a final chapter on how data communication can provide the key to information sharing in networks of PCs and networks of workstations.
An introduction to queueing networks J Walrand, Prentice Hall (1988) 384 pp, £42.80, ISBN 0-13-474487-X Based on a course taught by the author to first year graduate students in electrical engineering, computer science and operation research, this book assumes no prior knowledge of the subject matter. The text is organized to facilitate the teaching of a one term course, beginning with general concepts, methods and results of theory, then moving on to the theory of Markov chains, numerical issues and methods (e.g. matrix-geometric solutions), the stability of queuing systems with stationary and ergodic arrivals, and statistical issues. Throughout the book, each chapter contains exercises, comments and references.
computer communications