The Book End

Radio System Design for Telecommunications

Roger L. Freeman
John Wiley & Sons Inc.
887 pages; $94.95

This book provides essential design techniques for radio systems that operate at frequencies of 3 MHz to 100 GHz and are employed in telecommunications. Most of these systems are referred to as wireless communications. This second edition has been broadened to cover cellular radio, personal communications service (PCS), very small aperture terminal (VSAT) satellite communication networks, high frequency (HF) links and meteor burst communications.

Chapter 1 begins with a discussion of general propagation problems, particularly propagation relative to particular radio transmission media such as troposcatter, HF, meteor burst and cellular radio. Chapters 2 and 3 deal with line-of-sight microwave transmissions. Chapter 5 covers the design of beyond-line-of-sight or over-the-horizon radio links. Diffraction and scattering are also examined.

Chapter 6 outlines the basic principles of satellite communications, describing the International Telecommunication Satellite (INTELSAT) series and the International Maritime Satellite (INMARSAT) system. Chapter 7 describes satellite digital communications and Chapter 8 discusses VSAT architectures.

Chapter 9 introduces radio system design above 10 GHz, describing criteria for band selection and link design. Chapter 10 features mobile radio communications, including cellular radio and PCS. Chapter 11 describes 3 to 30 MHz HF transmission links. Chapter 12 explains meteor burst communications for inexpensive, very-low data rate communication links. Chapter 13 describes radio communications interference and electromagnetic compatibility issues. The final chapter describes radio design considerations, including the basic communications terminal components and how they relate to the overall system. System block diagrams are presented for a variety of applications and component performance criteria are described.

This text is an up-to-date telecommunications guide to today’s wireless and cellular activity that provides insight into these systems and their specifications, design and operation. The book is a comprehensive reference manual that details modern radio system design for all communications applications.
To order this book, contact: John Wiley & Sons Inc., 605 Third Avenue, New York, NY 10158 (212) 850-6336 or (800) 225-5945.

Vehicle Location and Navigation Systems

Yilin Zhao
Artech House Inc.
345 pages; $79, £65

This book provides a detailed description of both the principles and practices of modern vehicle location and navigation systems. Information from many sources is combined to form an introductory text on intelligent transportation systems. A typical system’s principles, implementation and integration, as well as individual system modules are described.

The book is divided into two parts: Basic Modules and Systems. Chapter 1 includes a general introduction to vehicle location and navigation systems. Historical background is provided. Chapter 2 describes the digital map database and the relevant reference coordinate systems and standards. Chapter 3 examines the positioning sensors and fusion methods used to locate the vehicle. Chapter 4 explains the map-matching algorithms employed in the positioning module and systems. Chapter 5 discusses various route-planning algorithms for determining the route that results in a minimum travel cost; chapter 6 explains how to guide the vehicle along that planned route. Chapter 7 discusses the man-machine interface, which interacts with the location and navigation computer and devices. Chapter 8 examines the different wireless communications technologies available for supporting vehicle communications.

Chapter 9 contains a discussion on how to integrate the modules to form realistic autonomous vehicle location and navigation systems. Chapter 10 explains how a wireless communications module is integrated with the vehicle and infrastructure to enhance in-vehicle systems using a centralized host computer. Chapter 11 uses an actual dynamic route guidance-based system as a case study to describe system architecture and implementation issues. The final chapter outlines past lessons learned and future directions for this technology.

This is an excellent textbook for those individuals seeking to become involved or familiarized with vehicle location and navigation systems. It can be easily understood by readers at all levels and provides a good general description of the systems and components.
To order this book, contact: Artech House Inc., 685 Canton St., Norwood, MA 02062 (617) 769-9750, ext. 4002; or Portland House, Stag Place, London SW1E 5XA, UK +44 (0) 171 973 8077.