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Data Transmission and Security

Code: 44731
Credits: 6
2026/2027
Degree programme Type Course
Research and Innovation in Computer based Science and Engineering OP 1

Contact lecturer

Name :
Joan Bartrina Rapesta
Email :
joan.bartrina@uab.cat

Teaching staff

Pau Quintas Torra
Natàlia Blasco Andreo

Group languages

You can consult this information at the end of the document.

Prerequisites

There are no formal prerequisites, but students are expected:

  • to be proficient in the English language
  • to have sufficient competency in at least one programming language

Objectives

The main objective is to study advanced data compression methods, their application and design. Successful completion of the course should be able to identify the need for compression in practical scenarios and apply principles of engineering and information theory to design and validate viable solutions. Students are also expected to become familiar with the structure and content of common research articles on the topic of data compression.

Learning outcomes

  • CA06 (Graduates will be able to design reliable, efficient and secure data transmission and storage systems, using error-correcting codes, compression and security techniques.) Graduates will be able to design reliable, efficient and secure data transmission and storage systems, using error-correcting codes, compression and security techniques.
  • CA07 (Graduates will know how to plan and develop research projects in the field of information processing.) Graduates will know how to plan and develop research projects in the field of information processing.
  • KA09 (Graduates will be able to describe different error correction systems used in optical and distributed storage devices and in steganography.) Graduates will be able to describe different error correction systems used in optical and distributed storage devices and in steganography.
  • KA10 (Graduates will be able to describe different methods for compressing still images, video, satellite images and other types of data.) Graduates will be able to describe different methods for compressing still images, video, satellite images and other types of data.
  • KA11 (Graduates will be able to describe different security mechanisms used for network communications, opportunistic networks and anonymous networks.) Graduates will be able to describe different security mechanisms used for network communications, opportunistic networks and anonymous networks.
  • SA11 (Apply different encryption methods for error correction in the field of storage and steganography.) Apply different encryption methods for error correction in the field of storage and steganography.
  • SA12 (Apply different data compression algorithms.) Apply different data compression algorithms.
  • SA13 (Use different security mechanisms in communications.) Use different security mechanisms in communications.

Contents

The specific contents for this course are:


  • Input/output of samples and data for compression.
  • Information theory and compressibility.
  • Compression pipeline: prediction, quantization, entropy coding.
  • Compression assessment: performance and fidelity metrics, including subjective quality assessment.
  • Machine Learning for data compression.
  • Information theory-computer security interface.


Learning activities and methodology

Title Hours ECTS Learning outcomes
Preparation of "Develop" sessions 45 1.8 CA06, CA07, KA10, SA12
Preparation of "Deepen" sessions 47 1.88 CA06, CA07, KA10, SA12
"Develop" and "Deepen" sessions 34 1.36 CA06, CA07, KA10, SA12
"Develop" sessions 14 0.56 CA06, CA07, KA10, SA12

The methodology of this subject is based on the active study of curated materials and the practice with hands-on challenges offered during the course.

Three session types will be conducted during the course:

  • Discover sessions: students will be exposed to new concepts via oral discussions and selected materials. Short, individual exercises will be proposed as homework until the next session.
  • Deepen sessions: after a Discover session, students will discuss their solution to the proposed exercises and explore further, progressively more complex scenarios in one or more Deepen sessions. 
  • Develop sessions: at the end of each Discover-Deepen-Develop unit, one session will be devoted to autonomous, semi-supervised practice of the concepts pertaining to that (or previous) units. The results of theses sessions will be the main object of consideration when evaluating the course.

 A temporal plan including the session types is presented to the students at the beginning of the course.

Annotation: within the schedule set by the centre or degree programme, 15 minutes of one class will be reserved for students to evaluate their lecturers and their courses or modules through questionnaires.

Assessment

Continuous assessment activities

Title Weight Hours ECTS Learning outcomes
Semi-supervised assignments during the "Develop" sessions 100% 10 0.4 CA06, CA07, KA09, KA10, KA11, SA11, SA12, SA13

Evaluation of this course is performed based on the submissions individually produced by students during the proposed Develop sessions.

In each of these sessions, students will be asked to complete predefined exercises (challenges) and submit their solutions at the end of the session.

Submissions will be evaluated numerically using a rubric that will be made public after its application.

The course's final assessment will be obtained as the arithmetic mean of all proposed submissions for those Develop sessions. A temporal plan for the Develop sessions is made available to the students at the beginning of the course.

Students failing the subject (less than 50% of average score) will be presented with a final exercise under the same conditions, which must be successfully (again, with at least 50% of the maximum score) completed to pass the course.

Notes:

  • In this course, the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) technologies is not allowed in any of its phases. Any work that includes fragments generated with AI will be considered an academic dishonesty and may result in partial or total penalties on the activity grade, or more severe sanctions in cases of serious violations.
  • In order to get the not evaluable assessment, the student cannot have submitted more than one solution to the challenges of the Develop sessions.
  • This subject does not contemplate a single evaluation path of assessment.
  • To pass the course with honors, the final grade must be 9.0 or higher. Since the number of students with this distinction cannot exceed 5% of the number of students enrolled in the course, this distinction will be awarded to the one with the highest final grade. In the event of a tie, the results obtained and participation throughout the course will be taken into account.


Bibliography

Software

Custom software and code examples will be provided during the course.

Course groups and languages

The information provided is provisional until November 30. After this date, you will be able to consult the language of each group through this link. To access the information, you will need to enter the course CODE

Type of teaching Group Language Semester Shift
(TEm) Theory (master) 1 English first semester afternoon
(PLABm) Practical laboratories (master) 1 English first semester afternoon