The second module “Smart Devices” focuses on the core technology and components of the world’s most popular smartphones (i.e., the Samsung Galaxy Note8 and and Apple iPhone X) and smart watches (i.e., Samsung Gear S3 and the Apple Watch Series 3). The state-of-the-art smartphones’ camera, battery, CPUs, GPUs, chipsets (e.g., Samsung Exynos Octa 8895, ARM big.LITTLE, Qualcomm MSM8998 Snapdragon 835, Apple A11 Bionic, Kryo 280, Adreno 540, Monsoon, and Mistral) characteristics are introduced, followed by a description of the functionality of thread based multi-core scheduling and processing, and relations with the smartphone OS (Operating System) Android and iOS. Then the IP (International Protection Marking) code that is used in protection level marking against solids and liquids of smart devices is described. To better understand the current technology level of CPUs, GPUs, and chip sets, the fundamentals of Moore’s law along with state-of-the-art 10 nm semiconductor technology and benefits of smaller transistors are explained. In addition, a description of the smart device sensors (e.g., accelerometer, gyro (gyroscope sensor), heart rate sensor, optical IR (infrared) light sensor, barometer, and pressure altimeters) along with the GPS (Global Positioning System) and A-GPS (Assisted GPS, based on MSA (Mobile Station Assisted) and MSB (Mobile Station Based)) operations are described. The lectures then cover the smart device display technology, which include shatterproof glass, gorilla glass, oleophobic coating, AMOLED (Active-Matrix Organic Light-Emitting Diode), OLED (Organic Light-Emitting Diode), Super AMOLED, Super AMOLED Plus, HD Super AMOLED, Full HD Super AMOLED, WQHD Super AMOLED, and other display technologies. The module then describes the characteristics of wireless charging technologies, including WPC (Wireless Power Consortium), Qi, PMA (Power Matters Alliance), A4WP (Alliance for Wireless Power), and the AirFuel Alliance. Through the lectures of this module, the level of the state-of-the-art smart devices, internal components, and performance limits are introduced.

The third module “Mobile Communications” focuses on the evolution and core technologies of mobile communications and the corresponding mobile phones. The lectures introduce the differences in the generations of the mobile communications evolution, starting with the 1G (first generation) AMPS (Advanced Mobile Phone System) analog wireless mobile technology. Then the beginning of the digital revolution in mobile communications is introduced in 2G (second generation) technology based on GSM (Global System for Mobile Communications), IS-95, and cdmaOne (which is based on CDMA (Code Division Multiple Access) technology). As GSM technology dominated the 2G mobile communications world, the key GSM features including GSM voice calls, data transfer, SMS (Short Message Service), and SIM (Subscriber Identity Module) card technology are introduced. Then the evolution to 3G (third generation) mobile communications technology is introduced based on UMTS (Universal Mobile Telecommunication System), WCDMA (Wideband CDMA), CDMA2000, CDMA2000 1xEV-DO, HSDPA (High Speed Downlink Packet Access), EV-DO Rev. A, HSPA+ (Evolved High Speed Packet Access), and EV-DO Rev. B (Evolution-Data Optimized Revision B) standards. Next, the current state-of-the-art in mobile communications, which is the 4G (fourth generation) technology based on LTE (Long-Term Evolution) and LTE-A (LTE-Advanced) is introduced.

The fourth module “4G & 5G Mobile Technologies” focuses on the architecture, core technologies, and features of mobile communications 4G (fourth generation) and 5G (fifth generation) systems. In module 4, a special focus on 4G and 5G systems is made because this is where all the current investments, research, development, and new services are being made. First, the current state-of-the-art 4G LTE (Long-Term Evolution) and LTE-A (LTE-Advanced) technology performance requirements are introduced focusing on the data rates, spectral efficiency, spectrum flexibility, performance at cell edges, and number of simultaneously active subscribers. Next, the LTE architecture based on the EPS (Evolved Packet System), which includes the EPC (Evolved Packet Core) and E-UTRAN (Evolved Universal Terrestrial RAN), and the UE (User Equipment) is described. EPC elements (i.e., P-GW (Packet Data Network Gateway), S-GW (Serving Gateway), and MME (Mobility Management Entity)) and the features of LTE core technologies (e.g., seamless HO (Handover), packet forwarding, MBMS (Multimedia Broadcast Multicast Service), ICIC (Inter-Cell Interference Coordination), FFR (Fractional Frequency Reuse), DSA (Dynamic Subcarrier Assignment), CoMP (Coordinated Multi Point), CA (Carrier Aggregation), multi-RAT (Radio Access Technology), NOMA (Non-Orthogonal Multiple Access), advanced D2D (Device to Device), MIMO (Multiple Input Multiple Output), and OFDM (Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing)) are introduced. Then the features of LTE HetNet (Heterogeneous Network), Small Cells, and SON (Self-Organizing Network) that include self-configuration and self-healing technology are explained. Next, the 5G standardization of ITU-R (ITU Radiocommunication Sector) IMT-2020 and 3GPP (3rd Generation Partnership Project) 5G NR are introduced and the differences in IMT 2020 5G target performance specifications compared to IMT Advanced based 4G LTE-A and IMT 2000 based 3G technology are discussed, followed by a description of the 3GPP 5G NR usage scenarios eMBB (enhanced Mobile BroadBand), URLLC (Ultra-Reliable and Low Latency Communication), and mMTC (massive Machine Type Communication). The 5G network architecture is introduced based on the NR (New Radio) access network and NGC (Next Generation Core), as well as the types of 5G deployment scenarios based on various NSA (Non-standalone) options. Then the flat, flexible, distributed, and sliced 5G network characteristics along with the enabling SDN (Software-Defined Network) and NFV (Network Function Virtualization) programmable technology is described. In addition, the advantages of 5G network slicing technology used to divide the 5G physical network into multiple virtual E2E (End-to-End) networks, which are logically isolated service dedicated network technology are introduced.

The fifth module “Smartphone OSs” focuses on the characteristics and operations of the iOS and Android smartphone OSs (Operating Systems). First, the characteristics of the iOS evolution and features of the iOS 1, 1.1, 1.1.3, 2, 2.1, 2.2, 3, 3.2, 4, 4.2.5, 4.3, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, and 11 operating systems are introduced. Then the characteristics of the iOS and SDK (Software Development Kit) architecture, which consists of the Cocoa touch layer, Media services layer, Core services layer, Core OS layer, and the Kernel and Device Drivers are described. Secondly, the Android evolution versions with API (Application Programming Interface) levels are introduced, which include the Android 1.0 Alpha (API level 1), 1.1 Beta (API level 2), 1.5 Cupcake (API level 3), 1.6 Donut (API level 4) , 2.0 Eclair (API level 5), 2.2~2.2.3 Froyo (API level 8), 2.3~2.3.2 Gingerbread (API level 9), 3.0 Honeycomb (API level 11), 4.0~4.0.2 Ice Cream Sandwich, 4.1 Jelly Bean (API level 16), 4.4 KitKat (API level 19), 5.0~5.0.2 Lollipop (API level 21), 5.1 Lollipop (API level 22), 6.0 Marshmallow (API level 23), 7.0~7.1 Nougat (API level 24 / 25), and 8.0 Oreo (API level 26). Then the characteristics of the Android OS, middleware, and key applications are introduced. The description on the Android architecture covers all parts, which include the application, JAVA API framework, native C/C++ libraries, Android runtime, HAL (Hardware Abstraction Layer), and the Linux kernel. Among the Android sublayers, the features of the HAL is further described, which includes details on the standard interfaces for the higher-level Java API, framework to use the device’s hardware & processors, multiple library modules, and the customized support for hardware components along with the Bluetooth and camera module. In addition, the features of the Android’s Linux kernel that include the Linux kernel drivers, Android shared memory, power management, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and mobile communications components are introduced.

The sixth and last module “Smartphone & Mobile Network Project” focuses on methods and apps to analyze the components of smartphones and check the mobile network. In project 1, the Smartphone project, the status and components of both Android and iPhone smartphones are tested. Because the projects require for both Android and iPhone smartphones to be tested, the learner may need to borrow a smartphone (the type which you do not have) for a while to do the experiments, and after the project is done, erase the installed app(s) (and maybe recharge it) before returning the borrowed smartphone. In the Smartphone project, the smartphone types and the specs of the CPU, SoC, number of cores, memory types & sizes of each smartphone need to be reported and will be Peer Review evaluated. In project 2, the Mobile Network project, the details of the connected mobile network are to be observed. During the Mobile Network project, the learner will measure the PCI, RSSI, RSRP, RSRQ, RSSNR, ASU, and CQI values, and also find a location of where the largest number of Neighbor Base Stations, and how many were there, and report all details for Peer Review evaluation.