Teaching digital communications using MC68340 microprocessor

This paper presents a novel way of teaching digital communication through hardware. The course is divided into several phases. In Phase I, students learn to program MC68340, the main programmable hardware of this course. MC68340 is an integrated processor with CPU32, Timer, DMA, Serial and Parallel Ports on an integrated circuit. CPU32 and M68000 have similar programmers models. Phase II introduces the concepts of asynchronous and synchronous communication techniques with several hardware assignments. Phase III is the final phase of this course in which students learn various network architectures. At this stage, students are ready to be introduced to the various layers in the ISO model, viz. application layer, presentation layer, session layer, transport layer, network layer data link layer and physical layer. Students apply the concepts that they have gained thus far to design and implement a simple digital communication network for the laboratory environment.