Introduction to Communication Science and Systems — John R. Pierce & Edward C. Posner, 1980 | Information Theory & Telecommunications

Published in 1980, Introduction to Communication Science and Systems is a rigorous survey of the mathematical and physical foundations of modern telecommunications, written during the transition from predominantly analog communications to an increasingly digital and information-driven world.

Authors John R. Pierce and Edward C. Posner, both of Caltech at the time of publication, approach communications as an integrated system rather than simply a collection of electronic circuits. Topics include antennas and transmission, thermal noise, Fourier analysis, modulation, sampling and pulse-code modulation, autocorrelation, optimal filtering, digital transmission errors, information theory, channel-capacity limits, source encoding, and even the quantum limits of communication.

Pierce is particularly significant in the history of telecommunications. Before joining Caltech, he spent decades at Bell Laboratories and was a major figure in the development of satellite communications. His work on communications satellites, traveling-wave tubes, and electron-beam optics earned him the 1975 IEEE Medal of Honor.

The result is a useful historical snapshot of communications theory at a pivotal moment: Shannon's information theory was firmly established, digital data transmission was becoming increasingly important, and the technical foundations of today's networked world were being assembled into a coherent discipline.

The pictured chapter, “Pulse Shape, Filtering, and Arraying,” examines optimal signal shaping, signal-to-noise ratio, filtering, fading, and antenna arrays—problems that remain central to wireless and digital communications.

Bibliographic details:

• John R. Pierce & Edward C. Posner
• Introduction to Communication Science and Systems
• Applications of Communications Theory series
• Plenum Press, New York and London
• 1980 first edition
• Hardcover
• ISBN 0-306-40492-3
• 394 pages

Condition:
Vintage former research-library hardcover in good used condition. Red cloth boards show visible handling, rubbing, and scattered dark marks, with additional wear near the lower spine. Former Amoco Production Company Research Center Library stamp and handwritten classification markings appear inside. No dust jacket. Interior pages shown are clean, legible, and intact, with normal age toning. See photographs for exact condition.