report

T-109.551 Research Seminar on Telecommunications Business IISOFTWARE DEFINED RADIOKai Kuikkaniemi 52676k 2.4.2003

T-109.551 Research Seminar on

Telecommunications Business II

Software defined radio

Kai Kuikkaniemi

52676k

2.4.2003


1. INTRODUCTION..........................................................................................4

1.1 Software Defined Radio briefly.............................................................................4

1.2 History.....................................................................................................................4

1.3 Big picture (open architecture).............................................................................5

1.4 Driving forces..........................................................................................................6

1.5 Functional chain (from transmitter to receiver).................................................7

1.6 Tiers.........................................................................................................................9Tier 0. Hardware Radio..............................................................................................9Tier 1. Software Controlled Radio...........................................................................10Tier 2. Software Defined Radio...............................................................................10Tier 3. Ideal Software Defined Radio......................................................................10Tier 4. Ultimate Software Radio..............................................................................11

2. METHODOLOGY.......................................................................................11

2.1 Objective of the study..........................................................................................11

2.2 Research method..................................................................................................12

2.3 Structure of the study..........................................................................................12

3. TECHNOLOGY..........................................................................................12

3.1 Antennas................................................................................................................12

3.2 Hardware enablers [8].........................................................................................13RF enablers...............................................................................................................13Digital enablers........................................................................................................14

3.3 Software enablers [8]...........................................................................................14Software Communication Architecture (SCA)........................................................14Waveform Development Environment (WDE)........................................................15Radio Definition Language (RDL)..........................................................................15Radio Virtual Machine (RVM)................................................................................15

4. APPLICATIONS.........................................................................................16

4.1 Software phone.....................................................................................................16

4.2 Amateur radio......................................................................................................16

4.3 Military..................................................................................................................17


4.4 Base stations..........................................................................................................18

4.5 Civil applications..................................................................................................18

5. BUSINESS.................................................................................................18

5.1 General business related advantages..................................................................18

5.2 Value propositions [10]........................................................................................19Benefits to Consumers:............................................................................................19Benefits to Operators:...............................................................................................19Benefits to Manufacturers:.......................................................................................19

5.3 Cost – Benefit analysis.........................................................................................20

5.4 Market overview...................................................................................................21

5.5 Timeline [12].........................................................................................................21

5.6 Future prospects...................................................................................................22

5.7 Secondary markets [3].........................................................................................22

6. CURRENT SITUATION..........................................................................23

6.1 Case examples of implementation.......................................................................23SPEAKEasy [13]......................................................................................................23CRC demo [14]........................................................................................................24Radical horizon [15].................................................................................................24SDRCT (SDR Communications Technologies) [16]...............................................24

6.2 Problems................................................................................................................24Hackers, disruption of current radio frequencies.....................................................24Regulatory point of view [3]....................................................................................25

6.3 Parallel development:..........................................................................................25GNU radio [17]........................................................................................................25Open radio platform [18]..........................................................................................25

7. CONCLUSION...........................................................................................26

REFERENCES...............................................................................................26

Abbreviations................................................................................................27


1. Introduction

1.1 Software Defined Radio briefly

Software Defined Radio (SDR) is not, like normally in technical terms,

referring to any single technology, but the means the idea of controlling radio

functionality (operating frequencies, modulations) both in transmitter and/or

receiver side can be (is) manipulated with software. There are several

different levels (tiers) that SDR can be implemented (this is describer further

in chapter 1.6 Tiers), there are several different applications and in addition

there are also different architectures and methods how it can be done.

SDR has definite uses in future when the wireless networking environment

becomes more and more complex. But at the same time it could provide

benefits there are few technical and regulatory problems involving to SDR.

1.2 History

Origins of Software Defined Radio development comes from military

[1], where its flexibility was rather early in nineties found out to be very useful

quality. Currently still the largest implementations of SDR are related to US

military (see chapter 6.1 case SPEAKEasy).

Current radio architecture (even the digital one) basically dates back to

70’s. Meaning that for a long time the radio technology is based on similar

type of rigid component structure. SDR could be the first disruptive technology

in this area [2]. First ideas of SDR popped up already in the end of 80’s and it

was known in some extent already in beginning of 90’s. Currently SDR related

activities are orchestrated by SDRForum (www.sdrforum.org). SDRForum

was originally called Modular Multifunction Information Transfer System

(MMITS) Forum, which was rather ideological initiative covering wide range of

future technologies. But when the SDR started to lift of and became the most

important activity of MMITS it changed the name to SDRForum in order to

clarify its position and become more concrete instance.

http://www.sdrforum.org/


The development and ideology of SDR has clear analogy with the

development of multitasking in computers. The idea and the advantages of

the technology have been long known, but there are some critical points when

the technology becomes reality. Multitasking in PC’s required development of

both OS technology and hardware power. The driving forces why the SDR is

relevant now are discussed in chapter 1.4.

1.3 Big picture (open architecture)

Where is SDR’s position in the big transition that is taking place in

networking? Following analysis is based on FCC Chief Dale Natfeld’s views

when he was presenting his views on SDR [3].

The transition (or conversion) is taking place in many different areas, these

can be divided semi chronologically to following.

1. Conversion from analog to digital networks

2. Conversion from circuit switching to packet switching

3. Conversion from narrowband to broadband transmission

4. Improvements, or better reductions, in the transmission qualities (delay or

latency exhibited by networks utilizing packet switching)

5. Ability to deploy not only wired networks with these advanced capabilities,

but wireless networks as well

According to him these transitions clearly indicate that we are evolving to a

situation where we have high performance networks of networks. In addition

to high performance it is also important that the communication can take place

anytime, anyplace and in combination of several modes like voice, text, data,

and video. Besides the modes there are also different communication formats,

push, pull and multicast, just to name the most common.

The features I listed based on Natfeld’s analysis and my own are already with

fixed networks a complicated task. In wireless world some of the features

become even more dominant (and interesting and beneficial), but at the same

time the technological complexity increases. SDR could be a key element in

this wireless networking environments in order to manage and handle the

provision of all these various features. It is not a necessity and it is not a core

in any future standard, but at the same time it could be implemented to any of

those, for example to 3G.


1.4 Driving forces

In this chapter I want to discuss the underlying driving forces that led to

development of SDR, and especially why SDR is relevant at this moment.

The first and the most important enabler of SDR is naturally new hardware. If

the hardware wouldn’t be that flexible and suitable to be programmed via

software, there would be no point in talking about SDR. SDR without suitable

hardware is just fantasy, so you see that Software Defined Radio doesn’t

mean that hardware is replaced, actually quite vice versa it sets rather high

demands for the hardware.

When we are talking about hardware there are two fundamental, sort of

abstract, parameters that should be kept separate. First of all components

must have a wide functional area (e.g. that antennas can operate in wide

frequency area, or that ADC can convert practically any signal efficiently).

Another important feature is that the hardware (especially DSPs) us

programmable and has proper interfaces. Programmable hardware has been

already used in various places for some time now (for example in radios, in

smaller functionalities).

In addition to hardware there are some software requirements for the SDR.

Basically SDR requires a real time software environment. Real time

environments have been around for some time already, but not until recently

there are also open sourced versions that have been suitable for initiative like

SDR. Meaning that the proprietary technology that for example army is using

is developed for some time already, but the market lead SDR development is

a semi “open” movement.

Besides the technology enablers there are also market push towards SDR.

First and foremost the important market push are the quickly developing radio

technologies. Both the operating frequency and the modulation change with

the increasing phase. It would be only natural that also devices could be later

on adapted to upcoming new environments. And at the same time there is all

the time upcoming new network setups (like UWB, 3G, HiperLAN etc…) the

old remain more or less, which results that (especially in future) there are

several parallel and concurrent networks available. Especially when these

network environments change drastically from place to place (meaning for


example that the environment in US is different than in Europe) and in time to

time (e.g. secondary frequency markets which are discussed more in chapter

5).

SDR also enables sort of ideological thinking, meaning that with SDR there is

freedom and flexibility of new applications. If somebody has SDR enabled

base stations and terminals they can practically invent their own

communication standard, which is a great possibility in terms of innovations

and understanding. At the same time there is of course some problems

relating to possibility to hack existing networks (this is discussed more in

chapter 6 problems). The requirement for easily configurable and manageable

network structures comes more and more important when we start to think

SDR enabled AdHoc and P2P networks. One similar innovation in this area is

cognitive radio [4].

Last but not least the development of common, open and non-proprietary

standards and protocols, has been very important factor in order for SDR to

make sense. If the standards and protocols where closed, it would be much

less interesting to have easily adaptable devices. If one don’t know what is the

protocol, how can one adapt it devices in to it? Of course military and even

some business type application of SDR make sense already without open

protocols, but the biggest possibility of SDR to spread around and liberate

common person communication requires open protocols to tap in.

1.5 Functional chain (from transmitter to receiver)

In this chapter I explain the (digital) radio structure, meaning the components

used in order to transmit something over the air and then finally converting it

back it in to readable form. This is more or less the same as all common

digital wireless network structure, but it is very important to understand this

functional chain in order to understand where SDR has effect on and what is

SDR’s playground. The following is based on Techtargets [5] definition and bit

altering from normal it is tailored as a SDR definition.

A typical voice SDR transmitter, such as might be used in mobile two-way

radio or cellular telephone communication, consists of the following stages?

Those components that could be tailored and controlled with the software are

marked with an asterisk (*).


1. Microphone and Audio amplifier are the input signal source. In case of

other modes of communication (like data) this would be replaced by some

other mechanism.

2. Analog-to-digital converter (ADC) converts the voice audio to ASCII data

*.

3. Modulator that impresses the ASCII intelligence onto a radio-frequency

(RF) carrier *

4. Series of Amplifiers that boosts the RF carrier to the power level

necessary for transmission

5. Transmitting antenna

Resulting software manipulated digital radio signal

A typical receiver designed to intercept the above-described voice SDR signal

would employ the following stages, essentially reversing the transmitter's

action?

1. Receiving antenna

2. Superheterodyne system that boosts incoming RF signal strength and

converts it to a constant frequency.

3. Demodulator that separates the ASCII intelligence from the RF carrier *

4. Digital-to-analog converter (DAC) that generates a voice waveform from

the ASCII data *

5. Audio amplifier and speaker, earphone or headsets

This part would be replaced by some other components if the mode of

communication would be different.

Some of the following components (especially those marked with the asterisk)

are then further discussed in technology chapter (chapter 3).


The image above (copyright SDRForum) shows what kind of structure a

typical SDR architecture would have. In the picture one can see how the

different levels in functional chain are tackled independently.

This next image is more detailed illustration of the same system than in the

previous image. Here one can also see the data and interaction flows

between the components.

1.6 Tiers

Already in the first chapter (1.1.) I mentioned how the SDR as a phenomenon

can take place in several different tiers. The following tier division is based on

SDRForums definitions and it basically reflects pretty well how they view the

SDR’s possibilities and development [6].

Tier 0. Hardware Radio

The tier 0 is not basically SDR at any ways, but is the most common current

situation of the radio devices. No provision is made for any changes of system

attributes except by physical intervention by the user or a service technician.

System operation is accomplished by use of switches, dials, and buttons, by

physically opening the covers, or by replacing the unit. This category also

applies to radios that have some specific functions operated remotely by

electromechanical means such as relays or servos. Internal use of software,

firmware, or computer processing elements still fits this definition if they

cannot be changed externally.


Tier 1. Software Controlled Radio

Tier 1 is the most elemental level of SDR. Radios in this category have control

functionality implemented in software, but do not have the ability to change

attributes, such as modulation and frequency band without changing

hardware.

Tier 2. Software Defined Radio

The Tier 2 system provides a broad operational range (e.g. 20-500MHz, 1-

2GHz) under software control without hardware change. These systems are

typically characterized by a separate antenna system followed by some

wideband filtering, amplification, and down-conversion prior to receive analog-

to-digital conversion. The transmission chain provides the reverse function of

direct digital-to-analog conversion, analog up-conversion, filtering, and

amplification.

This front-end equipment represents a constraint on the frequency coverage

of the system, and its performance. It may be necessary to switch antennas to

obtain the entire frequency range. Except for these constraints, however, the

system is fully capable of covering a substantial frequency range and of

executing software to provide a variety of modulation techniques, wide-band

or narrow-band operation, communications security functions (such as

hopping), and meet the waveform performance requirements of relevant

legacy systems. An SDR is also capable of storing a large number of

waveforms or air interfaces, and of adding new ones to that storage through

either disk or on-line load.

Over-the-air software load is desirable, but not required in the definition. The

system software should also be capable of applying new or replacement

modules for added functionality or bug fixes without reloading the entire set of

software.

Tier 3. Ideal Software Defined Radio

This system has all of the capabilities of the Tier 2 system, but eliminates

analog amplification or heterodyne mixing prior to digital-analog conversion. It

provides dramatically improved performance by eliminating analog sources of

distortion and noise.


Tier 4. Ultimate Software Radio

This system description is intended for comparison purposes rather than

implementation. It is a small lightweight component with very small current

drain that can easily be incorporated into personal devices. It requires no

external antenna, and no restrictions on operating frequency. It has a single

connector that delivers the desired information in the desired format, typically

digital. The connector also accepts information, uses it to modulate a signal,

and radiates that signal in the desired waveform or air interface. The ultimate

software radio also accepts control information through its connector to

operate and reconfigure the operating software. It can switch from one air

interface format to another in milliseconds, use GPS to track the users

location, store money using smartcard technology, or provide video so that

the user can watch a local broadcast station or receive a satellite

transmission. Further, it has a large amount internal processing capacity, so

with appropriate software it can perform a wide range of adaptive services for

its user.

2. Methodology

2.1 Objective of the study

This is a seminar paper for a Helsinki University of Technology (HUT)

Telecommunication and Multimedia laboratory. The seminar topic is wireless

networks, and the focus of the seminar is to analyse selected wireless

technologies business side in technology perspective.

This is the only paper in the seminar about SDR, so it is covering both the

technical introduction of the topic and some business landscape analysis.

Hence the title of the paper is simply SDR, referring that it is a general

introductory paper. The purpose of the paper is not to dwell in technical

details, but to provide comprehensive picture on the technology meanwhile

analysing its business impact. As SDR is a technology that doesn’t have yet

clear business case example the business side analysis is based mostly on

opinions and predictions.


2.2 Research method

The only research method in this study is literature review. There were no

suitable books available about the topic so all the sources are found from

Internet. One can criticize the validity of some sources, but most of the

authors are highly regarded specialist on field and as such their writings

should be valid.

2.3 Structure of the study

The study is basically divided in to four sections. First there was this rather

thick introduction (chapter 1). I wanted to have a long introduction because

not one needs to understand not only the technology, but also the idea,

ideology and the history of SDR before it is reasonable to discuss the

business implications.

Then comes this methodology section (current chapter 2), where I briefly go

through the academic framework I used, when I did this paper. In terms of

clarity the long first chapter doesn’t support the structure quite well, but there

is a disruption almost in the middle of subject to these academic details, but I

hope it doesn’t pull the readers too much away from the core of the study,

SDR that is.

Third section (chapters 4-6) is the body of the study, where I go through both

the technological and business analysis of the topic. Then finally there is the

fourth conclusions section (chapter 7). As this is a literature review type of

study with only common reasoning type of analysis, there are no significant

findings that can be concluded in the end. So the conclusion is merely a

summarizing type of final words for the study.

3. Technology

3.1 Antennas

Software radio design begins at the antenna. In order to fully utilize the

software radio approach it is important that antenna has good beam forming,

diversity and sectorization qualities [7], [8]. Wideband (WB) and ultra

wideband (UWB) antennas are antenna technologies, which enable

accessibility to multiple RF bands dynamically, sequentially or in parallel.


These wideband antenna technologies are aligned with the development of

micro electro-mechanical systems (MEMS), which replace pin diodes, FETs

etc…. Advances in the simulation techniques enable better management of

these antenna technologies, when their behaviour in different situation can be

modelled before hand and the signal tailored to the antenna qualities.

Such technologies are known in military uses for some time now already, but

step-by-step they are becoming also affordable in commercial cases when the

demand of currently still niche products expands and the production cost of

these high-tech components decrease. Wideband antennas are key to the

successful deployment of software radio infrastructure.

3.2 Hardware enablers [8]

Basically also antenna should belong to this category, but I wanted to

emphasize the importance of the antenna as an enabler of well functioning

SDR, so I made own chapter for it. The hardware enablers can be roughly

divided in to two chapters RF enablers (which contains basically RF circuits,

antennas and MEMS) and to digital enablers (processing devices and

communication fibres).

RF enablers

When most of the current commercial radio devices work in a limited

frequency area (like GSM 900Mhz, and GSM dual band 900 + 1800Mhz

etc…) especially governmental regulated SDR systems should operate in a

rather frequency area from 2Mhz-2Ghz and even beyond (up to 5Ghz where

many new standards are aiming). This requires special features from RF

enabling hardware.

Multiband (MB) and multimode (MM) chipsets are current answer to the

requirements of the SDR. MEMS are the components that are backbone

enabling the order of magnitude improvements in MM/MB chipsets. Further

improvements are expected from novel RF signal processing methods.

MEMS can be used in various points (like explained already earlier) in these

new chipsets. Examples of components that MEMS can replace are bulky pin

diodes, super-wide field-effect transistors (FET) and vacuum tube relays


(VTR) in antennas. They can also be used as high-performance miniature

inductors, capacitors, filters, T/R switches and diplexers in RF front ends.

Digital enablers

Advanced Field Programmable Gate Arrays (FPGA) product families are

providing “system-on-chip” feature. These technologies basically contain

embedded serial transceivers, RISC processor and some amount of

programmable memory. In the end they provide the digital front-end for

software configurable radio signal processing.

Parallel to FPGA’s there is the development of general purpose processing.

This basically means that a normal CPU’s would start to support SDR

functionality (Intel announced that their all chipsets would support SDR

functionality in the end on this decade! [9]). After there is enough processing

power, the next bottle next is the internal system communication. Current

technologies like PCI are not sufficient for high data rate requirements of most

advanced SDR systems. Different communication fabric technologies like

Raceaway and Skychannel are answer to this problem.

3.3 Software enablers [8]

Software enablers of SDR can be divided in to four categories. Software

Communication Architecture (SCA), Waveform Development Environment

(WDE), Radio Description Language (RDL) and Radio Virtual Machines. In

addition to this there is need for real time operating system (that was

discussed earlier) already.

Software Communication Architecture (SCA)

A new version of the SCA is under development by the Object Management

Group (OMG) Software Radio Domain Special Interest Group (SR-DSIG)

(http://swradio.omg.org/). This new SCA is being developed using the OMG

Model Driven Architecture (MDA). The new Platform Independent Model (PIM)

uses the JTRS SCA 2.2 as a Platform Specific Model (PSM) starting point,

and extends the current SCA behavioral models. The new PIM, and the

Minimum version which will follow, will probably be mapped to J2ME and

other platforms.


One of the major benefits of a platform independent model (PIM) standard is

the ability to port the PIM to different platform specific models (PSM) using

CE, .NET, CORBA, or Java. A second major benefit is the ability to certify

compliance of various PSM’s. Since the PIM maps to PSM’s using basic OMG

technologies such as the UML and XML, and since these technologies are

capable of formal methods of proof, it is possible to formally prove compliance

of a PSM/PIM pair as long as the mappings themselves are done with formal

methods in mind (UML and XML).

Waveform Development Environment (WDE)

Impressive milestones have been reached in the WDE tools area, such as

waveform development systems. Some of these toolsets employ

“mainstream” simulation environments such as MATLAB and SIMULINK.

Because of the platform specific optimization of IP cores and DSP algorithms,

under some circumstances SIMULINK generated code on DSPs and FPGAs

may perform BETTER than when hand-coded. Related fields include Radio

Definition Language (RDL) and Radio Virtual Machines (RVM).

Radio Definition Language (RDL)

RDL is a higher order language originally used to "construct" a radio functional

model using RDL "building blocks". RDL is used to configure a flexible

modem, describe the desired signal processing graph, and give parameters

for each processing stage. It does NOT include implementations of signal

processing stages, nor is it a waveform specification language.

Radio Virtual Machine (RVM)

The RVM is a hardware abstraction, which can significantly accelerate time to

market. It brokers parallelism in multi-core, multiprocessor, and accelerated

designs. It allows the interoperability of multivendor, real-time intellectual

property at both 'whole-stack' level and 'stack-component' model.


4. Applications

In this chapter I go quickly explain few key applications that SDR have. There

are also several other applications.

4.1 Software phone

SDR enabled wireless terminal, also called bit misleadingly a software phone,

is basically a phone type of device that supports multiple networks by using

SDR technology.

Basically this means that a single terminal support for example that a single

terminal, with a same bundled chip set could support cellular networks (2G to

3G, GSM, EDGE, GPRS, UMTS, CDMA and WCDMA), wireless LAN

networks (WLAN protocols such as 802.11 and HyperLAN) and personal area

networks (PANs like Bluetooth). In addition it could be also UWB (Ultra Wide

Band) enabled which is an alternative technology to WLAN and PAN with

some additional functionalities. And it could, with the same chipset even take

advantage of GPS (Global Positioning System) system, so enabling very high

precision location information.

There are of course some limitations, or better challenges, in order to achieve

all these functionalities, when there are for example both circuit switched and

packet switched network support in the same chipset. Still this is a very

interesting possibility, and when it is possible it clearly demonstrates the

advantages of SDR. If the chipset is build according to SDR ideology and it

supports fully all the frequencies, modulations, modes and protocol features in

this domain, the terminal can be quickly updated with software to support also

upcoming new networks, which are not mentioned here.

4.2 Amateur radio

Amateur radio [2] is perhaps the area where the biggest interest for

open SDR system origins. The community of radio amateur worldwide could


start to use more the computer as an interface for their communication. This

community is experimenting all the time different models of and protocols of

communication, and they would just love if they would have an open platform

to tailor the chipset functionality to different setups. When they are currently

heavily limited to the features that their hardwired receivers and transmitters

can provide.

At the same time the open platform with the radio amateurs could really

liberate the communication environment, and potentially generate many new

interesting innovations when a large pool of people have access to radio

technologies, it contains also some problems. How to prevent radio amateurs

(radio hackers) from disrupting licensed traffic. This problem is further

discussed in the chapter 6.

4.3 Military

For example in US military they have been able to integrate all together 20-30

different radio technologies (up to 750.000 individual radios) together by using

SDR in some of the radios. So it is not a surprise that the leading edge of the

SDR developments origins from military and their suppliers.

For example voice bridges are very important application that has many

benefits in battlefields, and cannot be really implemented without SDR. “Voice

bridge” basically means that ad-hocly any two to more military instances

(patrols, vehicle telematics, plains and helicopters etc..) can create a

communication connection without having specifically the same systems in

place. SDR also enables better security when there is besides the encryption

also the changeability of protocols, frequencies and modulations enabled,

which can be used to protect the communication. Basically this means that

when a violated connection is perceived it is possible to change the whole

communication method on fly to something that cannot be immediately

intercepted. US military SDR application SpeakEASY is explained in more

detailed in chapter 6 where some other real world SDR cases are also

discussed.

In addition the military also advances very much international interoperability.

Now-a-days military campaigns most often are a co-operation of several

parties that have different kinds of communication systems. In order for these


parties to collaborate they have to be able to quickly adopt to each other

methods, and here SDR can be the key.

4.4 Base stations

When the protocols are open, and there is available SDR type of architecture

and components, it is possible to build different kinds of base stations much

more easily than today. There are already some case examples, like SDRCT

(discussed in chapter 6 more), where a vendor has developed a Linux – SDR

based base station solution that is much more cheaper than the ones

currently in market.

SDR could really open currently rather oligopolic base station markets. And

when the development would take place in multiple frontiers it could be really

beneficial for end customers in terms of price and functionality.

4.5 Civil applications

Similarly to military example also civil instances can advantage of SDR

system. Some of case examples of such are portable command station for

crisis management, inter-agency communications when desired and instant

routing of emergency information. For these needs there exists already Tetra

networks (a civil secure cellular digital networks, cousins to GSM), but they

are implemented only in few countries, and the further development phases of

Tetra could defiantly benefit from SDR.

5. Business

5.1 General business related advantages

When the hardware becomes more recyclable there is high potential for

significant life-cycle cost reductions. Over the air downloads of new features

and services as well as software patches enable that the both network and

terminals can quickly adopt and take advantage of new technologies [10].

Advanced networking capabilities to allow truly "portable" networks

And in the end the frequency space we have is very limited, and already now

there are clear cases where the frequency band has been exhausted. SDR

could enable much more efficient usage of frequency band by quickly


adapting to utilize all available free spectrum. This is further discussed in

chapter of secondary

5.2 Value propositions [10]

In this chapter I go though the value propositions of identified by SDR in the

perspective of the three most important stakeholder groups, which are

customers, operators and manufacturers.

Benefits to Consumers:

Single SDR platform for multiple uses - allows customization and "true choice"

meanwhile enabling access to broad range of media, content & applications.

Basically this means ability to seamlessly roam across operator boundaries

and achieve true mobility.

SDR also offers the possibility of a richer set of features and services with an

easy upgrade path for a variety of hand held devices and increases the

lifetime of a hardware investment and provides insurance against

obsolescence.

Benefits to Operators:

SDR gives operators ability to roll out new services tailored to the various tiers

of users on common hardware platform. With it operator can create simpler

and faster test cases of new services and overall differentiate from other

operators. It lowers the life-cycle costs of handsets, reduces component count

and makes software upgrades of base-station faster and more flexible.

One significant point where SDR can help is that when currently service and

network operators have problems to identify others function with SDR type

common platform the division can be made more clearly. Basically it could

help operators to develop PC Internet business model to the wireless market

by addressing the sale of content versus connection time, which can be very

interesting route even tough it contains some possible problems also.

Benefits to Manufacturers:

For smaller vendors SDR offers ability to expand to new and adjacent markets

with common network solutions. It enhances the true use of advanced


techniques for spectrum utilization using smart antennas and adaptive signal

processing. Currently the handsets are manufactured as is basis, and only

cosmetic changing can be done later on. SDR platform could enable new

business model in terms of "soft" additions of new features in terminals and

easy adaptation to partner with ASPs & ISPs for enhanced revenue streams,

which again might be a good thing but on the other hand manufacturers

revenue logic is very dependent now-a-days on selling continuously every 2-3

years new handset to customers. Anyways the capability to upgrade services,

features and security mechanisms over the air is very beneficial for

everybody. In the manufacturing side SDR chipset could lower product cost

due to reduced components (size reductions). At the same time for example

terminal manufacturers could open more their interfaces for developers

without introducing their core technology (software interface hides the

hardware technology).

5.3 Cost – Benefit analysis

According to Joseph Mitola [11] the cost benefit analysis for SDR could be

based on the following logic. Life cycle costs include R&D, acquisition and

operations and maintenance components. Key techniques in accurate

cost/benefit analysis include parameterizing the relationship between the

technical features of the system architecture (e.g. erlangs per square km), the

techncial architecture (e.g. the number of VME processing modules needed

per subscriber) and the projected revenue streams.

But still in the end in case of SDR everything comes down to chip cost.

Normally a dual-purpose chip cost (e.g. dual band GSM) around 1.5-1.7 times

the cost of single purpose chip [11]. Then when there are more than two

modes and or frequency areas that chip needs to function the cost increases

around again with respective incremental amount.

So if there are clear need to have a three or more network setups in a single

chip, and a SDR chip capable for those networks cost around a two times

more than single purpose chip, it is already profitable to turn in to SDR chip.

Currently the price of SDR chip is not quite there, but in time when the market

size increases it can clearly achieve such price performance.


Another factor that is very important especially for smaller vendors and

instances that would like to start implementing SDR products is the availability

of COTS components. Currently components like MEMS are manufactured in

various places, but in order to penetrate the commercial markets actually even

the whole SDR enabled chip should become a COTS products, as well as

software components and platforms based on which the SDR chip can be

tailored.

5.4 Market overview

Worldwide interest and investment in the SDR technologies is growing

significantly, with key standardization and development efforts now taking

place throughout Europe, North America, Japan, Korea, and China. In

addition to the broad benefits listed in chapters above, SDR technologies offer

unique benefits to players on every tier of the value chain [10].

Governing bodies like FCC (discussed in next chapter) are already heavily

analysing SDR products and in SDR Forum there are currently 122 member

companies and organisation (not Nokia, just to point out in Finnish

perspective), which contribute to the forum activities monetarily and otherwise.

Most of the companies that are developing already actual products are doing

that for military or are technological spin-offs of military research for

commercial purposes. There are few cases explained in next chapter.

5.5 Timeline [12]

Based on (again) SDRForums market estimates the ramp-up of SDR

technology market introduction has already began in the beginning of the

millennium. According to them they are expecting a major boost in SDR

technology with the 3G and 4G cellular networks. In their estimates the 3G is

scheduled to have been ongoing already, which is, as we know, not true. In

that perspective it is rather speculative that can SDR penetrate in mass

markets, as expected, within next few years. It remains to be seen what

wireless technologies ramp-up and when, but good thing for SDR is that if and

when the network environment becomes more complex “network of networks”

it really doesn’t matter what protocols, modes and frequencies are used, SDR

is in all cases a very promising technology.


5.6 Future prospects

In this chapter I would like to draw some future visions what SDR enable

“network of networks” mean. I have referred to Joseph Mitola already before.

He has a vision of cognitive radio [13], which would be base on SDR type of

technologies. The idea in cognitive radio is that all radio equipments would

sense all the time surroundings and communicate with each other in order to

create the most efficient and robust networking conditions. For example

pacemaker could have alternative operating frequencies, which could be

immediately taken in to use if the primary operating frequency is occupied

otherwise.

Basically SDR is a logical step in intelligent radio networks where the base

stations provide different capacities and functionalities in different places and

terminals can adapt to these network conditions intelligently without user

intervention in order to maximize the wireless usability. At the same time

different mobile network components (mainly terminals) could form ad-hoc

new networks to satisfy some temporary communication needs.

5.7 Secondary markets [3]

Secondary bandwidth markets is interesting new concept in order to business

vice utilize the network capacity at its maximum. Basically it means that

primary buyers purchase the operating licence for the frequency bandwidth,

but in the secondary markets they could resell parts (that they don’t need or

other parties can provide better value added) of the bandwidth to other

players.

Basically this would require some kind of network broker, which would

manage the secondary markets and sell the frequency space-time of the

primary operator to secondary operators. Good example where such

secondary markets would be very beneficial would be for example irregular

events, like Olympics, that have an exceptional need for all different

bandwidths. During the time of Olympics the organisers would lease the

needed network capacity in the secondary markets in order to have a wireless

project management network in function. For these secondary markets there

is need to have easily configurable terminals and other network components


in order to maximize the usage of continuously changing network conditions

(the same equipments could be then used in the other side of the world for

some other event in completely different network conditions right after

Olympics). Here SDR could again be a key technology.

6. Current situation

In previous chapter I explained the business environment of SDR by using

mostly future projections and possibilities as a starting point. In this chapter I

go through the realism of current situation with the SDR. How it is used, what

are the problems it is facing and some parallel (basically complementing)

development projects.

6.1 Case examples of implementation

First I would like to introduce you few most relevant real world implementation

case examples of SDR. This is no way a comprehensive list, but only few of

the most promising cases.

SPEAKEasy [13]

SPEAKEasy is the US military development project of SDR, that started

already in mid 90’s and is now already in second phase of implementation.

The key vision in SPEAKEasy development was to build the “PC of the

Communications World”. This basically means a fully programmable

waveform and COMSEC for Voice, Multimedia and Networking Use. It is

designed to be multiband system operating continuously in the bandwidth

area from 2 to 400Mhz. It has both open modular hardware and software

architecture, which has been a basis for first commercial installations also. It

supports also legacy systems.

Lessons learned from the first phase where that the open environment is very

important in order to quickly respond to further development needs. The

system uses exceptionally cutting edge technologies so apparently the first

implementation was rather expensive. They found out, that in the beginning

the system was “over-designed”. This refers most probably to, that it wasn’t

enough flexible for all the time growing requirements needs.


CRC demo [14]

Communications Research Centre Canada (CRC) and Defence Research &

Development Canada (DRDC) where the first ones to show a commercial

demo of SDR radio environment. This was done in November 2002. Originally

CRC had an idea to convert the SCA used in SPEAKEasy as to a commercial

open source platform and demonstrate a simple voice call over it. In the demo

they actually where able to do Digital Audio Broadcast (DAB), which satisfied

many parties that where speculative about the how big are the difficulties

related to SDR platforms. This CRC demo can be regarded as a starting point

for commercial SDR applications.

Radical horizon [15]

Radical horizon is the one of the first companies providing the commercial

SDR solution. Their solution is called Flexcell and it is a multiband and

multiprotocol architecture targeted for simultaneous 2G and 3G networks. As

in SDR systems in general their benefits are low cost and easy

configuration/adaptability.

SDRCT (SDR Communications Technologies) [16]

SDRCT has bit similar solution than Radical Horizon. Their focus is bit more

on the SDR related operating system side. That is why they are targeting their

solution also to developers in addition to operators. The name of the product

is SpctruCell and it has more on security issues concerned derivative PC4

that is targeted to military customers.

6.2 Problems

Hackers, disruption of current radio frequencies

When SDR systems becomes widely available to small developer

communities like previously introduced radio amateurs, there is a problem of

them to accessing existing networks and disrupting licensed network traffic.

There are some ideas how to prevent this from happening, like restrictions

and limitations in the software, but so far there is no consensus or clear vision

how this should be done.


Basically if there would be open source SDR platform, operating systems and

programming components available for example to 3G environment it would

be more than easy for a individual coder/tech guy to build devices that could

seriously damage the traffic in this frequency spectrum, hence generating

denial of network service for other customers and in worst case also security

leaks.

Regulatory point of view [3]

Naturally the biggest question among regulators is how to avoid SDR

disrupting current radio frequencies? Meaning how to control and monitor

hackering and illegal activities. When in earlier chapter it was quickly

explained how easy it would be to disrupt 3G networks, in addition concern for

public bodies and operators rise when they now that they have no means

what so ever to really monitor and identify this illegal activity.

In general at least FCC states that they are “very interested in the area and

look forward to its potential application”. Especially in the perspective of

secondary markets the governing bodies see that SDR may become very

beneficial.

6.3 Parallel development:

GNU radio [17]

GNU radio is basically an open source community working under GPL licence

to build SDR like platform. Currently their focus seems to be in amateur radio

and HDTV decoding side. In HDTV SDR could also provide interesting new

application when a simple radio receivers connected to computer could be

used to capture and demodulate the HDTV broadcasts.

Open radio platform [18]

Open radio platform is a France based initiative to develop SDR type

environment and components for that support 3G. It is develop in cooperation

with 3GPP. The initial focus areas of Open Radio Platform are educational

and research oriented. But in long term they are looking forward to develop

also commercial applications based on it.


7. Conclusion

Software Defined Radio (SDR) is an idea of changing hard coded radio

circuits in to software programmable ones. In a tomorrows complex

networking environment such approach contains several benefits like the

flexibility of introducing new standards, maximizing the bandwidth utilization

and opening the network development for bigger pool of vendors and

developers.

Openness is one key fundamental of SDR initiative, which basically means

that more and more instances would have access to understand, utilize and

further develop network technologies. SDR is not limited to any specific

technology, but the solution areas vary from amateur radio and military

application to a cellular networks and short- range wireless networks.

SDR is an idea that can materialize in many different levels depending on

which components used in the RF-circuits and modulation processors support

software controlling.

References

1. http://www.arrl.org/tis/info/sdr.html

2. http://www.smartmobs.com/archives/000339.html

3. Trends in the field of networks Software Defined Radio: A Regulator's

Perspective Dale N. Hatfield Chief, Office on Engineering and

Technology Federal Communications Commission At SDR Forum 19th

General MeetingSeattle, Washington

http://www.fcc.gov/oet/speeches/sdrforumsph.html

4. http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/jmitola/cognitiv.htm

5. http://searchnetworking.techtarget.com/sDefinition/

0,,sid7_gci333184,00.html

6. http://www.sdrforum.org/tech_comm/definitions.html

7. http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/jmitola/seven.htm

8. http://www.sdrforum.org/public/approved/

03_a_0002_v0_00_rd_sum_01_30_03.pdf

http://www.sdrforum.org/public/approved/03_a_0002_v0_00_rd_sum_01_30_03.pdf

http://www.sdrforum.org/public/approved/03_a_0002_v0_00_rd_sum_01_30_03.pdf

http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/jmitola/seven.htm

http://www.sdrforum.org/tech_comm/definitions.html

http://searchnetworking.techtarget.com/sDefinition/0,,sid7_gci333184,00.html

http://searchnetworking.techtarget.com/sDefinition/0,,sid7_gci333184,00.html

http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/jmitola/cognitiv.htm

http://www.fcc.gov/oet/speeches/sdrforumsph.html

http://www.smartmobs.com/archives/000339.html

http://www.arrl.org/tis/info/sdr.html


9. Intel CTO Pat Gelsinger at Intel Developer Forum (IDF, 2/28/02, San

Francisco)

10.http://www.sdrforum.org/mrkts_comm/value.html

11.http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/jmitola/costbene.htm

12.http://www.sdrforum.org/mrkts_comm/adoption.html

13.http://www.its.bldrdoc.gov/meetings/art/art98/slides98/bons/bons_s.pdf

14.http://www.crc.ca/en/html/crc/home/mediadesk/sca_demo

15.www.radicalhorizon.com

16.www.sdrct.com

17.http://www.gnu.org/software/gnuradio/gnuradio.html

18.http://www.wireless3g4free.com/

Abbreviations

2G – Second generation mobile phone networks e.g. GSM

3G – Third generation mobile phone networks e.g. UMTS

ADC – Analogue to Digital Converter

ASCII – American Standard Code for Information Interchange

COMSEC – COMmon wealth SECurity

COTS – Commercial Of The Shelf

DAC – Digital to Analogue Converter

DSP – Digital Signal Processor

FCC – Federal Communications Commission

FPGA - Field Programmable Gate Arrays

GNU – Recursive acronym Gnu is Not Unix

HDTV – High Definition TV

MEMS – Micro Electro-Mechanical Systems

RF – Radio Frequency

http://www.wireless3g4free.com/

http://www.gnu.org/software/gnuradio/gnuradio.html

http://www.sdrct.com/

http://www.radicalhorizon.com/

http://www.crc.ca/en/html/crc/home/mediadesk/sca_demo

http://www.its.bldrdoc.gov/meetings/art/art98/slides98/bons/bons_s.pdf

http://www.sdrforum.org/mrkts_comm/adoption.html

http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/jmitola/costbene.htm

http://www.sdrforum.org/mrkts_comm/value.html


SDR – Software Defined Radio

UWB – Ultra Wide Band

WB – Wide Band

report

Technology

hardware radio

ideal software defined

software controlled

ultimate software radio

amateur radio

radio kai kuikkaniemi

software enablers

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