Introduction to Software Defined Radio, Cognitive Radio, and the SDR Forum

Transcription

1 Introduction to Software Defined Radio, Cognitive Radio, and the SDR Forum 12 Oct 2007 Peter G. Cook Secretary, SDR Forum President, Peter G. Cook Consultancy, Inc. Consultant, HYPRES, Inc.

2 Software Defined Radio and Cognitive Radio

3 Imagine, if you will A bomb has exploded at a shopping mall You are with the local fire department and among the first responders on the scene Chaos surrounds you Triage Area Mobile Command Centers Explosion Scene Bomb Squad Robot and Control Police Fire EMS Bomb Squad

4 Among your problems You need to communicate

5 The Challenge: You need a technology that gives you the ability to communicate: -with whom you need to -how you need to (voice and data) -when you need to

6 To Answer to These Challenges: Software Defined Radio (SDR) According to the latest definition recently coordinated between the IEEE and the SDR Forum, an SDR is: Radio in which some or all of the Physical Layer Functions are software-defined Software-defined refers to the use of software processing within the radio system or device to implement operating (but not control) functions Software for this definition refers to modifiable instructions executed by a programmable processing device

7 What does that mean? A radio starts with a pure AC signal Voice from the microphone modifies that carrier Signal power - AM Frequency - FM The resulting complex waveform is amplified, and applied to the antenna The receiver Picks up the very faint signal Removes the carrier, extracts the voice Sends the voice to a speaker

8 HW Radio vs. SDR A Hardware Radio does all that with hardware: inductors, capacitors, amplifiers A Software Defined Radio is mostly computers: Computes the complex waveform Converts it to analog, delivers it to antenna Faint signal from antenna is converted to digital Receiver sees many channels Computers extract the desired voice or data in real time Voice is converted to analog, sent to speaker

9 Software Defined Radio Capabilities To change the way the radio works - change the Software Change channel assignments or the whole waveform Provide interoperability Simple modification, upgrades Much more robust data handling, security, error correction

10 To extend the power of SDR: Cognitive Radio Cognitive radios are radios that are aware of their environment and internal state and can make decisions about their radio operating behavior based on that information and predefined objective SDR is an enabling technology for Cognitive Radio

11 Cognitive Radio Definition The Software Defined Radio Forum has adopted the following definitions of Cognitive Radio: a.) Radio in which communication systems are aware of their environment and internal state and can make decisions about their radio operating behavior based on that information and predefined objectives. b.) Cognitive Radio (as defined in a.) that utilizes Software Defined Radio, Adaptive Radio, and other technologies to automatically adjust its behavior or operations to achieve desired objectives.

12 Benefits of Cognitive Radio Optimize use of spectrum Organize interoperability Map locations of units, rank candidates for dispatch (nearest, equipment and training, ready to move) Reconfigure networks to meet current needs Respond to priority structures Reach hidden nodes

13 Technology Summary Software Defined Radio and Cognitive Radio offer significant opportunities for improving Public Safety operations SDRF is very active in concept development and standardization for a variety of applications

14 Introduction to the SDR Forum

15 What is the SDR Forum A nonprofit international industry association dedicated to: Promoting the success of next-generation radio technologies

16 Today the SDR Forum Represents Over 100 Member Organizations

17 Government and Non-Profit Organizations Participating in the SDR Forum

18 SDRF Organization Three major committees Markets Develop market information Guide and promote SDRF as an organization Develop domain-specific technology requirements, use cases, and business cases Regulatory International Regulatory Advisory Committee Advise FCC, submit documents Numerous filings Technical Develop standards and recommendations Sponsor workshops and Technical Conferences Serve as a technical resource for government agencies and other standards and professional organizations Smart Radio Challenge for academic teams

19 SDR Forum Significant Events and Accomplishments Founded in 1996 under initiative of AF Rome Labs and the SPEAKeasy Software Defined Radio program Participation from many government agencies, commercial wireless, vendors,academia, non-profit organizations Initially published Technical Report outlining the state of the art Subsequently generated numerous reports and recommendations Initiated development of the Core Framework, precursor to Software Communication Architecture (SCA) now a JTRS standard

20 Events and Accomplishments (continued) Market Studies The Cognitive Radio Market The US Public Safety Market WiFi, WiMAX, and Beyond The Cellular Industry Market Segmentation and Sizing SDR: Altering the Value Chain

21 Public Safety Special Interest Group Public Safety SIG started Fred Frantz, chair Active participation from Public Safety community including NPSTC, public safety LMR vendors, military technology developers, academic researchers, regulators, and federally funded contract consultants Published documents Reports Software Defined Radio Technologies for Public Safety (2006) Use Cases for Cognitive Applications in Public Safety Communications Systems Volume 1: Review of the 7 July Bombing of the London Underground (2007) Recommendations Considerations and Recommendations for Software Defined Radio Technologies for the 700 MHz Public/Private Partnership (2007)

22 Public Safety SIG (continued) Workshops Industry-Public Safety Symposium on SDR Technology (2003, San Jose) Symposium on the Future of Public Safety Communications (2004, Mainz, Germany) Public Safety Requirements for Software Defined Radios (2004, Scottsdale) Software Defined Radio Technology for Public Safety (2006, Orlando)

23 Public Safety SIG Ongoing Activities Cost Model Task Group Developing quantitative framework for assessing cost tradeoffs in implementing capabilities using SDR/CR technology Developing initial application trade study of adding WiFi & WiMAX capabilities to a land mobile radio Cognitive Use Case Task Group Analyzing use cases for cognitive radio in a scenario involving a chemical plant explosion and evacuation Technologies for 700 MHz Expanding the initial report to provide more detail how utilization of SDR/CR technology can help meet the collective goals of the 700 MHz public/private partnership

24 The SDR Forum Addresses Our Programs Through 4 Pillars of Strategy The SDR Forum Promoting the Success of Next Generation Radio Technologies Advocacy We will advocate for our members with governments, regulators, standards bodies, and research sponsors, acting as the voice of the reconfigurable radio community Opportunity Development We will support our members in identifying new business opportunities and developing new markets for their products and services Markets Regulatory Technical Commercialization We will facilitate standards, certification, and demonstration projects that reduce costs (development, production, operations) and time to market/ time to deployment for SDR and CR technologies Education We will educate both the wireless community and our members in the state of the art of SDR and CR technologies World Class Technical, Business, and Government Leaders Passionate About Creating a Revolution in Wireless Communications Based on Reconfigurable Radio Technologies

25 Conclusion SDRF looks forward to continued cooperation and interaction with NPSTC and other organizations in the Public Safety Community Thank you for the opportunity to join you today

26 Questions? For additional information SDR Forum website Contact Peter Cook, Secretary, SDRF John Powell, Chair, Board of Directors, SDRF Fred Frantz, Chair, Public Safety SIG, SDRF