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Tech Primer
Software Defined Radio (SDR)
 SDR
is an emerging technology that spans all radio network topologies in the commercial,
military and civil government sectors, and enables the creation of flexible
solutions that will benefit operators, manufacturers and consumers.
The SDR Forum defines SDR technology as “radio that provides software control
of a variety of modulation techniques, wide-band or narrow-band operation, communication
security functions (such as hopping), and waveform requirements of current and
evolving standards over a broad frequency range. SDR can support applications
like Bluetooth, WLAN, GPS, radar, WCDMA and GPRS.
It gives software the control to provide a variety of modulation, interference
management and capacity enhancement techniques over a broad frequency spectrum
(wide and narrow band). Another significant feature of the SDR is that it ensures
a secure communication network. This system comes with advantages such as the
fact that it can easily be upgraded since the dependence on hardware is reduced.
The need for SDR
The telecom industry is in a boom phase. With link protocol standards now moving
into 3G and 4G, networks differ dramatically. This poses a problem for both
consumers and vendors. Upgrading a handset becomes mandatory in this case. Wireless
network operators face problems during the migration of a network from one generation
to another.
There also exists several incompatible wireless network technologies in different
countries that pose a hurdle to the deployment of global roaming facilities.
SDR can help in all these scenarios.
What it does
SDR facilitates the implementation of certain basic modules in a radio system
such as modulation/demodulation, signal generation, coding and link layer protocols
in software. A radio system built using SDR technology supports a wide range
of applications that use different link layer protocols and modulation/demodulation
techniques.
The system uses a generic hardware platform with programmable units—microprocessors,
digital signal processing, field programmable gate array and analog RF modules.
In an SDR system, the software modules that implement link layer protocols and
modulation/demodulation operations are called radio applications, and these
applications provide link layer services to higher layer communication protocols
such as WAP and TCP/IP.
SDR extends the capabilities of current and emerging commercial air-interface
standards. It also has the potential to significantly reduce life-cycle costs.
It could also support advanced capabilities in portable networks.
Pros
SDR technology is reconfigurable. It allows several software modules to co-exist,
and also permits dynamic configuration on the handset as well as in the back-end
equipment. This solves the problem of discrepancies due to legacy handsets continuing
to be used. It facilitates the implementation of multi-mode, multi-band and
multi-standard terminals. Thus, SDR clearly helps solve issues related to inter-operability.
End-users can integrate third-party applications on their handsets.
For more information visit:www.sdrforum.org/pages/aboutSdrTech/aboutSdrTech.asp
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