Software Radio Enabling Dynamic Spectrum Management

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Software RadioEnabling Dynamic Spectrum
Management
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Vanu, Inc. Background

• History
• Founded September 98
• Spin-off from MIT SpectrumWare project
• Building software radios since 1994
• Core Strengths
• 7 year's experience implementing software radios
• Staff 5 PhDs, 20 engineers
• Software engineering, waveform software, system
  design
• Core Technology Developed
• Technology is mature for
• infrastructure and public safety markets

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Outline

• Where are we going ?
• The future of wireless communications
• Software radio is the enabling technology
• Where are we now ?
• Tremendous progress over the last 10 years
• What are the next steps ?

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The Ideal Software Radio

• Hardware Radio
• Separate devices for different functions
• Any fix or upgrade needs a hardware change

• Software Radio
• One device for many functions
• Upgrade through software change

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Software Radio Remote Antennas
Fiber or cable backbone

• Extended Coverage
• Shared Infrastructure
• Better Spectrum Utilization
• Future Proofing
• Lower Capital Cost
• New Revenue sources

Software Radio Cluster
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Dynamic Spectrum Utilization
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Benefits

• Better Spectrum Utilization
• System optimized to current channel conditions,
  user requirements and network traffic
• Dynamic Spectrum Optimization
• Make spectrum a commodity
• Should be able to sublicense portions as needed
• Use is a function of demand, not regulation
• Adapts to regional and time sensitive
  requirements
• Enable priority access
• Faster Technology Tracking
• New services and signal processing are software
  upgrades
• Leads to new revenue and even better spectrum
  utilization

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Outline

• Where are we going ?
• The future of wireless communications
• Software radio is the enabling technology
• Where are we now ?
• Tremendous progress over the last 10 years
• What are the next steps ?

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Evolution of Software Radio

• Modal SDR
• Software controls and configures the radio
• ASIC or analog hardware

Dual-mode cell phone
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Evolution of Software Radio

• Reconfigurable SDR
• All signal processing reconfigurable
• Significant use of FPGA or assembly code

SpeakEasy AirNet

• Modal SDR
• Software controls and configures the radio
• ASIC or analog hardware

Dual-mode cell phone
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Evolution of Software Radio

• Software Radio (SWR)
• Takes advantage of Moores Law
• Portable programs

Vanu

• Reconfigurable SDR
• All signal processing reconfigurable
• Significant use of FPGA or assembly code

SpeakEasy AirNet

• Modal SDR
• Software controls and configures the radio
• ASIC or analog hardware

Dual-mode cell phone
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Software Radio Phase Space
A HF STR-2000 B COTS Handset C SWR Cell
Site D SPEAKeasy II V Vanu, Inc. Software
Radio X Ideal Software Radio
Source Mitola, Joseph. Software Radio
Architecture A Mathematical Perspective, IEEE
JSAC, April 1999.
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State Of Software Radio

• Technology is mature for infrastructure
• Basestations
• Public safety
• Wireless LAN/MAN/last mile
• Demonstrated capability at CTIA
• Cellular Handsets are 3-5 years away
• Power dissipation constraint
• Applicable to lower battery like markets today
• e.g. law enforcement, vehicular

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Outline

• Where are we going ?
• The future of wireless communications
• Software radio is the enabling technology
• Where are we now ?
• Tremendous progress over the last 10 years
• What are the next steps ?

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Next Steps

• SDR Rulemaking is a great start
• Spectrum licensing needs to be less static
• SDR device approval needs to expand to include
  over the air upgrades

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Dynamic Spectrum

• Secondary markets would be a good first step
• Allows some ability to adapt
• Long term goal
• Commodity spectrum market
• Computerized market maker
• Authorized traders
• Need to meet non-interference regualtions
• Support smaller geographic blocks
• Real-time bids
• Acquire spectrum for the region and time required

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SDR Waveform Downloads

• Essential to realize the benefits
• Spectrum efficiency
• Technology tracking
• Platform certification
• Insure no harmful interference, even with
  malicious software
• Radiate under power limitations
• Within allowed bandwidth
• Cannot theoretically guarantee correct
  functionality
• Can guarantee that it does NOT do certain harmful
  things

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Summary

• Software Radio will enable
• Better spectrum utilization
• Faster technology tracking
• New markets and uses for wireless
• Tremendous progress in the last decade
• Technology ready for infrastructure today
• Handsets coming fast
• Regulation
• Off to a good start with SDR rule making
• Next steps
• More dynamic spectrum allocation
• Downloadable waveform upgrades