The Challenges of Software Defined Radio and Cognitive Radio for the Network Operator

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The Challenges of Software Defined Radio and
Cognitive Radio for the Network Operator
hello

• Stephen Hope
• France Telecom RD UK Ltd
• Vice-Chairman

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Towards the Ultimate SW Radio

• SDR does not refer to a single device,
  technology, or level of capability. In fact,
  there are several levels that have been described
  by the SDR Forum to help illustrate the levels of
  capability that might be implemented in
  communications devices, as follows.
• Tier 0Hardware Radio
• The radio is implemented using hardware
  components only and can not be modified except
  through physical intervention.
• Tier 1Software Controlled Radio
• Only the control functions of a Software
  Controlled Radio are implemented in software
  thus, only limited functions are changeable using
  software. Typically, this extends to
  inter-connects, power levels, etc., but not to
  frequency bands and/or modulation types.
• Tier 2Software Defined Radio
• Software Defined Radios provide software control
  of a variety of modulation techniques, wide-band
  or narrow-band operation, communications security
  functions (such as hopping), and waveform
  requirements of current and evolving standards
  over a broad frequency range. The frequency bands
  covered may still be constrained at the front-end
  requiring a switch in the antenna system.
• Tier 3Ideal Software Radio.
• Programmability extends to the entire system
  (e.g., with analog conversion only at the
  antenna, speaker and microphones.)
• Tier 4Ultimate Software Radio
• It accepts fully programmable traffic and control
  information and supports a broad range of
  frequencies, air-interfaces applications
  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.

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Cognitive Radio Conceptual Model
Environmental Domain Local internal and external
sensing, location-awareness Radio Domain Spectrum
characterisation, available modules/hardware
Policy Domain Operating policies
bands/frequencies/power/time/location Social
Domain Collaboration, Marketing payment
models User Domain Number of users/device,abilitie
s,requirements patterns, forecast of
requirements, MMI complexity
Environmental Domain
User Domain

Radio Domain
Policy Engine
weighting
Policy weighting/influence Variable biasing
toward different domain combinations. Learning
vs. Educated CR scenarios
Social Domain
Policy Domain
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Ubiquitous Services through a Framework of
Wireless and Wired Communication

• Convergence over IP
• Wireless and Wired
• Mobile Broadcasting
• A single user equipment
• Multi-functions
• Portable

• Heterogeneous Inter-working
• User convenient network
• User service continuity

Legacy
C
Common IP Core Network
Home Network
Ultra high speed landline
C
AP
Broadcasting
PAN
AR
AR
AP
AP
Ad-hoc Network
MBWA
2G. 3G Mobile Communication
Heterogeneous Radio Access
Linear-Cell
Pico-Cell
Micro-Cell
Macro-Cell
Mega-Cell
Home
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Cognitive Radio with SDR The Opportunities

• Seamless Service Mobility
• Over-The-Air Reconfiguration to move through
  different environments
• Interoperability with Emergency Services and
  Military for Emergencies
• Economies of Scale
• Same variant for different Markets
• Savings from Reduced Manufacturing costs
• Common Look and Feel of Services
• Personalised
• Special Needs
• Multi-domain
• Services are Brand extensions
• Dynamic Network Reconfiguration
• Modify access technology to suit busy hour
  requirements
• Add access technology for load sharing e.g.
  Broadcast Technology
• Device Bug Fixing
• Dynamic Spectrum Allocation
• Access to shared extension bands on a per use
  basis
• Access to other network technologies to meet QoS
  requirements
• Future Proofing

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Operator Concerns Spectrum and Regulatory Issues

• Cognitive Radio Technology may allow the
  Regulator to enforce spectrum trading sharing
  giving low cost secondary access to primary
  spectrum for which operators have paid a
  considerable sum. Cf LLU
• New entrants will be able to undercut existing
  operator businesses with reduced overheads
• Operators will need to invest considerable
  amounts in interference mitigation as rogue
  devices no longer under operator control
• Hands off Regulatory Regime may allow interferers
  e.g TDD Cognitive Radio in W-CDMA spectrum

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Operator Concerns - Cognitive Dancing
How does the Network know where you are?
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Conclusion
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The way ahead
Cognitive radio will enable an operator to offer
an increasing range of new services technologies
and devices

• CR is an enabler for seamless QoS based service
  mobility
• CR is an enabler for optimising use of additional
  shared spectrum
• SDR and CR are key enablers for end to end
  network reconfigurability, for the optimal
  delivery of services
• SDR and CR are key enablers for interoperability
  of Public Safety, Military and commercial
  wireless networks for Emergency Scenarios
• However
• CR may enable new players to cannibalise existing
  operator revenues without the overhead of a
  licence fee.
• Operators may need to invest in additional
  interference mitigation measures to combat this
  without any ROI

Cognitive Radio technically enables new business
opportunities for the Network Operator but
adoption will depend on the business case