A New Vision of Software Defined Radio: from Academic Experimentation to Industrial Exploitation
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University of Trento Master Degree Thesis A NEW VISION OF SOFTWARE DEFINED RADIO: FROM ACADEMIC EXPERIMENTATION TO INDUSTRIAL EXPLOITATION Supervisors: Claudio Sacchi and Roberto Passerone (University of Trento) Candidate: Teresa Boncompte Vilaró (Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya) - Thesis in cooperation with ERASMUS Program - July 2012 A new vision of Software Defined Radio: from academic experimentation to industrial exploitation. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS First and foremost I offer my sincerest gratitude to my supervisors, Claudio Sacchi and Roberto Passerone of University of Trento, who have supported me throughout my thesis with their patience and knowledge. I would like to thank too Gianluca Gera of Technoaware S.R.L. of Genova for his time and his appreciated opinion about the topic. In addition I thank my roommates and my Borino’s friends to be my family during this Erasmus period and for their support and encouragement during the entire thesis. Finally, I thank my family for helping me despite the distance. 2 A new vision of Software Defined Radio: from academic experimentation to industrial exploitation. CONTENTS 1. Summary 2. Evolution of Mobile Communications Systems 2.1. First Generation of mobile communications systems (1G) ................................... 9 2.1.1. Advanced Mobile Phone System (AMPS) ........................................................ 10 2.1.2. Nordic Mobile Telephone (NMT) ..................................................................... 10 2.1.3. Total Access Communication System (TACS) ................................................... 10 2.2. Second Generation of mobile communications systems (2G) ............................ 10 2.2.1. Time Division Multiple Access (TDMA) ............................................................ 11 2.2.2. Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) ........................................................... 11 2.2.3. Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM) ......................................... 11 2.3. 2.5 Generation of mobile communications systems ........................................... 12 2.4. 2.75 Generation of mobile communications systems ......................................... 12 2.5. Third Generation of mobile communications systems (3G) ............................... 12 2.5.1. CDMA2000 ....................................................................................................... 14 2.5.2. Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS) ................................. 14 2.6. 3.5 Generation of mobile telecommunications systems .................................... 15 2.7. Four Generation of mobile telecommunications systems (4G) .......................... 15 2.7.1. Wi-Fi ................................................................................................................. 17 2.7.2. WiMAX ............................................................................................................. 18 2.7.3. Long Term Evolution (LTE) ............................................................................... 19 3. Software Defined Radio 3.1. Software Defined Radio Definition ...................................................................... 21 3.2. General aspects of Software Defined Radio ........................................................ 23 3 A new vision of Software Defined Radio: from academic experimentation to industrial exploitation. 3.3. Related Technologies .......................................................................................... 24 3.3.1. Adaptive Radio ................................................................................................. 24 3.3.2. Cognitive Radio ................................................................................................ 24 3.3.3. Intelligent Radio ............................................................................................... 27 3.4. Benefits of Software Defined Radio .................................................................... 28 3.5. Design of Software Defined Radio Architecture ................................................. 30 3.6. Software Communications Architecture (SCA) ................................................... 31 3.7. Architectural challenges ...................................................................................... 33 3.7.1. Reconfigurability .............................................................................................. 33 3.7.2. Portability ......................................................................................................... 35 3.7.3. Common Object Request Broker Architecture (CORBA) ................................. 37 3.8. Multi-Standards User Terminals .......................................................................... 38 3.9. MIMO Technology ............................................................................................... 38 3.9.1. SDR Technology and MIMO systems ............................................................... 41 4. The changing Industry Structure 4.1. Previous Definitions and Knowledge ................................................................... 44 4.2. Classification of Industry Structures .................................................................... 45 4.3. Transition in the Development of Mobile Phones .............................................. 47 4.4. Forces of Moving from one Industry Type to Another ........................................ 51 4.5. Optimal Industry Structure for different Market Segments ............................... 52 4.6. Future prevision ................................................................................................... 53 5. Introduction of SDR in the Commercial Market 5.1. Commercial drivers .............................................................................................. 56 5.1.1. Manufacturer’s perspective............................................................................. 56 5.1.2. A Network Operator’s Perspective .................................................................. 58 4 A new vision of Software Defined Radio: from academic experimentation to industrial exploitation. 5.1.3. A Consumer’s Perspective ............................................................................... 58 5.2. Opportunities in the commercial domain ........................................................... 60 5.2.1. Multiprotocol Multiband Base Stations ........................................................... 60 5.2.2. Mobile Multi-standard Terminals .................................................................... 61 5.2.3. Cognitive Radio ................................................................................................ 61 5.3. Introduction of SDR in a ICT Industry .................................................................. 62 5.3.1. Implementation of Software technology ........................................................ 62 5.3.1.1. Cost ........................................................................................................... 63 5.3.2. Duration ....................................................................................................... 71 5.3.3. Scope ............................................................................................................ 71 5.4. The main idea ................................................................................................... 71 6. Evolution from today's mobile phone to SDR mobile phone 6.1. Open Source SDR ................................................................................................. 74 6.1.1. GNU Radio ........................................................................................................ 74 6.1.1.1. USRP – Hardware platform ....................................................................... 75 6.1.1.2. Hardware components ............................................................................. 77 6.1.1.3. UHD ........................................................................................................... 80 6.1.2. HSPDR .............................................................................................................. 80 6.1.2.1. Hardware block diagram .............................................................................. 81 6.1.2.2. Software block diagram ............................................................................... 82 6.1.2.3. HERMES block diagram I ........................................................................... 82 6.1.3. OSSIE ................................................................................................................ 83 6.1.3.1. Core Framework ........................................................................................... 84 6.1.3.2. Processing Hardware/Operating Systems Supported .................................. 84 6.1.3.3. RF/Data Acquisition Hardware Supported ................................................... 84 5 A new vision of Software Defined Radio: from academic experimentation to industrial exploitation. 6.1.3.4. Waveform Workshop ................................................................................... 85 6.1.3.5. Application Software .................................................................................... 86 6.1.3.6. Waveform Applications Demonstrated ....................................................... 86 6.1.4. ALOE ................................................................................................................