24-07-2012, 02:49 PM
Software Defined Radio
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What is Software Defined Radio
With the exponential growth in the ways and means by which people need to communicate -
data communications, voice communications, video communications, broadcast messaging,
command and control communications, emergency response communications, etc. – modifying
radio devices easily and cost-effectively has become business critical. Software defined radio
(SDR) technology brings the flexibility, cost efficiency and power to drive communications
forward, with wide-reaching benefits realized by service providers and product developers
through to end users.
Software Defined Radio - Defined:
A number of definitions can be found to describe Software Defined Radio, also known as
Software Radio or SDR. The SDR Forum, working in collaboration with the Institute of Electrical
and Electronic Engineers (IEEE) P1900.1 group, has worked to establish a definition of SDR
that provides consistency and a clear overview of the technology and its associated benefits.
Simply put Software Defined Radio is defined as1:
"Radio in which some or all of the physical layer functions are software defined"
A radio is any kind of device that wirelessly transmits or receives signals in the radio frequency
(RF) part of the electromagnetic spectrum to facilitate the transfer of information. In today's
world, radios exist in a multitude of items such as cell phones, computers, car door openers,
vehicles, and televisions.
Rate of Adoption:
The SDR Forum commissioned a number of research reports in 2006 to evaluate the adoption
of SDR technologies in various markets. The results of these studies demonstrated that, in
certain markets, SDR is moving beyond the innovators and early adopters as defined by
Geoffrey Moore in “Crossing the Chasm” into the early majority phase defining the mainstream
market2. In this phase, adopters select a technology not because it is innovative or visionary but
because it has been shown to successfully solve a problem within their specific market.
Value Chain:
The time is now to engage SDR at all levels of the chain
The benefits and anticipated opportunities for SDR technology are having a significant impact
on the wireless industry’s value chain. This chain consists of product-based and service-based
providers, with value added at each stage, ultimately resulting in SDR end products and
services that meet the needs of the end users and subscribers.
Throughout the chain, the providers may be supported by external organizations such as
educational institutions, research laboratories, industry standards bodies, investors, tests &
verification and government. These supporting organizations provide critical input as
development progresses through the chain, ultimately reaching the end user. The detail of the
chain and the relationship within the context of the SDR Forum membership is outlined below.
Related Technologies
SDR can act as a key enabling technology for a variety of other reconfigurable radio equipments
commonly discussed in the advanced wireless market.3 While SDR is not required to implement
any of these radio types, SDR technologies can provide these types of radio with the flexibility
necessary for them to achieve their full potential, the benefits of which can help to reduce cost
and increase system efficiencies.