doc.: IEEE /572r0 Submission Mar 10-14, 2003 Mark Cummings, RFcoSlide 1 The Status of Software Defined Radios and SDR Forum Activities July 2003 Senior Vice President Strategic Development, RFco, Chairman of the Board of Directors, SDR Forum Special Advisor, IEICE Software Radio Study Group X226

doc.: IEEE /572r0 Submission Mar 10-14, 2003 Mark Cummings, RFcoSlide 2 Definition Software control of: –Modulation –Frequency –Power Aftermarket software Possibly, third party software

doc.: IEEE /572r0 Submission Mar 10-14, 2003 Mark Cummings, RFcoSlide 3 SDR Benefits Increased compatibility between dissimilar standards Eases technology insertion and generational changes –Allows incremental deployment and upgrade Hardware and software can evolve separately –Potentially enables third party HW/SW May reduce number of waveforms (and if it doesn’t, it will make them easier to cope with) Shorter time to market; fewer hardware platforms in inventory Significantly reduces impact of software bugs

doc.: IEEE /572r0 Submission Mar 10-14, 2003 Mark Cummings, RFcoSlide 4 Cost of Software “Bug” Fixes – A Real Example Examples of recent recalls of one manufacturer’s commercial wireless phones : –February Network operator 1: 420,000 phones recalled (software problem) –May Network operator 2: 126,000 phones recalled (software problem) –July Network operator 2: 560,000 phones (design flaw) Cost estimate of handset recalls - an example : –Manufacturer’s estimate for cost of recall: $95 M –Independent analyst’s estimate of cost of recall: $160 M Cost per terminal of the recall: $115 per terminal From J. Hoffmeyer, Panasonic

doc.: IEEE /572r0 Submission Mar 10-14, 2003 Mark Cummings, RFcoSlide 5 Moore’s Law Marches On Then 8 lb bag Car battery Only in Chicago $1k Then 3.5 MHz 128 Kb 10 MB $4k Now 4 oz 3 days on a charge Multiple systems Free Personal ComputerCell Phone Now 3 GHz 128 Mb 60 GB $1k

doc.: IEEE /572r0 Submission Mar 10-14, 2003 Mark Cummings, RFcoSlide 6 Historical Perspective 50 years ago wireless systems were entirely hard wired analog components comprising: –Ant-Antenna –RFFE-Radio Frequency Front End –(A/D)-Analog / Digital Converter –HSSP-High Speed Signal Processing –LSSP-Low Speed Signal Processing –PS-Protocol Stack –LC-Local Control –HI-Human Interface As digital technology has matured, analog discrete components have been replaced first with digital discretes and then with integrated circuits (IC’s) and software

doc.: IEEE /572r0 Submission Mar 10-14, 2003 Mark Cummings, RFcoSlide 7 Base Band Enabling Technology Reconfigurable Logic solutions coming to market such as: –General Purpose Reconfigurable Logic Processor solutions FPGA solutions –Xilinx –Altera –Others Application Specific solutions –Infineon acquiring Morphics –Motorola announcing product based on Morpho –Quicksilver announcing product –Continuing stream of new entrants such as Gate Change General purpose processor software solutions being developed –Such as Vanu Multimode ASIC solutions continuing development –TI –Others

doc.: IEEE /572r0 Submission Mar 10-14, 2003 Mark Cummings, RFcoSlide 8 HI ANT RF A/D HSSP LSSP PS LC Wireless System = Standard H/W Platform w/ S/W & Reusable IP = Discrete Hardwired Logic IN THE PIPLINE TODAY The Ether The User Completion of Sub-System Evolution

doc.: IEEE /572r0 Submission Mar 10-14, 2003 Mark Cummings, RFcoSlide 9 Past Present Future The User HI ANT RF A/D HSSP LSSP PS LC The Ether Focus of SDR in Early 1990’s See: “FPGA in The Software Radio”, by Mark Cummings & Shinichiro Haruyama; IEEE Communications Magazine and: Early 1990’s Evolution of SDR

doc.: IEEE /572r0 Submission Mar 10-14, 2003 Mark Cummings, RFcoSlide 10 Advances in Enabling Technology Reconfigurable logic –High speed DSPs –FPGAs –Proprietary logic A/D –Low power –High bit rate –Fast Software –Portable/reuseable software-- CORBA, Java

doc.: IEEE /572r0 Submission Mar 10-14, 2003 Mark Cummings, RFcoSlide 11 The Open Systems Challenge Open systems are based on published subsystem and component interfaces allowing for –Maximum innovation within subsystems and components –Maximum ability to integrate subsystems and components from optimal sources Open Systems are the best mechanism to achieve the full social benefits of SDR Some industry participants oppose Open Systems –Seek to retain perceived advantage –There really is no advantage Direct regulation of subsystem and component interfaces is –Limited by regulatory charters –Efforts to extend charters have in the past proven to be counter productive Regulators should –Recognize limits of their charters –Use their influence to strongly encourage Open Systems approaches

doc.: IEEE /572r0 Submission Mar 10-14, 2003 Mark Cummings, RFcoSlide 12 Current Status of Antennas for SDR Multi-mode multi-band antennas are coming to market –Multiple bands Such as triple band GSM –Multiple modes Cellular, WLAN, GPS... Characteristics –Small Low profile Imbedded –High performance –Low cost Examples of vendors include: –SkyCross –eTenna

doc.: IEEE /572r0 Submission Mar 10-14, 2003 Mark Cummings, RFcoSlide 13 SDR Product Availability Military Products (base, mobile, portable, handheld) are available now –Less sensitive to: size constraints, power limitations; antenna real estate Commercial Base Stations are available now –Similar criteria as military products Commercial Handheld units coming soon –Public Safety –Commercial Wireless ?? Public Safety CommercialMilitary

doc.: IEEE /572r0 Submission Mar 10-14, 2003 Mark Cummings, RFcoSlide 14 Regulatory Environment US FCC –Report and Order on Class 3 permissive changes and electronic labeling –Workshop on cognitive radio technology May 03 UK Radiocommunication Agency international workshop September 03 Download security proposal from Japan

doc.: IEEE /572r0 Submission Mar 10-14, 2003 Mark Cummings, RFcoSlide 15 Remaining challenges Regulatory environment –Universal regulatory environment to promote global circulation of handsets Antennas –Efficient, broadband, small AD Converters –Faster, cheaper, more power efficient Download security –Critical element Batteries/power usage –Size and weight are important

doc.: IEEE /572r0 Submission Mar 10-14, 2003 Mark Cummings, RFcoSlide 16 What is the SDR Forum’s role? A venue to discuss common problems and to promote industry standards without raising issues of collusion Regulators’ resource for industry opinion to facilitate creation of rules to ease global circulation Create concepts and influence standards for implementation Industry water cooler or chat room-- it’s a place to learn about the state of the art

doc.: IEEE /572r0 Submission Mar 10-14, 2003 Mark Cummings, RFcoSlide 17 Region 2 Region 3 Region 1 As of 19 Jan 03

doc.: IEEE /572r0 Submission Mar 10-14, 2003 Mark Cummings, RFcoSlide 18 Liaison Activities ITU Formal (member) Dedicated Forum Resources OMG Formal Byproduct of common members NPSTC Informal Byproduct of SDRF members OMA Formal (Associate) Byproduct of common members Mobile VCE Formal Overlap of interest Regulators Informal Via Regulatory Advisory Group/Direct SDRF Interaction IEICE Informal Overlap of interest/byproduct of common members JCP Formal (future) Byproduct of common members SDR Forum

doc.: IEEE /572r0 Submission Mar 10-14, 2003 Mark Cummings, RFcoSlide 19 Activities of the SDR Forum Standards Recommendations –FCC Report and Order on Software Defined Radios –Download Security Report –Java-based SCA Reference Implementation –ITU Recommendation Market Survey –Survey report by Gartner Group last year –Update this year Reports and Publications –Download Definitions (DL-DFN) –More to be released this year Roadmap and workplan Seminars, Workshops, Expositions Liaison with other international organizations –MVCE, MExE, 3GPP, EC/TCAM, IEICE, ITU, OMA, etc

doc.: IEEE /572r0 Submission Mar 10-14, 2003 Mark Cummings, RFcoSlide 20 SDR Forum Workshops and Conference International Technical Conference and Product Expo Co-sponsored MPHPT workshop with IEICE Study Group Workshop on Reconfigurable Logic Workshop on Smart Antennas

doc.: IEEE /572r0 Submission Mar 10-14, 2003 Mark Cummings, RFcoSlide 21 Meetings and Working Methods Five Major Meetings Per Year –January - Winter Meeting, generally held in North America –January 2003 San Jose –April - Spring Meeting, generally held in Asia-Pacific region – April 2003 Singapore/Tokyo –June - Summer Meeting, generally held in North America –June 2003 Chicago –September - Fall Meeting, generally held in Europe –September 2003Paris –November - Annual Business Meeting, generally held in North America –November 2003(Technical Conference) Orlando Interim Committee or Working Group Meetings as Required –Globally as appropriate Conference Calls –Globally as appropriate Electronic Working Methods – , reflectors, website…..

doc.: IEEE /572r0 Submission Mar 10-14, 2003 Mark Cummings, RFcoSlide 22 Technical Committee (Dr. John BARD – Space Coast Communications ) Implementation Perspectives  R&D Working Group– Identify technologies to fulfill needs of marketplace  Software Communication Architecture Reference Implementation Group Review and evaluate reference architecture implementation Application Perspectives  Commercial Handset Working Group Define concepts and APIs for commercial terminals  Hardware Adaptation Layer Working Group Identify architectures and functions to support reconfigurable radios  Commercial Download Working Group Study technical aspects of over-the-air software download to change operating characteristics  System Interface Working Group Identify, maintain, and promote standards for services and interfaces

doc.: IEEE /572r0 Submission Mar 10-14, 2003 Mark Cummings, RFcoSlide 23 Regulatory Committee Richard Shrum SDR Interface with Regulatory Agencies –MPHPT (Japan) –RegTP/TCAM Germany) –FCC (US) –Industry Canada –Radio Research Lab (South Korea) –Radiocommunications Agency (UK) –IDA (Singapore)

doc.: IEEE /572r0 Submission Mar 10-14, 2003 Mark Cummings, RFcoSlide 24 SDR Forum Website Public Area –General Forum information –Meeting information –Selected documents (including 2003 Unified Workplan) Member Area –ID and Password required to access –Reports and other deliverables –Used for committee and working group reflectors Completed work Work in “ballot” review Work in progress Links of Interest –General info –Member company links

doc.: IEEE /572r0 Submission Mar 10-14, 2003 Mark Cummings, RFcoSlide 25 Summary SDR technology is beyond the education and initiation phase. The SDR Forum is addressing the real needs of SDR development as it looks towards implementation and application of SDRs in a variety of marketplaces. The SRD Forum is on track with an active technical specification and standards development program. The SDR Forum continues an active program to promote public policy decisions to facilitate SDR adoption and deployment. The SDR Forum is actively cultivating liaisons and interfaces with relevant external organizations.