Real-time Wideband SDR Signal Recording Strategies
Rodger Hosking - Pentek

Recording wideband radar and software radio signals has traditionally required expensive and specialized hardware. This demonstration shows how new PC server class motherboards, fast SATA disk drives, high-performance RAID controllers, and COTS software radio modules can be combined to form low cost recording and playback systems delivering rates of 800 MB/sec and higher.

For more information on the type of demo system, please visit: http://www.pentek.com/products/detail.cfm?model=2721

Adaptive Coding Modulation and Application Layer
Eugene Grayver; Eric J McDonald; Joseph Kim; David Kun - The Aerospace Corporation

Next-generation communications satellite constellations will use advanced radio frequency (RF) technologies to provide Internet protocol (IP) packet-switched high-speed backbone transport services for various user communication applications, with ever-increasing traffic demand. These applications range from data services to imagery, voice, video, and other potential emerging applications. Satellite uplinks and downlinks may endure channel impairments that have fades of varying durations due to weather, communications on the move (COTM) blockages, scintillation, terrestrial multipath, or jamming. Satellite payloads and ground terminals must be able to mitigate this wide range of impairments and optimize the use of available spectrum to deliver the highest possible data rates while maintaining a required quality of service (QoS). A suite of cross-layer mitigation techniques including channel interleaving and forward error-correction coding (FEC) in the physical layer, dynamic coding and modulation (DCM) and automatic repeat request (ARQ) in the data link layer, and application codec adaptation (ACA) in the application layer—has been proposed for various channel fades. Since each mitigation strategy could potentially interact with one another, it is essential not only to assess the performance of each mitigation technique, but also to understand how multiple cross-layer techniques work together.

This demo shows an emulation of channel impairment mitigation using a combination of DCM, and ACA for various channel fades. A real-time emulation test bed was established by integrating the Software-Defined Radio (SDR) test bed and SAtellite Link EMulator (SALEM), both of which are unique capabilities developed in-house at The Aerospace Corporation. SDR provides modulation/demodulation, coding, interleaving, and various types of channel fading. A video server and client are employed for the performance studies of video applications. DCM is invoked upon SNR changes averaged over a specific time window, and ACA is called when available data rate changes. Results show that DCM and ACA successfully mitigate channel fades of longer durations when the average SNR changes over time. Faster fades with fluctuating channel gains but a steady SNR average over a given time window do not trigger DCM, but endure bit errors and packet drops caused by instantaneous low SNR values.

TUBITAK-UEKAE Tools Demonstrations

TUBITAK-UEKAE is a governmental research organization which is located in Kocaeli, TURKEY - a city near Istanbul. Main research areas of TUBITAK-UEKAE are communication systems, electronics, and cryptology. We have been contributing an SDR project in Turkey for the last four years with a team of 20 researchers.

Several outcomes of this project could be listed as an SCA based Core-Framework, several SCA compliant Waveforms, SCA compliance test tool, hardware components for SDR. With our belief in cooporation and sharing of knowledge, we are planning to demonstrate our tools in SDR Forum 2009 Technical Conference.

CRaMNET: Opportunistic Cognitive radio for MANET with adaptive PHY and dynamic routing capability
Raghavendra S; Matti Raustia; Tuomo Hänninen - Centre for Wireless Communications University of Oulu

In this paper we propose to demonstrate a Mobile Ad Hoc network using an adaptive physical layer, opportunistic cognitive radio MAC protocol called OMAN (opportunistic MAC with network layer information) and network layer which is handled by Linux operating system. We call our demonstrator system CRaMNET (cognitive radio assisted mobile ad hoc Network). In the demonstration set up we are considering 2 primary users (PUs) and 6 secondary users (SUs). The SUs exchange control packets over a common control channel (CCH) which is free from interference by PU. The data transmission happens over an opportunistic traffic channel (OTCH) which is the licensed channel used by PUs and this is selected as a result of spectrum sensing and PHY adaptation by the communicating SU pairs. CRaMNET uses optimized link state routing protocol (OLSR) on the network layer and hence communication between SUs which are several hops away can be realized, however for demonstration purpose we are limiting the maximum hop count to three. The demonstration is visualized by graphical user interface where we can show the network topology and its changes and the whole data transmission process from a projector display. By clicking on nodes we can show information like

• Whether a node is a PU or SU.
• Current state of the node and the packet types received and transmitted.
• Neighboring radio environment information as seen by the node considered.
• Routing table information.
• Throughput.
• Information of critical PHY and MAC parameters of the node considered

We are able to demonstrate user applications using TCP/IP like video conferencing and voice chatting, video transmission, audio transmission, ping etc

Demonstration of cognitive spectrum sensing technologies
Thierry Dubois - IMEC

Since the introduction of Opportunistic Spectrum Access as a new communication paradigm, research has focused on the introduction of improved techniques for spectrum sensing, establishing both theoretical foundations and building experimental prototypes proving the feasibility of spectrum sensing. None of the existing demonstrations however focused on the practical design constraints that have to be considered when using those techniques in low-power and low-cost handheld devices. The goal of this demo is to show the feasibility of spectrum sensing using reconfigurable analog building blocks that have been designed to meet power, cost and area constraints of future opportunistic access devices that can access and sense a broad range of frequency bands. For this, spectrum sensing will be demonstrated on a scalable RF front-end that has been designed at IMEC. It has a tuning range from 100 MHz to 6 GHz, and a flexible bandwidth ranging from 700 kHz to 40 mHz that allows to trade-off total sweep time and noise power. The resulting sensing power is < 100mW and frequency switching time is < 5us.

Demonstration of Software Defined Radio-based test bed simulating the physical layer of UAV communication links
Alexander Young; Charles Bostian - Virginia Tech

This demonstration presents a test bed based on SDR components and technology. The test bed will simulate the physical layer of UAV communication links. These links may be UAV-UAV or UAV-ground. The testbed will contain up to four radio nodes in communication. Using software, the links will be modified to simulate UAV motion as well as varying channel conditions. Data logging allows for gathering link quality information as well as simulated UAV flight characteristics. This test bed is the first step to using a cognitive engine to optimize UAV communication links.

Demonstration of a 10 MHz - 4 GHz Direct Conversion CMOS Transceiver for SDR Applications
Gio Cafaro - Motorola

This demonstration will compliment the paper entitled "A 10 MHz 4 GHz Direct Conversion CMOS Transceiver for SDR Applications", which will be presented at the SDR 2009 Technical Conference. Rich Rachwalski from Motorola will demonstrate the operation of the chip and it's systems development kit (SDK). The SDK will consist of a programming GUI and an evaluation board that houses the RFIC, a Virtex5 FPGA, and two Gigabit Ethernet ports. Post processing and waveform viewing will be handled on a laptop computer.

The RFIC has been used in several internal development platforms including several cognitive radio testbeds.

Cognitive Management of Reconfigurable Infrastructures and Equipment
Aggelos Saatsakis; Nikos Koutsouris; Kostas Tsagkaris; Panagiotis Demestichas - University of Piraeus; Klaus Nolte; Ferenc Noack; Christian Lange; Thomas Loewel - Alcatel-Lucent Deutschland AG

In the context of Beyond 3rd Generation (B3G) wireless communication systems the coexistence of several different networks will provide several solutions in order the users to be served with the best possible QoS level. However, several problems may be raised like interference, waste of resources, inefficient load balancing etc, because of the parallel operation of many Radio Access Technologies (RATs) in the same time. In order to solve problems like those mentioned above an efficient management scheme enhanced with learning capabilities is more than necessary.

Dynamic Self-Organizing Network Planning and Management (DSNPM), as a network decision entity, takes into account a great amount of input like context information (traffic, mobility and interference), user and equipment profiles as well as Network Operator’s (NO’s) policies configurations in order to provide feasible inter- and intra-RAT configurations. The target is to enable users to be served with the maximum possible (or customized) QoS level exploiting all network resources capabilities while keeping the operational cost for NOs under certain thresholds. In order this target to be achieved, DSNPM is enhanced with optimization procedures as well as cognitive functionalities that will provide the means for proper network adaptation to the environment changes in timely manner.

Pointing towards this direction, Flexible Base Stations (FBSs) provide one of the most important means towards achieving the flexibility described above. FBSs are capable to reconfigure themselves allocating resources dynamically among different RATs, with respect to the decisions of DSNPM. FBSs provide the following software enabled reconfigurations: a) change of spectrum used for a RAT, b) change RAT keeping the same spectrum and c) change both RAT and spectrum. Exploiting the above FBSs capabilities as well as cognitive management functionalities of DSNPM, NOs are able to propose optimum network reconfigurations for proper network adaptation.

Framed in the above, a middleware virtualization platform is realized for the interconnection of the different entities, DSNPM, FBSs and terminals. One of the most important benefits of such a platform is the loose coupling of the involved components which allows the independent operation of each one of them as well as the facilitation of the integration of any additional entity. Moreover, the seamless support of interaction and communication among the entities hides the complexity and the diversity of the underlying tiers in terms of hardware, types of networks or operating systems.

Our work presents an approach for the overall optimization procedure, exploiting FBSs software and hardware capabilities as well as knowledge and experience gained from past interactions of DSNPM with the network environment. High level system architecture will be presented describing the problem statement and the solution approach in which the above aspects will be addressed. Finally, indicative scenarios will be presented exhibiting the efficiency of FBSs and the associated cognitive management functionalities of DSNPM over the middleware virtualization platform. More specifically, several context cases of UMTS, LTE, WiMAX and WLAN RATs will be generated and captured by DSNPM. The optimization procedures will provide the necessary reconfiguration actions to FBSs as well as to the user’s terminals. In such cases the reconfiguration decisions may be a) RATs activation or deactivation, b) spectrum allocations and c) RATs configuration for CDMA and OFDMA based systems. After a training period where DSNPM have gained knowledge on the past contexts and decisions, will be able to identify whether a context has been addressed before in the past. In cases of successful matching the time consuming optimization procedures will be skipped and the optimum solutions, already available from past optimizations, will be provided.

An implementation of novel multi-band/mode SDR platform
Kosuke Yamazaki; Yuji Ikeda; Toru Kitayabu; Issei Kanno; Hiroyasu Ishikawa - KDDI R&D Laboratories

We have developed a small size and multi-bands/modes SDR platform where CDMA 2000 1xEV-DO and WiMAX can be implemented only by software. Moreover, our newly developed control software can handle each communication system depend on the environment and achieve power efficiency. In this demonstration, we will show switching behavior of each system. On our prototype, monitoring function of both systems has been implemented and then a suitable system is selected depend on the monitored quality.

Demonstration of  SDR OFDM transmit/receive and waveform development environment using a massively parallel processing architecture
Michael Doerr - Coherent Logix

Coherent Logix will provide a working demonstration of software defined radio implemented on the HyperX massively parallel DSP/GPP programmable architecture.  The presentation will show transmit and receive over the air of an OFDM waveform as implemented on the current Coherent Logix hxHADS2 hardware platform utilizing the hx3100 device.  The specific demo hardware and software have been developed as part of a SDR Waveform Development Platform available from Coherent Logix.  This platform enables rapid implementation of commercial, government, and military radio waveforms.  The OFDM PHY layer as presented has been developed completely within the HyperX parallel programmable architecture and presents a significant power and development time reduction over traditional SDR implementations using DSP/FPGA systems.  The demo will also include discussion of Coherent Logix’s FAST design flow which facilitates a uniform development, implementation, and verification environment.  

Acquire, Archive, Process and Playback Radio Signals
Kamal Krishnapillai, D-TA Systems Inc.

D-TA Systems will demonstrate a complete software radio solution using their 10 Gigabit network attached sensor-processing subsystems. The demonstration will involve an RF to IF (DTA-3200L) and IF to Baseband (DTA-2210) Transceivers and a 10 Gigabit Data Recording Server (DTA-5000L) with a record and playback speed over 800 Mbytes/s each. This complete package (each component is only 1 U high) offers significant user FPGA resources and processing power (8 GPP cores) for virtually any SDR applications, including: Radar, Communications, SIGINT, RF Test, Wireless Base Station...to name a few. For more information, visit www.d-ta.com

Integrated SDR development workflow with leading COTS tools: Agilent’s SystemVue and PrismTech’s Spectra CX
Greg Jue, Agilent

This tutorial presents the topic of digital software defined radio test. Specifically we will dive into the baseband devices, covering timing, microprocessor and FPGA tools that can greatly minimize the test time required. Included are techniques for probing high speed digital interfaces, measurement and timing correlation between microprocessor, DSP and memory devices as well as methods for easily accessing the signals embedded in FPGAs. Additionally, we will cover some aspects of waveform modulation quality given that many of these measurements are now made from a digital interface.