ETSI reconfigurable radio systems: status and future directions on software defined radio and cognitive radio standards

This article details the current work status of the ETSI Reconfigurable Radio Systems Technical Committee, positions the ETSI work with respect to other standards efforts (IEEE 802, IEEE SCC41) as well as the European Regulatory Framework, and gives an outlook on the future evolution. In particular, software defined radio related study results are presented with a focus on SDR architectures for mobile devices such as mobile phones. For MDs, a novel architecture and inherent interfaces are presented enabling the usage of SDR principles in a mass market context. Cognitive radio principles within ETSI RRS are concentrated on two topics, a cognitive pilot channel proposal and a Functional Architecture for Management and control of reconfigurable radio systems, including dynamic self-organizing planning and management, dynamic spectrum management, joint radio resource management. Finally, study results are indicated that are targeting a SDR/CR security framework.

Introduction

Cognitive radio (CR) was first identified as a preferred technology for high-end applications in the military and public safety domain when the general CR concept had emerged [1]. Then CR research was also oriented toward the needs of civil wide area (cellular) and short-range communication systems, as demonstrated by early prototypes of institutions such as the Communications Research Center of Canada, and the Shared Spectrum Company, among others. In Europe a series of related collaborative research programs were set up, including IST - E²R I and II, ICT-E³ [2], and more. Early civil CR research was mainly motivated by ensuring an efficient operation of license exempt equipment in the 5 GHz bands; finally, those studies opened the doors for further investigations in lower frequency bands. The involved industrial, regulatory, and academic partners were attracted to CR by the prospect of a hugely increased level of spectral efficiency and improved overall system capacity exploitation, among others, thanks to: