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ABSTRACT
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This kind of flexibility opens opportunities for reduced cost million lines of software radio applications code from changes
and improved services for military as well as civilian in the implementations. This open architecture now extends to
applications. Prior generation military radios used single signal server nodes based on the VME backplane (Figure 4).
formats. Comms centers require different radios for different The Digital Multimedia Workstation is a typical VME node
modes: SINGCARS for voice, TACFIRE for data, etc. Radios [2]. It provides remote voice, video and data acquisition and
under development embed computing resources for a wider control including full motion video and facsimile services.
range of data formats. The Commanders’ Tactical Terminal Earlier generations were limited to voice and data. But
Hybrid (CTT-H), for example, will interoperate with several increased DSP processing capacities of Commercial Off The
signal families in UHF, providing voice, data and imagery data Shelf (COTS) boards have made it practical to integrate video,
relay [ 11. CTT radios are multi-media capable today using a extending the IS0 model to multimedia. Earlier systems also
separate image compression unit. In the future image required dedicated PCM backbones for signal routing and
compression services may be embedded in a software radio separate audio intercoms. Current systems integrate these
service of CTT. Such software radio technology will also offer functions on a COTS FDDI network.
expanded services. Instead of calling target coordinates to a Each VME node has a signal flow architecture. But closer
missile battery by voice, a future forward observer might uplink examination reveals the VME Open Architecture Myth.
a video frame of the target from his night vision goggles to an Although the multiple DSP boards conform to VME at the
airbome relay and thence to the terminal guidance of a missile. physical level, that is where openness ends. With no organizing
Later, he might send a battle damage assessment video frame paradigm at the applications layer, the integration of useful
to headquarters using the same airborne relay but a different primitives like digital filters into radio systems is highly labor
protocol. Such advanced services require flexible signal intensive. The system developer manually structures the data
generation, wideband Intermediate Frequency (IF) Analog to sets and signal and control flows. SPOX provides non-
Digital ( N D ) conversion, adaptive signal processing in the application specific support, but lacks a radio engineering
radio relay and data-driven routing. paradigm for applications layer interoperability. The Software
Services Backplane developed by E-Systems provides
Software Radio Telesystems Architecture interoperability for signal processing data bases between VAXI
Such advanced services are on an evolutionary path which VMS-ORACLE and Sun/UNIX-Sybase. But the Fast Fourier
began in the early 1980’s. The data links, mobile radios and Transform (FFT) output from a DASPI Fast Fourier Transform
LANs of Figure 2 illustrate the system architecture of software (FlT) board is not structured for the TMS320 MIMD board.
radio oriented wide area telesystems. If VME board and software vendors followed a common signal
flow model, the openness of the VME architecture would begin
to extend to software radio applications. The open architecture
pZiGZUserr( 1- software radio offers insights into necessary applications layer
interoperability.
The Celltap node [3] illustrates the reductions in product
Node development time realized through software radios. This law
enforcement node was conceived in 1990. An initial AMPS
61 6
161
based product was delivered in a laptop computer with a COTS
DSP board in 1991. Product extensions from AMPS to TACS
to Nordic Mobile required only a few months of software
development with a small independent R&D staff. The product
is a flexible receiver rather than a complete transceiver. This
Regional Service Center
simplification contributed to product success as a “pure”
Fig. 2 Telesystems Architecture software radio. Such software-only evolution of new
communications services is possible if 1) New services are in
A regional service center provides central control while local the preselector RF band; 2) New instantaneous bandwidths are
service centers provide statistical multiplexing, bandwidth within the A/D-D/A bandwidths; and 3) The new signal, data
management and ancillary data. These telesystems have used and service complexities are within the capacities of the
message passing for distributed remote control since 1982. embedded processing. Such software radio applications will
Layering and message passing have provided a robust, grow as the enabling technologies increase in instantaneous
extensible applications architecture through several generations bandwidth and capacity of embedded processing.
of hardware and operating systems. Figure 3 shows how
telesystems connectivity services are layered according to the ENABLING TECHNOLOGIES
International Standards Organization/Open Systems
Interconnect (ISO/OSI) model (a) within a service center, (b) Technologies which support AJD, DSP/embedded
on line of sight radio data links and (c) on wide area remote computing and high speed digital interconnect define
satellite links. With this approach 44 thousand Lines of Code feasible applications and evolution paths for software
(KLOC) allocated to connectivity layers insulates over half a radios.
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I I 1 I 1
Lines of Code
Layer Definition
Application 1I 7 !=ices
Translation &
K Real-Time Remote Control
Signal, Voice & Data Circuits
Program/Parameter Uploads
Software
Radio
Applications
1500K)
COTS
Software Radio Sampling Rate Dynamic Range(dB)
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Resolution (dl))
crossings 1131. Such techniques are useful if the bandwidth
allocation to a set of users is large but each user baseband is
Maximum Applications small. For example 200 cellular radio channels of 25 kHz
Roquirementr occupy a 5 MHz IF requiring a 12.5 MHz sample rate which
limits dynamic range to 60 dB. Using [12], each user's SNR
may be improved by 38 dB to 98 dB. Such advanced algorithms
improve overall software radio performance beyond the
capabilities of the A/D devices at the expense of additional
DSP capability.
Comparing A/D requirements to capabilities shows the Radio Function Bandwidth Nominal
feasibility of software radio applications in speech, IF and MIPSlMFLOPS
agility band VHF and UHF; and wideband applications of TI Modem 1.544 Mbls 210
limited instantaneous dynamic range (e.g., microwave QAM GSM Radio 60 MHz agility 515
with constellations < 64 and symbol rates < 30 MHz). Modem 9.6kbls 618
Adaptive Relay 25 MHz 51750
Critical Assessment. The noise free spurious free linear HDTV 50 MHz 2000/500
dynamic range of A/D converters is limited by aperture SDH Equalizer 620 Mbls 20,000
uncertainty and device noise of the sample and hold circuit.
The aperture uncertainty tolerated by a B bit converter is Processing demands shown in the table vary by up to three
approximated for a signal V(t) = A cos(wt), dv/dt = Aw orders of magnitude. For example, the TI multiplexer has been
sin(wt) and [dV/dt]*Dt = A/2**(B + I ) . Thus, aperture benchmarked for variations of language, programming style
uncertainty Dt is approximately l/(w*2**(B 1)). + and host hardware (Table 4). Ada packages promote software
reuse but are inefficient with subroutine calls in the inner
Table. 2. Aperture Uncertainty Requirements multiplexing loop. In-line Ada improves throughput, but in-line
~ ~ ~~
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Table 5 Nominal Processing Capacities
Technology Device Parallelism General/DSP MIPS/MFLOPS (Peak)
[ 141 IBM PCIAT i80486 I10 512
[15] DSPChip TMS320 011 25/50
1161 DSPBoard i9601i860 111 40180
1171 DSPChip PA-RISC 7000 111 1201120"
1181 SIMD AMTIDAP 10241 20000 X 1/39
[19] MIMD PClMC860 114 51320
[20] SuperCPU Convex-2 10 1 200/200
1211 DSPChip Fujitsu VPU 011 701289"
[22] SIMD MASPAR 1I4096 64001325
[23] SuperMIMD CSP 114 361600
1241 MIMD GT860 118 101640
[25] Hardware G-FEC NIA 1250
1261 MIMD DSP-3 1/64 1011280
[27] SuperMIMD Convex-3800 8 200012000
1281 DSPMIMD VASP 1/16 5000/5000*
[29] SuperMIMD Cray YMP90 16 /16000*
1301 MIMD Kendall 11088 21760/43520*
[ 3 11 SPARC MIMD TMI CM-5 16384 /128000*
[32] i860 MIMD iParagon 4096 /327000*
* Announced bur not yet delivered
150
1- .....................................................
F;;ATION
..................... ,..... ..........,...............,
Ada/ Package VAX 2000 100 ....... I.......,
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/
10MHZ
Baseband/Audio/DSI MFLOPS
85 87 89 91 93 95
Fig. 7. Enabling Technology Trends
Table 6. Simplified Interconnect Hierarchy Critical Assessment. Although the focus on improved
interconnect devices is important, little is known about
Level Width Layers Clock Limits
interconnect topologies for software radios. A pyramidal
Die micron 3 GHz architecture based on vision theory and algorithm structure has
MCM 50-10um 4-10 500 MHz emerged for computer vision. But the topological structure of
Board 50 mil 5-15 100 MHz radios is not guided by a strong theory. Instead, it depends on
Backplane 100mil NIA 20 MHz bandwidths, signal complexity and service demands in an
FDDI NIA NIA 100Mbit application dependent way. As the A/D converter moves
HiPPi NIA NIA 800 Mbit inexorably from baseband toward RF, increasingly wideband
Fiber NIA N/A 2 Gigabit front end interconnect is needed. If the interconnect bandwidth
is three orders of magnitude faster than the signal flow, then
blocking switching among all levels of system interconnect. the interconnect network is functionally transparent to the
Massively parallel processors strive for flexible interconnect application [36]. Such transparency in future hardware
with desirable theoretical properties [351, functional architecture would help hosts provide the flexibility required
transparency [36] and/or general malleability [37]. But physical for software radio service growth.
limits to the interconnect technology are at hand. MCM line
widths with 50 ohm resistance require thirty layers to Technology and Applications Trends
interconnect a typical 4"MCM. Eden [38] has shown that when Figure 7 illustrates communications technology trends
copper interconnects reach 1 um X .5 um the line resistance relevant to software radios: analog instantaneous bandwidth in
on a 4" MCM is 7000 ohms. Thus reduction of line width to research environments, bandwidth of RF sampling circuits
reduce the number of interconnect layers for large MCM's is (e.g., in sampling oscilloscopes), equivalent bit rate of digital
impractical. communications products, 8 bit commercial AID rates, DSP
High Temperature Super Conductors reduce the 1 um chip capacities and massively parallel processing capacities.
line resistance to near zero, reducing the number of Fiber optics research achieves an order of magnitude more
layers to 2. In addition, CMOS integrated circuits have bandwidth than contemporary sampled RF circuits, while
a 2X speed improvement at HTSC temperatures. This digital communications products lag by two orders of
technology is at the research stages, reaching demonstrations magnitude. Synchronous Digital Hierarchy (SDH) radio
in 1994 [39]. Chip-to-chip integrated optical interconnect modems will reach 2.4 Gbit/sec this year. Signal complexities
circuits have been studied with GHz bandwidths 1401. Free have increased to pack the higher bit rate signals more
space or fiber optic paths could provide interconnect at the efficiently into limited bandwidth allocations. PSK has given
MCM and board level. way to 16 and 64QAM for production radios, with successful
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research in 256 and 1024 QAM. Such signal complexities create
demand for increased DSP capacities in ASICs, gate arrays
and general purpose DSP chips. Gigabit FEC Codec chips and
programmable 289 MFLOP DSP chips for HDTV receivers
have been announced [41]. Such low cost high performance
modules are ideal hosts for software radio functions. Increased
demand thus fuels the device markets, creating continued
investments in these enabling technologies. Software radios
clearly ride this technology wave.
As the figure shows, during 1992 the enabling technologies
will cross the frontier from basebandaudio DSP applications
to the IF/video range of software radio applications. Along this
trend line even wideband SDH and HDTV products and systems
will become software intensive soon. The communications Fig. 8 Effective Capacity Is High If Host System Topology
industry is in transition from digital (hardware) radios to Matches Radio Function Topology
software intensive radio systems. The open architecture
software radio provides a framework for capitalizing on the hosted in a systolic FFT processor. A DSP MCM hosts each
advantages of this trend. subscriber's service algorithms. Each signal space and
transformation in the signal flow is mapped 1:1 to a physical
COMPUTATIONAL MODELS AND ARCHITECTURE host which is compatible with the bandwidth or computational
demands. Thus each signal space maps to a host interconnect
The importance of topology in radio engineering is evident and each function maps to a host processor providing high
by examining signal flows, structure of algorithms and related effective capacities. Study of topological structure therefore
systems architectures. leads to a well balanced radio system design. Topologically
efficient hosts for representative software radio functions are
Computational Models Shape System Architectures shown in Table 7. Large scale radio systems rely on such
Software radios are beginning to embed extensive topological efficiency at all levels from chip to system.
computational models to achieve high performance with a high
degree of autonomy. Today's voice mail systems use dial tones Table 7. Topologically Efficient Hosts
for interactive control, but tomorrows will respond to spoken
commands. If DARPA's WHISPER program is successful, the Architecture
necessary speech understanding technology will be available Radio Function Level Host Topolopy
soon [42]. Hearsay and Harpy were exemplary speech HDTV FEC Codec Chip Function Specific
understanding systems of the 1970's. Both embedded a priori FFr MCM Systolic [44]
characteristics of speech and language in computational Digital Filter MCM Serial MIMD
models. Hearsay encapsulated information in Knowledge Switching Board SIMD
Sources (KS's). KS expert system rules, attached procedures Equalizer Board Serial MIMD
and data transformed signal information on a global hierarchical FAX Modems Board Parallel MIMD
Blackboard. Hearsay's high computational demands led to a Bulk Modem Chassis Mixed MIMD
coarse grain multiprocessors, C.mmp, with a Blackboard TX Control Board IEEE-488 Network
hosted on a global memory and KS's hosted on parallel Voice Mail System FDDI Network
processors, providing an isomorphism between algorithm and
processor structures [43]. In software radios, SIMD THE SOFTWARE RADIO MODEL
architectures provide bulk signal processing (equalization,
demultiplexing, FEC coding/decoding . . . ). MIMD The need to efficiently map radio functions to hardware
architectures provide multiple asynchronous channel architectures led the author to apply the topological
processing. Neither SIMD nor MIMD architectures alone are theory of algorithms [45] to radio engineering [46]. The
adequate for large scale applications because the mix of signal resulting study of the set-theoretic topological properties
flows mandates a mix of architectures as illustrated in Figure 8. of analog hardware radios, DSP algorithms and
The figure shows a data-driven radio relay signal flow computational architectures provides organizing principles
mapped to a notional multiprocessor. The software radio for telesystems design and insights relevant to future
algorithm topology is evident in signal flows among signal radio CAD environments. Signal processing theory, DSP
spaces (IF-AID, Baseband, etc.). Each radio function is a algorithms, problem oriented languages and the hosting of
transform or map from one signal space to another. Signal algorithms onto DSP chips all share a common mathematical
streams partition radio functions naturally into functionally structure of mappings and operators on topological spaces.
cohesive transforms coupled by signal streams. the multi-user This section provides a brief overview of this approach to
IF signal is hosted on a 200 MHz bus. The scan function is radio system engineering.
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The Topological Model Topological Constraints Encode Semantics
A topological model of a software radio is a formal system The creation of formal maps fd and the proofs that “y
{X, Y , P, H , M, F} (Figure 9). X is a space of radio system approximates x with accuracy d” is the science of digital signal
abstractions: infinite dimensional signal spaces, control spaces processing. Nyquist sampling is just one example of a theory
and transformations. X is organized by a radio engineering which implicitly establishes such maps. The maps fd are not
taxonomy consisting of information sources, transmission DSP functions. They are the formal definitions by which the
facilities, radio channels, reception facilities and information approximations of DSP are linked to the abstractions of
sinks. Y is a space of finite approximations to the signal and communications theory. In the topological model, the
constraint map fd:Y->xexpresses these relationships explicitly.
Suppose, for example, pij is a digital filter. Domain D(pjj =
yi is the filter input space. It includes an A/D converter stream
with resolution and sampling rate and inherited information
such as the original RF carrier. Control inputs like 3 db
bandwidth W of the filter are also in yi:
yi = {Continuous Sampling;
RF = 240MHz;
Rate = 100 Ksdsec;
Resolution = 8 bits;
W = 350Hz;
Stream @ FIFO. 1 ;}
Processors C(h) capacity of host
L I The abstraction in X which yi represents is:
xi = {(Bandlimited Signal;
Fig. 9. The Topological Model Unifies Concept, UHF Signal;
Design and Fabrication Nyquist Bandwidth = 50 kHz;
Nominal Dynamic Range = 48 db;
control spaces of X. Pis a set of primitive maps from Y onto Information Bandwidth = 350 Hz;
Y. P are the transforms and control algorithms of digital signal Stream = ’From Antenna Element #1’;}
processing. H is a set of hosts for Y and P. H consists of physical
channels, users, DSP chips, memories, etc., from which one The map fi: yi -> xi establishes the semantic constraints of yi
configures a radio system. M is a metalevel system for e.g., mapping the approximation “Continuous Sampling” to
extending P and for mapping primitives in P onto hosts. F is the abstraction “Bandlimited Signal,” and so forth for all the
a set of constraints among X, Y, P, M and H. corresponding entries in yi and xi above. All input and output
A topological space is a set and a family of subsets with spaces in a well formulated software radio system have such
certain properties [47].The theory of iterative algorithms definitive maps whether expressed in documents, data bases
induces topological spaces on subsets of X (e.g., random or computational models. Expert system rules and attached
processes and decision parameters [48]).In {X,Y,F} for each procedures are computational models of such constraints as
y in Y there is an x in X such that y approximates x with acuity research in qualitative physics, for example, has shown [50].
d and there is a map fd in F which makes this relationship A spreadsheet model of radar design used a rule base to encode
explicit. For example, an A/D stream Yk in Y could represent such constraints [5 11. In traditional development environments,
a band limited random process xt in X. If Yk is a “good” the maps are expressed in documentation but seldom in
approximation of xt, there is an accuracy bound d such that fd computational models. In future CAD environments based on
(Yk), the set image of Yk in X, is “always within d of x.” If xt the software radio paradigm, such maps would be made explicit
has bandwidth W and Y, is sampled at the Nyquist rate, then through topological constraint maps.
there exists d such that:
Topological Information Hiding
\[k+ 11 - [kllcd - the sample interval; and (1) P is the set pi, of predefined primitive signal processing
functions. In typical DSP design tools, 50 to 200 primitives are
(2*W)cI/d - the Nyquist rate. (21 supplied. Any DSP function may be analyzed as a potential
topological map. One frst explicates the topology of the function’s
The map fd: y-,x maps subsets of Yk to corresponding domain and range. From these topological spaces, one tests pij
subsets of xt according to Nyquist sampling and makes for homeomorphism by determining whether pij is continuous,
the Nyquist accuracy explicit. The distance d induces 1:1, ONTO and has a set inverse. The analysis leads to refinement
a topology of “open balls” for xt. The map fd is of {yi, xi, yj, xj} and pijtoward simple topological sbvctures easily
continuous, One To One and ONTO and the inverse image mapped to data structures, algorithms and host hardware.
of open sets are open sets; so fd is a homeomorphism, The designer constructs radio functions from the primitive set
a topology preserving map [49]. through function composition. Composition provides a signal
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oriented model of information hiding. Suppose P = {pi,,Pjk}. Computability and the Meta-Level Model M
From p,,:yi->y, and pjk:yj+yk, and the meta-level composition The set M contains meta-level operators m:P -> P by which
operator m in M yields: to combine primitives to create new radio functions which
m(Pij, Pjk) - P ik, where themselves are primitives. The operators of M are sufficient
Pik: Yi-> Yk, for primitive recursion. Partial recursion is the most powerful
Domain, D(pik) = D(pij) = y, computational model, equivalent to Turing Computability [52].
Range, R(pik) R(pjk) = y k Partial recursion employs unbounded minimalization and is not
but R(pi,) = D(P,k) = yj is hidden,embedded in Pik. guaranteed to terminate for all inputs. Total recursion is defined
everywhere but may use unbounded resources. Primitive
The new primitive Pik hides the embedded space yi. The recursion uses the bounded resources of bounded minimization.
composition operator propagates constraints from yj and P. It allows iteration only over a bounded search space and returns
?k
onto the output space Yk. The information hiding of composition the result “it can’t be determined within these resources” if such
of primitives induces structure in software radios. As a is the case. Primitive recursion is defined for all inputs, even
primitive, the composite map Pikis a virtual machine embedding if the result is “out of resources.” This computational model
lower level machines pij and Pjk. This virtual machine hierarchy is compatible with a central design issue in software radios:
extends from an initial set of primitives at the lowest level to fixed real-time computational resources.
complete software radios. These machines define a virtual
Table 8. A/D Converter Topological Resource Map
machine hierarchy the key levels of which generalize the layers
of the ISO/OSI model (Figure 10).The physical layer contains Resource h: yi - > yj:
the host hardware. A host imbued with a software radio function {hij = pij: A/D Converter;
is a hosted primitive. This corresponds to the IS0 link layer Sample Rate = 750 kHz;
because at the virtual machine map from yi to yj is analogous Resolution = 8 bits;
to a point to point link. The highest level is the Radio System, Dynamic Range = ?;
the Application Layer. Within each layer, composition of Size = 3 x 5 x 2 in;
primitives and information spaces in Y define signal oriented Weight = 11 oz;
information hiding. The layered virtual machine architecture Power max = 100 mW;
isolates the software investments in the communications Temp-Low = 0 C;
functions of layers 3-7 from the rapidly evolving Temp-Hi = 27 C;
implementation technology of the lower layers. Shock = ’Office;
Vibration = ’Office
Layer \
Board-Cost = $500 US;
fi:yi - >xi:
yi = (RF = ? MHz;
IF = ? MHz;
W < 350 kHz;
Analog Stream @ ?;};}
xi: {? RF Signal;
Predetected Signal;
Bandlimited signal;
Nyquist Bandwidth = 350 kHz;
Analog BNC Connector Signal;};
fj: yj - > xj:
Fig. 10. Topological Virtual Machine Hierarchy = {RF = ? MHz;
Continuous Sampling;
Host Models Facilitate System Design Rate = 700 Ksdsec;
The set H provides the physical hosts for the communications Resolution = 8 bits;
functions of P and for the interconnect spaces of Y. In the W = 350 Hz;
topological software radio, device properties are encapsulated Stream @FIFO. ?;) ;
in topological maps as in Table 8. Such maps are complete = [? RF Band;
specifications of input, output, function, resources (supplied/ Sampled Signal;
demanded) and design constraints of the device. The AT Bus Signal;
widespread use of such formal computational models of radio Band Limited Signal;};}
system devices would make it easier to assess relationships resource(h,*) = {Serves Analog- W = 350 kHz;
between resource requirements of radio services and resource Demands Digital - W = 750 kb/s}
capabilities of potential system components. Electronic M includes structured control primitives IF-THEN, DO-WHILE,
publication of such models would make it easier to find the etc., with system upper bounds on resources. M provides explicit
right component for a given job.
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composition through procedural languages. It also provides advanced filter algorithm using spare MFLOPS). These as-built
signal scripts in which a representation in X is interpreted by computational models would persist, available for design
a script interpreter to create a sequence of primitives which analyses in future systems. Such environments could accelerate
will yield the desired signal. Script macros support interactive pace at which new services transition from the conceptual
synthesis by analysis in which a signal processing procedure design and analysis stage into products.
is the trace of user operations on a signal. The applications scope of such an environment is shown in
The formal system {X, Y ,P, H, M, F} can be used in a system the radio system taxonomy of Figure 12. There is a tradeoff
design paradigm to help a design team define a modular, among a) open architectures with large commercial bases; b)
extensible, computationally efficient radio system architecture. high design coherence; and c> architecture efficiency with
It can also be used this way to analyze an existing design. It respect to the specific radio service requirements. Early
may also provide some mathematical structure to guide the software radios were designed and developed by an integrated
evolution of future radio CAD environments. team, were delivered on closed architecture hardware from a
few vendors, had limited bandwidth and were relatively
FUTURE RADIO SIMULATION expensive. Yet the high design coherence of these systems
AND CAD ENVIRONMENTS contributed to the rapid and continued evolution of flexible
services. These systems are in the field and their design
Consider the process of designing and developing large scale coherence has supported more than a decade of product
software radio systems. The transitions from 1) service concept evolution including fairly radical hardware changes.
to 2) system definition to 3) simulation and validation to 4) But recent projects which involved the use of commercial
delivery invariably require a mix of radio engineering tools to the greatest extent possible underscored the lack of
disciplines. In one vision of the future, an ideal radio CAD design coherence across tools from multiple vendors. While
environment would facilitate such transitions as suggested in this is only natural, it.is nevertheless an impediment to getting
Figure 1 1. In the software radio paradigm the environment the most from the commercial base. Figure 12 also lists widely
would integrate systems analysis, software definition and available tools related to radio system simulation and design.
system design disciplines. One technical basis for the The marketplace is replete with general purpose hardware,
integration of such disparate disciplines would be the consistent software and simulation tools for signal processing. These tools
representation of algorithms, software components, existing are inadequate for large scale applications, lacking bandwidth
chips, MCM's, boards, chassis and subsystems as maps among and support for mixed MIMDMMD hosts. There are few
topological spaces. Thus a comprehensive computational model widely available simulation tools which include
would be associated with each entity in the CAD environment. communications specific functions. Computer aided design of
The CAD system would automatically hand off end item the 80's provided hardware CAD tools for device designers
specifications to software, chip, MCM, and board level CAD and software CASE tools for software engineers. Extending
tools from different vendors for detailed definition of these tools to the systems level and integrating them into
components, as-built computational models (e.g., test results) networks of interoperable tool sets is the challenge of the 90's.
of hardware and software would be integrated back into the Greater CAD focus on specific applications like radio
larger CAD environment as items are designed and engineering seems necessary to gaining the next plateau of
manufactured. Thus, difficulties in one area could be enhanced productivity.
compensated by other areas early in the project (e.g., an A/D Considering radio systems and the rapidly evolving
dynamic range limitation could be overcome by a more technologies from the perspective of the software radio is
revealing. Reduced costs and increasing capacities of the
enabling technologies are moving us rapidly toward software
I b radios. Their reduced product cycles and software-only services
create many opportunities and challenges. The topological
model and resulting layered virtual machine model constitute
an open architecture software radio model. When such models
guide implementations, the investments in applications are
insulated from the rapidly evolving host technology. The study
of radio function and systems topology reveals unifying
principles for better integrating the related hardware, software
L---II [META-LEVEL- Crate Functions, Run Models, Assess Tecbnologica I I and systems engineering disciplines.
I
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[5 I ] Assistant for Scientific and Technical Analysis,
[591 Elvira, Sunnyvale, CA: Applied Signal Technology, 1992.
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[601 Hypersignal Macros, Dallas, TX: Hyperception, 1992.
[52] Machtey and Young,
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UNIX is a trademark of AT&T Corp.
[S3] BONES, Foster City, CA: Comdisco Inc., 1992
Chapters
Chairman’s
Corner
The Board of Governors of AESS wants to congratulate the two
chapters recipients of the 1991- 1992 outstanding chapter of the year
award. They are:
National Chapter: Atlanta
International Chapter: India
Please submit your meeting reports for 1993. They are needed to
update all chapter meetings.
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