Software Radio—a key technology for adaptive access
Josef Noll, Enrico Buracchini · Wireless Communications and Mobile Computing · 2002
Abstract The paper provides a vision of an adaptive wireless access for next‐generation services. Depending on the requirements of the applications and the user situation, an optimum access method has to be selected. Software (SW) radio is the key enabling technology in this field. The functionality of a SW radio is described, and the challenges for future developments are identified. A major advantage of SW radio is the on‐the‐fly upgrade capabilities, both of terminals and of base stations. The paper concludes with a presentation of future trends, hybrid fibre distribution of radio signals and mechanisms for control of the various access networks. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.