A Software-Defined Radio Platform Architecture Based on a General-Purpose Processor

Abstract

Within the framework of the article, the architecture of the software-defined radio platform based on a general-purpose processor was developed. It is emphasized that progress in digital processing of radio signals, wide penetration of wireless technologies into all spheres of activity led to the emergence of new types of radio systems called software-defined radio. It is emphasized that the main trend is localization of analog elements of radio systems (filters, amplifiers, carrier frequency generators, digital-to-analog and analog-to-digital converters) at the inputs/outputs of radio systems, widespread use of digital methods of radio signal processing, decentralization of digital processing. It is noted that in the classic view, a software-defined radio system (Software Defined Radio, SDR) is a central protocol, a signal-information flow, a processor (or protocol processor), equipped with receiving and transmitting units. The architecture of the GPP-based SDR platform is presented and it is emphasized that a software-defined radio system can consist of several FPGAs and serve several independent radio channels. A large number of communication processors provides simultaneous processing of several data streams. Communication processors themselves can be of several types, each of which is optimized to work with a certain type of signals. Also, it is noted that certain types of processors can be dedicated to signal analysis, statistics collection or packet filtering. Possibilities of reprogramming (full or partial) allow changing the number and composition of communication processors depending on the current operating conditions. The use of high-speed modern serial receivers, as well as a large number of parallel channels, makes it possible to extend the structure of interconnections beyond the limits of one crystal and to combine several FPGAs into a system with low costs