Patrick White, Stevens Institute of Technology
A promising approach for reducing spectrum congestion in wireless networks is to introduce programmable radio platforms equipped with Software Defined Radios (SDR) that can apply cross-layer as well as cross-network optimization to maximize performance over changing RF environments. These programmable radios can independently adjust a variety of communications parameters including, modulation, power-level, and antenna beam pattern. They can also load-share traffic as well as integrate the individual capacities of available wireless networks to meet instantaneous performance requirements and improve coverage. While these capabilities are highly desirable, they create new challenges for the wireless network designer, since a programmable radio has increased capability to influence not only communications in which it is directly involved but also communications between unrelated nodes. How should programmable radios adapt their communications parameters to maximize performance while at the same time, minimize interference? This project addresses this question at several levels. First, we define new sub-layer structures within the physical layer for synchronizing pair-wise performance. We introduce primitives, ''adjectives and adverbs," for integrating software radios with higher OSI layers. These primitives define the environmental sensing and channel parameter adjustments that will be supported in an SDR. Finally, we define rules (i.e., the etiquette) that should be adopted and enforced to encourage ''proper behavior" by groups of programmable radios to minimize the effects on unrelated communications.
