Cognitive Radio
Group 6
Chastity Byford, Celisha McGhee, Doug Tistle, Karla Tyler
Keywords: Cognitive Radio (CR), Radio Frequency (RF), Software-Defined Radio (SDR)
With advancements in the wireless technology and telecommunication industries, internet service providers and the government are searching for better ways to utilize the radio frequency spectrum. The Federal Communication Commission has designated certain radio frequencies to wireless devices that have become overcrowded. According to Neil Savage, these are just a few things making it so: “ laptops, cell phones, Blackberries, sensors that monitor temperatures in office buildings, radio frequency ID tags that track merchandise, and devices that monitor medical patients.” (Savage, 1) Savage also stated that, “the FCC had determined that in some locations or at some times of day, 70 percent of the allocated spectrum may be idle” ( Savage, 1). One solution to this problem is the cognitive radio. The cognitive radio has a level of intelligence that allows it to make a decision about which radio frequency it uses without causing interference to the primary user. This flexibility should make communications more dependable, convenient, and possibly even cheaper.
The idea of cognitive radio was developed in May 2000 by Dr. Joseph Mitola and Gerald Q. Maguire Jr. Dr. Mitola worked for the Defense Advance Research Products Agency (DARPA); therefore, the primary application for software-defined radio (SDR), which is the cousin of the cognitive radio, was for the military. The U.S. Navy has been the largest consumer of software-defined radio. The software-based digital modular radio (DMR) converted radio rooms full of radios to rooms with single racks. The Navy has been utilizing DMR on submarines and ships around the world. The military has found software-defined radio quite capable of fulfilling its communication needs and small enough to integrate into miniature robotics and electronic devices worn by soldiers. With this success, the military is expecting to have intercommunications with all armed forces, coalition forces, and public safety officials. Many of the technical advances in electronics have come to the consumer via the military.
The cognitive radio is building off the software-defined radio technology that the military has developed and is using. The cognitive radio adds a self-awareness that software-defined radio does not have. The SDR can reconfigure the analog RF output but it cannot scan its environment. The cognitive radio has the ability to learn about itself and the environment in which it is located. The RF environment consist of frequencies used by radios, TVs, microwaves, garage door openers, radio toy cars, and so on. After data is analyzed, the cognitive radio will adjust its position and speed to efficiently use the RF spectrum. It will keep a database of the information so it can continue to improve it utilization of the RF spectrum. To better utilize the spectrum, radio etiquette must be developed. How to deal with radio, TV, appliances, garage door openers and natural radio frequencies like electric motors, and still provide the primary user with the first priority of their frequency is one of the problems facing cognitive radio. With the technology embedded in the devices, it will also be able to connect to the wireless internet. The internet service provider will connect the cell user to anywhere around the world. In addition, the home computer can be a base station for the wireless web access point. This will dramatically change telecommunications. With multiple access points like radio, TV, and home computers, the cognitive radio will eliminate the need for long contracts with cellular companies. It will increase the role of the internet service provider because of the WLAN connection to the placed calls. According to Dr. Bruce Fette, “the complete flexibility of the system will allow equipment developers to enhance their operating capabilities, allow for upgrades, debugging, and delivery of additional functions that improve costs “ (Fette, 1).
For the users, the cognitive radio will take power away from the seller and give it to the consumer. By increasing the access points, it will decrease the seller’s power over the buyer, thus reducing cost. The quality of service will be increased because we have more access points and an intelligence that continually scans the RF environment. For the government, it provides a more stable communications network. In an emergency situation, if the cell tower is damaged or destroyed, the cognitive radio can use the WLAN. If the WLAN is not operating, the cellular or television frequency might be available. The spectrum sensing ability of the cognitive radio opens the door to many pathways so we are not without communications. For business, the future of cognitive radio will slowly prevail. The cell phone and internet industries will have to fight over their cut of this emerging technology. As that fight unfolds, the industry insiders feel that the cognitive radio will be used in the marketplace as a viable telecommunication device. With the help of the Software-Defined Radio Forum, the FCC, and the industry leaders, the standards for how the cognitive radio will interact between the different parties (ie: TV and Radio) are expected to be presented by 2009.
In 2003, the government made a push for the cognitive radios by asking academia to give input on how we might make cognitive radio work. In 2004, they offered incentives to manufacturers and recommended the use of low power networks in the unused TV bands. With this push, cognitive radio will continue to move forward. We will see a change in the world of telecommunications with increased quality of service, reduction in cost, and more efficient use of the RF spectrum. The players in telecommunications will probably change as well. Not only will we see cell-phone and internet industries converging on this market, but we may also see radio, and TV making the shift. Once these technical issues are addressed, the cognitive radio will have a lot to offer us as we continue to move more toward an informational driven society.
“WORKS CITED”
Savage, Neil. “Cognitive Radio” Technology Review March/April 2006
http://www.technologyreview.com/printer_friendly_article.aspx?id=16471
Ashley, Steven.”Cognitive Radio” Scientific American.com
http://www.sciam.com/print_version.cfm?articleID=000C7B72-2374-13F6-A3748341B7...
Fette, Bruce. “Cognitive Radio Shows Great Promise” COTS Journal
http://cotsjournalonline.com/home/printthis.php?id=100206
Mannion, Patrick. “Sharing Spectrum the Smarter Way” EETimes
http://www.eetimes.com/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=1870043
Wikipedia. “Cognitive Radio”
online
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cognitive_Radio
Cognitive Radio
Group 6
|
1. |
What does SDR
stand for? |
|
A. |
Software-defined radio
|
|
B. |
Super dimension radio |
|
C. |
Sensor determining rings |
|
D. |
None of these |
|
2. |
Who has created
many of the technical advances in electronics? |
|
A. |
NASA |
|
B. |
The military |
|
C. |
|
|
D. |
Intel |
|
1. 3.3. 2.3. |
What is NOT a
benefit of the cognitive radio? |
|
A. |
Cheaper |
|
B. |
More convenient |
|
C. |
Smaller than a needle point |
|
D. |
More dependable |
|
4. |
What does the
cognitive radio has that the SDR doesn’t? |
|
A. |
More colors |
|
B. |
A conscience |
|
C. |
Self-awareness |
|
D. |
Free downloadable music
|
|
5. |
What industry
will NOT play a major role in cognitive radio? |
|
A. |
Cell phone industry |
|
B. |
Internet industry |
|
C. |
Restaurant industry |
|
D. |
All of these |
|
6. |
What would
happen to communications and cognitive radio if a cell tower is wiped out? |
|
A. |
Go to the backup WLAN |
|
B. |
Go to the cellular frequency |
|
C. |
Go to the television frequency |
|
D. |
All of these |
|
7. |
The flexibility
of the cognitive radio allows for all of these, EXCEPT… |
|
A. |
Upgrades |
|
B. |
Debugging |
|
C. |
Additional functions |
|
D. |
All of these |