Baseband system design for a multi-mode 802.11 a/b wireless LAN adapter

Multi-mode, programmable wireless LAN systems could have important benefits for manufacturers and consumers. They are initially slightly more complicated than a single-mode, fixed function system to design, but allow better data throughput, better coverage, and fast time-to-market for upgrades. The system model for an IEEE 802.11a/b wireless LAN system-on-a-chip is described. Programmable solutions for the MAC and PHY baseband layers are identified and contrasted with fixed function solutions. Detailed design issues of re-use of hardware and revision of software functional blocks in the PHY to provide both coverage and cost benefits are evaluated.