Software-defined radio: a brief overview

This paper overviews the software-defined radio (SDR), also called software radio (SR), refers to wireless communication in which the transmitter modulation is generated or defined by a computer. The receiver then also uses a computer to recover the signal intelligence. SDR is an enabling technology that is useful in a wide range of areas within wireless systems. The primary goal of SDR is to replace as many analog components and hardwired digital VLSI devices of the transceiver as possible with programmable devices. This technology is receiving enormous recognition and generating widespread interest in the telecommunication industry. The SDR Forum is an international, nonprofit organization that includes members from academia, the military, vendors, wireless service providers, and regulatory bodies. SDR has been described as the cornerstone in the evolution of GSM.