Low cost mobile RF terminal paradigms: From multi-radio to software radio

This paper presents the current status of multi-standard transmitters and receivers in terms of integration level and its impact on the cost associated with handset terminals dedicated to both voice and digital data transmissions. The actual RF system architecture trends such as multi-radios, reconfigurable radios and software oriented radios, namely software defined radio and full software radio, are discussed. Advantages, drawbacks and bottlenecks are considered. Practical design solutions and circuit examples are presented.