ECCS-IHCS: Adaptive Network Assimilations Through System Reconfigurability

智能优势：目前，无线通信依赖于多种无线接入技术。然而，这些技术的不同通信能力对不同网络基础设施之间的互操作性和迁移提出了重大障碍。网络同化对于弥合基础设施网络和终端用户通信设备的多样性之间的差距是必要的。本文研究了一种软件定义无线电（SDR）解决方案，通过硬件和软件重构，支持在一个作为基站的SDR平台上并发执行多个通信系统。SDR平台物理层和网络层需要解决的研究挑战包括：(1)基于现场可编程门阵列（FPGA）技术的可重构和自适应架构，以改变SDR平台的通信能力；（ii）在单一SDR平台上同时和分时执行多个通信系统；（三）移动环境的定义和转移，以支持无缝移动。该项目促进了SDR体系结构的发展，提出了SDR平台动态重构的新机制，推进了SDR可重构无线网状网络的协议工程研究，并为支持移动网络的无缝移动性提供了新方法。更广泛的影响：可重构基站有潜在的应用于民事灾害情况，调查人员将寻求与工业界和相关研究的合作，以增加影响。本研究涉及在SDR系统上运行测试的硬件设备和软件包，为学生提供了进行实验和了解下一代无线网络技术的机会。研究结果还将纳入一门新的面向项目的研究生课程，内容是自适应无线通信和架构。

Intellectual Merit: Wireless communications, at present, relies on a multiplicity of wireless access technologies. However, the distinct communication capabilities of these technologies present significant barriers for interoperability and migration between different network infrastructures. Network assimilation is necessary to bridge the gap between the infrastructure networks and the diversity of end-user communication devices. This research investigates a software-defined radio (SDR) solution to support concurrent execution of multiple communication systems on a single SDR platform, which functions as the base station, through hardware and software reconfiguration. The research challenges to be addressed at the physical layer and the networking layer of the SDR platforms include: (i) reconfigurable and adaptive architectures based on field programmable gate array (FPGA) technology to change the communication capabilities of the SDR platform; (ii) concurrent and time-shared execution of multiple communication systems on a single SDR platform; and (iii) mobility context definition and transfer to support seamless mobility. The project contributes to the state-of-the-art of SDR architecture, proposes new mechanisms for dynamic reconfiguration of SDR platforms, advances the protocol engineering research for wireless mesh networks with reconfigurable SDRs, and provides new approaches to supporting seamless mobility in mobile networks.Broader Impact: The reconfigurable base stations have potential application to civil disaster situations and the investigators will seek collaborations with industry and related research to increase impact. Aspects of the research involving hardware devices and software packages for running tests on SDR systems provide an opportunity for students to conduct experiments and learn about the next generation of wireless network technologies. Results will also be incorporated into a new project-oriented graduate course on adaptive wireless communication and architecture.