Methods and Techniques for Next Generation Wireless Channel Sounders

无线传播信道的表征和建模一直被认为是与无线通信相关的最重要和最基本的活动之一，随着我们进入第五代或5G无线时代，它面临着前所未有的挑战。随着无线系统向更高频率移动，部署在更具挑战性的环境中，使用越来越复杂的技术来提高容量、可靠性和性能，并受到越来越细微的传播障碍的影响，进行和开发支持其设计、仿真和部署的信道测量和模型变得越来越困难。如果没有有效的、统计上可靠的信道测量和模型，无线行业就会失去最重要的工具来管理与设计、开发和部署可靠、有效和有竞争力的无线系统相关的风险。如果不能阻止这一趋势，无线行业乃至整个经济都将面临风险。

Characterization and modelling of the wireless propagation channel, long considered among the most important and fundamental activities related to wireless communications, is facing unprecedented challenges as we enter the era of Fifth Generation or 5G Wireless. As wireless systems move to higher frequencies, are deployed in more challenging environments, use ever more sophisticated techniques to boost capacity, reliability and performance, and are affected by ever more subtle propagation impairments, it has become more difficult to conduct and develop the channel measurements and models that support their design, simulation and deployment. Without effective and statistically reliable channel measurements and models delivered in an efficient and timely manner, the wireless industry loses their most important tool for managing the risks associated with designing, developing and deploying wireless systems that are reliable, effective and competitive. Failure to stem the tide will place the wireless industry and the greater economy at risk. This project focuses on the development of Methods and Techniques for Next Generation Wireless Channel Sounders and continuation of our efforts: 1) to simplify and reduce the cost of wireless channel sounders, 2) overcome key limitations that are becoming apparent in the modern era as identified above and, ultimately, 3) make channel measurement campaigns more efficient and effective. In particular, we seek to make greater use of statistical insights to guide both design of measurement campaigns and to guide and assess the data reduction process. We are mindful that the different stakeholders in channel measurement and modelling appear at different stages in the wireless technology life cycle. While standards bodies are among the first to require channel measurement and modelling products to assist in fair comparison of proposed standards, product developers and carriers require different products to support performance prediction and product testing while planning tool developers require still different products to assist in planning and optimization of deployments. Separating fundamental investigation and development of methods and techniques from specific channel characterization and modelling efforts that we conduct for industry partners under collaborative research and development programs both now and in the future will give us the freedom to innovate and take a long range view without detracting from our efforts to meet the immediate needs of industry.