Software-defined cloud radio access networks enabled by a reconfigurable general microwave photonics signal processor

在未来十年内，宽带网络将把光学和无线技术的互补优势融合到一个融合的光纤-无线框架中，称为云无线接入网（c - ran）。在c - ran中，携带无线电调制光信号的光纤将连接基站控制器和远程无线电头（RRHs），后者将使用第五代（5G）无线技术以1gb /s的速度向移动用户传输数据。该研究的核心目标是为软件定义的c - ran展示一种创新的通用设计方法，该方法能够在带宽供应方面提供卓越的性能，同时确保可扩展性、敏捷性、能源效率和成本效率。该软件定义平台将以简单且完全可编程的方式实现基站和RRHs所需的关键微波/毫米波处理功能。它将基于硅光子学中可重构的集成微波光子信号处理引擎。我们提出的解决方案将大大简化网络级设计，降低C-RAN部署和维护成本，优化能源消耗，减少硬件重复，并支持软件定义的操作和控制。该项目与“信息和通信技术”的目标领域完全一致，并解决了与“通信网络和服务”研究主题相关的关键挑战。该项目得到了加拿大华为技术有限公司和AEPONYX两家工业合作伙伴的支持。结果将为他们和其他加拿大公司提供获得未来宽带网络所需的变革性知识和创新技术的机会，这反过来将在未来5-10年内使加拿大人受益。此外，学院还为高素质人才（HQP）提供了独特的培训机会，这些人才将获得射频电子学、集成光子学、宽带通信和软件定义网络方面的技能。HQP将进行设备和电路设计、建模、仿真和优化，所有这些都将通过实验测试以及子系统原型演示进行验证。

Within the next decade, broadband networks will merge the complementary strengths of optical and wireless technologies into a converged fiber-wireless framework, called Cloud Radio Access Networks (C-RANs). In C-RANs, optical fiber carrying radio-modulated optical signals will interconnect base station controllers and remote radio heads (RRHs) that will deliver data at 1 Gb/s speeds to mobile users using fifth-generation (5G) wireless technology. The central goal of the proposed research is to demonstrate an innovative, universal design approach for software-defined C-RANs that are capable of delivering exceptional performance in terms of bandwidth provisioning, while ensuring scalability, agility, energy efficiency, and cost efficiency. This software-defined platform will implement critical microwave/mm-wave processing functionalities needed at the base station and the RRHs in a simple and fully programmable fashion. It will be based on a reconfigurable, integrated microwave photonic signal processing engine in silicon photonics. Our proposed solution will simplify substantially network-level design, reduce C-RAN deployment and maintenance costs, optimize energy consumption, reduce hardware duplication, and support software-defined operation and control. The project aligns precisely with the target area of 'Information and Communication Technologies' and addresses key challenges associated with the research topic of 'Communication Networks and Services'. The project has the support of two industrial partners, Huawei Technologies Canada and AEPONYX. The results will provide them and other Canadian-based companies with access to transformative knowledge and innovative technologies required in future broadband networks, which in turn will benefit Canadians over the next 5-10 years. There are also unique training opportunities for highly qualified personnel (HQP) who will acquire skills in RF electronics, integrated photonics, broadband communications, and software-defined networking. HQP will carry out device and circuit design, modeling, simulation and optimization, all of which will be validated through experimental testing, as well as subsystems prototype demonstrations.