Methods and Techniques for Next Generation Wireless Channel Sounders

无线传播信道的表征和建模长期以来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，它正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，并且受到越来越微妙的传播损伤的影响，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。如果没有以有效和及时的方式提供有效和统计上可靠的信道测量和模型，无线行业将失去其最重要的工具，用于管理与设计、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，将使无线产业和更大的经济处于危险之中。 该项目的重点是下一代无线信道探测器的方法和技术的发展，并继续我们的努力：1）简化和降低无线信道探测器的成本，2）克服上述现代时代变得明显的关键限制，最终，3）使信道测量活动更加高效和有效。特别是，我们寻求更多地利用统计见解来指导测量活动的设计，并指导和评估数据简化过程。我们注意到，信道测量和建模的不同利益相关者出现在无线技术生命周期的不同阶段。虽然标准机构是第一批要求信道测量和建模产品以帮助公平比较拟议标准的机构，但产品开发人员和运营商需要不同的产品来支持性能预测和产品测试，而规划工具开发人员需要不同的产品来帮助规划和优化部署。将方法和技术的基础研究和开发与我们现在和将来为行业合作伙伴开展的合作研究和开发计划下的特定渠道表征和建模工作分开，将使我们能够自由创新并采取长远观点，而不会影响我们满足行业即时需求的努力。

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.