ADC and DSP challenges in the development of software radio base stations

The need for software-defined radios raises a number of technical challenge s, which play a significant role in the development of third-generation per sonal communications systems (PCS). Some of the most important technical ch allenges deal with analog-to-digital conversion and digital signal processi ng technologies, which, in many cases, cannot provide the advanced hardware needed to support the demanding PCS telecommunications services. In this a rticle, we discuss these two technical challenges, focusing primarily on ba se station radio systems. We first identify the most important requirements for ADC and DSP technologies, and we then extensively discuss and/or propo se enabling schemes that could relax these requirements and aid the impleme ntation of software radio base stations. Furthermore, we discuss new struct ures that can support the development of physically distributed base statio ns.