Radio Engineering: From Software Radio to Cognitive Radio

Chapter 12General Conclusion and Perspectives

 

 

 

12.1. General conclusion

In this book, we have proposed an opening for a broad audience: students, engineers, and researchers, toward (SDR) new areas such as software-defined radio and cognitive radio (CR). We wanted this book to be as pedagogic as possible. Regarding software radio (SR), there are still many technical problems to be solved, although it is reasonable to assume that research and technological advances will solve most of these difficulties in the medium term. CR still requires several years of work by many teams around the world to become operational. However, the concepts of CR will gradually be taken into account in future telecommunications systems when permitted by technological advances, which is already happening. The recent standards, such as Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access, Inc. (WiMAX), integrate functions of constellation modifications according to the received power levels. To complete this book, we propose some new ways of thinking and future perspectives in these areas.

12.2. Perspectives

12.2.1. CR and sustainable development

Although we can consider that the information and communication technologies (ICT) is not the most polluting industry, however, it consumes about 3% of global energy and is responsible for about 2% of CO₂ emissions, which is comparable to the CO₂ emission of civil aviation.

One of the primary goals of the CR is to better use naturally limited resources, i.e. spectrum. ...