Software Defined Radio: Baseband Technologies for 3G Handsets and Basestations

5

Adaptive Computing as the Enabling Technology for SDR

David Chou, Jun Han, Jasmin Oz, Sharad Sambhwani and Cameron Stevens

QuickSilver, Technology, Inc.

5.1. Introduction

Definitions

Adaptive Computing: Algorithmic elements are mapped to dynamic hardware resources creating the exact hardware needed, for that moment in time, as often as needed, i.e. software becomes hardware in real time.

SilverC Software Programming Language: A high-level, architecture-independent system language that augments the ANSI C language with temporal and spatial extensions, and that is optimized for highly parallel, multiprocessing computing platforms.

Immediate Benefits of Adaptive Computing

The QuickSilver Adaptive Computing Machine (ACM) as discussed elsewhere [1] meets system requirements for next-generation mobile/wireless devices with high performance, low power consumption, architecture flexibility, and low cost. In doing so, the ACM overcomes the limitations of today's conventional integrated circuit (IC) solutions, such as ASICs, DSPs, RISC/microprocessors, and FPGAs.

The ACM's heterogeneous array of adaptive processing nodes brings together the combination of DSP programmability and ASIC-class power/performance. These combined attributes in a single IC give the ACM the needed characteristics for next-generation mobile and wireless devices to offer multifunctionality, including software-defined radio (SDR).

The ACM combines a high-speed network, a fractal topology, and a heterogeneous set of ...