Signal processing requirements [digital cellular handsets]

While there is much similarity between the functional blocks across handset standards, there is a vast difference in the signal processing required to implement them. This paper outlines the requirements of DECT, GSM and IS-95, highlighting the unique requirements of each standard. The various implementation options indicate the wide variation in resources (MIPs, gates) required across the three current standards and how hardware/software trade-offs can bring about an acceptable implementation. Except in extreme cases, such as the IS-95 DSP only variant, the implementation choice is rarely a simple area/power/cost trade-off, with the impact of standards stability and flexibility driving a software push. As DSP capability improves in terms of mW/MIP and peak processing power, DSP implementations become more acceptable