System re-configuration and over-the-air download functions of the software radio prototype supporting PHS and wireless LAN

Software radio, whose functions can be changed simply by replacing only software, is the key to next generation wireless communication systems. We have constructed a software radio prototype based on a multiprocessor architecture. This prototype supports the Japanese personal handy-phone system (PHS) and IEEE 802.11 wireless LAN systems. The paper reports the performance of the prototype. The system re-configuration function and the over-the-air (OTA) download protocol of the prototype are described in detail. The system re-configuration function changes the wireless communication mode of the software radio by replacing the software. To enter the PHS mode takes about ten seconds. The proposed general-purpose OTA download protocol works over TCP/IP. It is very secure because it uses secure socket layer (SSL). It is confirmed that the software can be downloaded from the download server normally.