Reconfigurable Radio Systems as Enabler for Exploiting the Future Heterogeneous Wireless Communications Landscape

This article introduces a novel flexible mobile device reconfiguration classes (MDRCs) framework which is expected to be applicable to future generation mass market reconfigurable radio devices. This framework sets the scene for a vision of a smooth evolution of reconfigurability features in mobile devices (MDs), paving the way from the current and mainly static implementation choices toward a fully flexible device platform environment. For this flexible MD framework, baseband interfaces and software architecture of Software Defined Radio (SDR) MD are introduced as they are currently discussed in ETSI reconfigurable radio systems standardization. Furthermore, this technical solution is positioned with respect to security requirements and the basic regulatory framework which is currently under revision in Europe. Indeed, the future revised Radio Equipment and Telecommunications Terminal Equipment Directive (R&TTE Directive) is expected to allow for such advanced reconfiguration, enabling users to acquire and install so-called RadioApps software components which may affect the compliance of a MD to the essential requirements of the Directive.