CWC has the vision to become one of the leading research laboratories in the world in Fourth Generation mobile communications (4G). As part of achieving this goal, CWC is developing a 4G Lab which will greatly enhance the scope of capabilities of researchers to explore the radio channel and systems aspects of future systems.

The capabilities the Lab will be centred around three core activities

1. MIMO Radio Channel Measurement and Modelling
2. 4G Enabling Technology Evaluation in Hardware
3. Multi-cell Simulation Capability

Summary of Benefits

The benefits of 4Lab are numerous but include

• greatly increasing CWC’s ability to evaluate key 4G enabling technologies
• Increasing CWC’s ability to attract world class researchers
• increasing the motivation of CWC researchers by allowing them to explore beyond typical analytical limits
• raising the international profile of CWC
• improving the technology transfer between university and industry
• increasing technology spin-off potential

1. MIMO Radio Channel Measurement and Modelling

CWC has historically been heavily involved in radio channel measurements for terrestrial mobile systems. As communications systems become more sophisticated, very high spectral efficiency systems need to be developed which rely on multiple antennas at the base station and the terminal. The multiple antenna systems create a rich diversity of possible signal paths between transmitter and receiver which greatly improve the reliability and performance of the system. Understanding this complex channel requires specialised, sophisticated channel measurement and modelling capabilities. An approach referred to as MIMO channel sounding will allow measurements of the radio channel for the multiple antenna system. To date, few organisations worldwide currently have this measurement capability. Elektrobit Switzerland is one of the few companies worldwide which manufacturers commercially available MIMO channel sounding equipment. The MIMO channel sounder and associated data processing software allow CWC to develop channel models for sophisticated multiple antenna systems. The resulting scientific and research capabilities allow us to use measured channel data in evaluating key enabling technologies through simulations.

The MIMO channel measurement capability is key to the capabilities of the 4G laboratory. The key piece of laboratory equipment, PropSound, also represents the single largest investment in equipment.

2. Key Enabling Technology Evaluation in Hardware

One of the main goals of CWC is to bridge the gap between university and industry. The traditional approach of producing analytical models of systems and architectures is a powerful tool for the development of next generation technology. The subsequent stages of taking analytical models to physical hardware prototypes represent some of the most difficult areas for technology transfer to industry and the most troublesome in terms of realising the gains of new developments. The 4GLab has multiple implementation target approaches; including DSP (Digital Signal Processor) and FPGA (Field Programmable Gate Array) platforms. DSP implementation is relatively straightforward and allows algorithms to be explored with finite processing power, and finite data precision. These fundamental restrictions give enormous insight into the performance of new techniques in non-ideal environments. DSP implementations are typically unsuitable for real-time applications due to fundamental limitations of the approach. They are relatively simple to generate as tools exist for quasi-autonomous translation from more usual research software environments such as MATLAB. FPGA implementations allow investigation of new technology in a much more testing, and typically real time environment. Implementations in FPGA platforms allow true "proof-of-concept" prototypes and may lead directly into commercial prototype development. As such, they represent a substantial increase in development effort compared to DSP implementation while at the same time providing far more stringent testing of new technology. Hardware evaluation is expected to be performed in close collaboration with partner companies which in turn, allows more ready technology transfer to sponsors.

Critical laboratory items required for this facility include RF channel simulators (PropSim), DSP hardware and software and FPGA hardware and software.

3. Multi-cell Simulation Capability

Key technologies for 4G systems must eventually be examined in a realistic multi-cell environment. The most practical way of achieving this is to perform simulations of the systems or algorithms with both in-cell and inter cell interference. A key project of the 4GLab will be to develop a multi-cell simulator. This will enable new algorithms and systems to be investigated in a common environment as well as providing a focus for capturing the collective knowledge of researchers. The multi-cell simulation capabilities will allow CWC to develop new results which few other institutions have the capability of.