20 ans de radio logicielle, quelles réalités ?
Abstract
In this article, we emphasize the fact that software radio is an inevitable evolution of radio technologies and is the result from the convergence of several pre-existing domains. Joe Mitola can be recognized as the person who formalized this evolution. New radio equipment includes more and more software radio capabilities, i.e., they are software configurable. Some of the former analogue features have moved to digital ones. We believe that the time window in which the software radio had some benefit compared to a velcro approach for commercial multi-standards radio equipment is probably over. In the military domain however, software radio became reality. We conclude the benefits of software radio will be fully exploited when its technology is actually required in new and complex areas, such as cognitive radio.