Radios are becoming more flexible as more functional blocks are implemented in software. This enables the radios to adapt to different situations and to communicate using a variety of wireless protocols. This course will first examine the fundamental radio components and how these components are implemented in software. The principles of a software architecture to support the software defined radio (SDR) will also be examined. We will then look at the emerging concept of cognitive radios (CR), which build on the capabilities of SDRs by adding the ability for the radio to intelligently sense and respond to its environment. Policy and cooperation mechanisms that enable CRs to interoperate will be developed. The course will take the form of a seminar rather than a traditional lecture-based course. Students who take this course will be expected to collaborate in active discussions in class and write a research- oriented paper on the topic.

Students will need to have a background in wireless networking (either through course work or prior experience).