4th generation cellular technology: Features, benefits and challenges of LTE

Tom McKay, Founder Tidal microWave LLC
Thursday, May 7, 2009, 7:00 pm, Engineering 2 - Simularium (Room 180)
Hosted by Assistant Professor Matthew Guthaus
Computer Engineering

Abstract

In March 2009, the global 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) released specifications for LTE, the first all internet-protocol wireless wide-area standard to be deployed on world-wide cellular networks with potential to provide broadband speeds to the handset. Demand for broadband data to the cell phone is growing exponentially due to growth of the web, strides in phone integration of cellular data, wireless local area networking (WLAN) transceivers, and global positioning system (GPS) receivers.  Innovative cellular phone user platforms have captured the imagination of application developers and provide the next step in the evolution of mobile computing. In parallel, U.S. cellular network operators are opening their networks driven by popular views regarding net neutrality and implemented in recent Federal Communications Commission (FCC) rulings, creating fertile ground for new mobile broadband services, applications, and devices.
 
An overview of selected features and benefits of LTE are examined with an eye toward implementation challenges.  For network operators, LTE promises lower operating costs, higher spectral efficiency and benefits of global adoption.  On the user device side, however, challenges are increasing to maintain compelling user experiences associated with long battery life, faster uploads and downloads in a marketable form-factor.  For example, intrinsic to LTEs high-throughput capability are multiple-input, multiple-output (MIMO) radios requiring multiple equal-quality air-interface paths.  This represents a departure from simple optional diversity methods of currently deployed devices.   Additionally, multiple-band and legacy standard support required to maintain network coverage creates a log-jam at the antenna driving design complexity, development costs and limiting battery life.   Understanding the technical fundamentals driving the air interface features, the associated challenges and their possible solution is key to identifying opportunities and catching the wave of mobile broadband.

Biography

From 2003 to 2008, as Principal Engineer for the Cellular R&D Group of RF Micro Devices in Scotts Valley, Tom led CMOS synergistic research targeting the cellular handset radio chip market.  His efforts contributed to cellular single-chip transceivers currently shipping in high volume handsets.   In 2000, Tom co-founded Zeevo which by 2002 released the first 180 nm CMOS Bluetooth RF system-on-chip, with volume shipments to top-tier PDA makers.  Zeevo was acquired by Broadcom in 2005.   Tom paved the way for this work while Principal Engineer at VLSI Technology, where in 1999 he established 180 nm digital CMOS as a competitive high-frequency radio technology.   Prior to that, Tom developed microwave and radio frequency ICs in III-V technology at Teledyne, Harris, WJ Communications and Samsung. In 1997 he received the Samsung Chairmans award for achievements in low noise television IC development. Tom has authored several IEEE conference and journal papers and has lectured for the UCSC EE graduate program. Tom holds an MSEE from UW-Madison and has  8 patents.
 In 2008, Tom founded Tidal microWave LLC, providing consulting services in design and technology adoption strategies drawn from 25 years of radio frequency innovation.