Dynamic physical layers for wireless networks using software radio

The communication parameters in mobile ad-hoc networks, such as the distance between nodes, channel characteristics and user demands, can vary quickly. Using traditional design techniques and creating a static physical layer designed to meet worst case conditions results in poor performance and resource utilization under most operating conditions. Software radios, which implement their physical layer processing in software, provide a solution to this problem by enabling the physical layer to be modified in a way that best meets the current conditions. This paper describes the initial work on a software radio-based ad-hoc network that allows the physical layer to be modified on a per packet basis