An optimal architecture for a multi-standard reconfigurable radio: A network theory re-formulation

We provide a procedure for identifying an architecture for a multistandard reconfigurable radio that is optimal in view of cost and performance (latency) considerations. We examine the trade-off between installing complex self-contained components providing high performance at a high cost (as well as size and weight), versus invoking simpler, reusable low level modules, which reduces cost but increases system latency. In the present work, we show that the problem of finding an optimal design for a multistandard reconfigurable radio can be reformulated as a "network design problem". This reformulation provides a wealth of results, algorithms, and experience already available in the scientific literature. We explain the reformulation, give a simple but realistic design example, and discuss some algorithms available in the network design literature