Model-based waveform design for the universal software radio peripheral with simulink

Waveform development is an important topic of the Software Defined Radio (SDR) technology. To achieve the objectives of SDR, waveforms have to be efficient and portable to various platforms. In this paper, a model-based waveform design with Simulink will be presented. This approach meets the requirements of SDR waveform development and is tailored to the physical and data link layer of wireless communication systems. We will present an implementation of a digital waveform, starting from a platform independent model to the point of machine code. The case study will cover major communications engineering topics, e.g. synchronization, and highlight the modeling with Simulink. The implementation is demonstrated on the Universal Soft ware Radio Peripheral (USRP) in combination with a Personal Computer (PC). Therefore, the waveform will be ported to a General Purpose Processor (GPP) and a Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA). We will show that this waveform design approach with Simulink leads to an efficient and rapid way to develop waveforms from a simulation stage to the point of implementation.