Drivers and challenges in the design of wireless multimedia user terminals, UT

Third generation wireless systems are being designed to provide the medium to solve the increasing demands for untethered communications. The communication requirements include facilities for voice and data communications. The rapid advances in Internet and mobile communication systems and the lack of common standards are demanding increased performance from the 3G user terminals. This is driving new technical challenges in hardware and the software design of the next generation user terminal. Some key challenges are batteries, flexible RF architectures, ultra-low power configurable microprocessors, application optimised digital signal processing, compact efficient memory and input-output devices like displays, imager as well as real time operating software. We discuss some of the drivers that challenge the building of the 3G-user terminal