Towards integrating pattern reconfigurable antennas in WiMAX/LTE radios

The integration and deployment of pattern reconfigurable antenna arrays in real-world wireless systems have been inhibited by the prohibitively high costs of implementation and integration infrastructure. As a result, many research institutions have turned to Software-Defined Radio (SDR) solutions as a cost-efficient alternative. This work discusses various relevant platforms that could be used for integrating pattern reconfigurable antennas in 4G radios. We also leverage an open, programmable testbed to evaluate the performance of a pattern reconfigurable antenna array as part of the holistic wireless system.