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Rapid Industrial Prototyping and SoC Design of 3G/4G Wireless Systems Using an HLS Methodology

Abstract

Many very-high-complexity signal processing algorithms are required in future wireless systems, giving tremendous challenges to real-time implementations. In this paper, we present our industrial rapid prototyping experiences on 3G/4G wireless systems using advanced signal processing algorithms in MIMO-CDMA and MIMO-OFDM systems. Core system design issues are studied and advanced receiver algorithms suitable for implementation are proposed for synchronization, MIMO equalization, and detection. We then present VLSI-oriented complexity reduction schemes and demonstrate how to interact these high-complexity algorithms with an HLS-based methodology for extensive design space exploration. This is achieved by abstracting the main effort from hardware iterations to the algorithmic C/C++ fixed-point design. We also analyze the advantages and limitations of the methodology. Our industrial design experience demonstrates that it is possible to enable an extensive architectural analysis in a short-time frame using HLS methodology, which significantly shortens the time to market for wireless systems.

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Correspondence to Yuanbin Guo.

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Guo, Y., McCain, D., Cavallaro, J.R. et al. Rapid Industrial Prototyping and SoC Design of 3G/4G Wireless Systems Using an HLS Methodology. J Embedded Systems 2006, 014952 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1155/ES/2006/14952

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