LONG TERM EVOLUTION (LTE) and its evolutionary next step, LTE-Advanced (LTE-A), are the harbingers of fourth-generation (4G) telecommunications products and services. Like all communications standards, LTE and LTE-A products will require software aid and test and measurement capabilities before the hardware hits the market. To accelerate these processes, Rohde & Schwarz and Synopsys have entered into a strategic collaboration. By integrating design and measurement technology, they hope to bridge LTE/LTE-A algorithm design and system integration.
Specifically, the collaboration reduces time-to-first-test while building more efficient interaction between algorithm designers and hardware testers. The partnership rests on test and measurement solutions from Rohde & Schwarz and algorithm design and verification solutions from Synopsys (see figure). In addition to speeding the design and verification of wireless system designschipsets, handsets, and base stationsthe firms aim to reduce risks related to standards compliance.
Among Synopsys' contributions are its standard-compliant reference libraries. The LTE Library for the company's System Studio and SPW algorithm design products includes models of the transmitter and the physical channel, as defined in the 3GPP standard. It also offers functional models of ideal receivers, which can be used as references. The library provides an end-to-end simulation chain for both uplink and downlink transmission and reception. Through the collaboration, this LTE librarywhich includes the upcoming LTE-Advanced enhancementswill be verified against Rohde & Schwarz's test and measurement solutions.
Beginning with its signal generators, Rohde & Schwarz test equipment will be able to automatically derive its configuration from the Synopsys simulation setup. Typically, such configurations consist of more than 100 parameters. As a result, this integration decreases the time needed to achieve a correct setup. It also reduces the risk of configuration inconsistencies.
The validated Synopsys LTE library will become available with the 2011.06 release. It will include the initial version of LTE-Advanced. The automatic configuration of Rohde & Schwarz signal generators from Synopsys' algorithm simulation tools, SPW and System Studio, will become available to select customers this month, with general availability expected in October.