Software predicts radio frequency usage
1 min read
Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and similar communications systems often interfere with one another as data is being exchanged. But software developed by the Fraunhofer Institute may overcome this problem.
Awair, developed by researchers at Fraunhofer ESK in Munich, not only detects available radio frequencies, but also predicts them.
Using a combination of software defined radio and neural networks, the software draws a digital map of the available wireless channels and displays channel usage as a 3d image, with peaks showing that a frequency is in use. According to the researchers, using recorded data to construct time series makes it possible to forecast which channels will be used when and for how long.
"Companies can use Awair to ensure they comply with increasingly strict industry standards," said Günter Hildebrandt from Fraunhofer ESK. "Just recently, the European Telecommunications Standards Institute published an amended standard dealing with the fair use of wireless communication channels.
"The standard brings with it greater challenges in the area of coexistence management. In particular, it restricts the choice of frequency bands available to automated manufacturing systems that need to communicate with one another in real time."
