The technology is based on a new multicarrier
protocol that is actually used to build other
communication protocols. This means that TDMA, CDMA, OFDM, etc
will have the same underlying signal architecture. It
uses superposition between carriers to build complex
baseband signals. Thus, it uses slow parallel processing
to achieve extremely high data rates. Downconversion
is achieved simply by selecting which carriers to
receive and combining them. The underlying architecture
simplifies transmitter and receiver designs and greatly
increases both bandwidth efficiency and bit error rate
simultaneously for any protocol. Thus it is adaptable to
different frequencies AND different protocols. It also
leverages their own implementation of Cisco's VOFDM
technology. They claim bandwidth efficiency improvements of
several orders of magnitude.
Considering that the
technology is based on new developments in quantum computing
and wavelet theory, it really caught my attention.
They are presenting a paper on this at the
International Conference on Communications in New Orleans
(6/18-6/24).
A private company developed this through several
universities. Although they have big sponsors, I think a
commercial implementation of this is still in the
works.
Ultimately, getting a product to market is more important
than the technology. It is certainly more important
than getting into legal battles in the interference
court. That is my main reservation about PRKR and the
law firm that represents them.