Scalable Multi-Level Synchronization Technique of Distributed Multi-RFSoC-Server Systems for 6G

Karle C, Neu M, Nuss B, Witte L, Scheder A, Waldner E, Shkurtaj E, Harbaum T, Becker J (2024)

Publication Type: Conference contribution

Publication year: 2024

Publisher: IEEE Computer Society

Conference Proceedings Title: International System on Chip Conference

Event location: Dresden DE

ISBN: 9798350377569

DOI: 10.1109/SOCC62300.2024.10737777

Abstract

The new 6th generation (6G) standard promises increased data transmission rates and opens up entirely new application fields, such as joint-communication and sensing (JCAS). Modern high-performance multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) systems with high bandwidth and channel count allow evaluation and testing of waveforms and algorithms in real-world scenarios. However, commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) MIMO systems are often costly and cannot be scaled to massive MIMO (mMIMO) systems without huge overhead. The ReLoDAQ system, based on combined radio frequency system-on-chip (RFSoC)-server architecture, offers a cost-effective and scalable solution for the development of a modern mMIMO system. However, this system is only scalable in terms of channel count and does not provide scalable synchronization and trigger mechanisms, which are essential for applications like JCAS or radar. In this paper, we present a scalable sample- and data-level synchronization and trigger mechanism to operate a mMIMO system based on the ReLoDAQ structure in a phase coherent manner. To achieve this, we extend the firmware of the RFSoCs with additional trigger and synchronization logic. Furthermore, we developed a scalable clock distribution network to distribute phase coherent clocks in the mMIMO system. Through measurements on an experimental mMIMO system consisting of two RFSoCs and four servers, we demonstrate that our approach enables phase coherent operation across all channels in the mMIMO system based on the cost-efficient and scalable ReLoDAQ architecture.

Authors with CRIS profile

Lukas Witte Lehrstuhl für Hochfrequenztechnik (LHFT) André Scheder Lehrstuhl für Hochfrequenztechnik (LHFT)

Involved external institutions

Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) DE Germany (DE)

How to cite

APA:

Karle, C., Neu, M., Nuss, B., Witte, L., Scheder, A., Waldner, E.,... Becker, J. (2024). Scalable Multi-Level Synchronization Technique of Distributed Multi-RFSoC-Server Systems for 6G. In Diana Gohringer, Uwe Gabler, Tanja Harbaum, Klaus Hofmann (Eds.), International System on Chip Conference. Dresden, DE: IEEE Computer Society.

MLA:

Karle, Christian, et al. "Scalable Multi-Level Synchronization Technique of Distributed Multi-RFSoC-Server Systems for 6G." Proceedings of the 37th IEEE International System-on-Chip Conference, SOCC 2024, Dresden Ed. Diana Gohringer, Uwe Gabler, Tanja Harbaum, Klaus Hofmann, IEEE Computer Society, 2024.

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