Cognitive Radio Technology, which utilizes the "opportunistic" spectrum resource management concept, could represent a breakthrough approach and key building block for the next generation of communication technology. At GEDC, Cognitive Radio technology has been installed and is being utilized in partnership with the Samsung Design Center, which is located near GEDC in the Technology Square Research Building. The purpose of the CR testbed is to develop and evaluate:

1. spectrum sensing technology, which is the most critical technology in CR;
2. demonstration of innovative communication systems;
3. verification of RF/analog circuits and systems;
4. interoperability between various communication systems.

All of the functional blocks in the CR system, including signal generation and MODEM and RF/analog front end, are designed to be operated by integrated software for acceleration of response/test time, as well as for ease of management and expansion.

In addition to spectrum-sensing technology, the system is capable of instant testing/evaluation at the algorithm level of the communication system and of the RF/Analog IC. GEDC, teamed with Samsung Design Center, has proposed its own spectrum sensing technologies to the IEEE 802.22 working group, which is the first CR-oriented communication standard. In addition, results from CR have been contributed to the European Computer Manufacturers Association (ECMA) committee.

In the future, after broadcasting and communication technology have either merged or become undifferentiated, CR has the potential to be a key enabling technology. To lead this trend, GEDC will expand its current communication-oriented system to a pure "Comm-Broadcast Fusion" system by adding broadcasting capability.