| As wireless communications technology advances, law enforcement resources become increasingly strained attempting to intercept and interpret wireless signals. Software radios, which differ from normal radios in that they consist mostly of software rather than hardware, can decrease the costs and increase the capabilities of systems that process wireless signals. The nature of software radios allows for an underlying processing system that is flexible: The software can be easily reprogrammed to accommodate new transmission techniques and modulations.;In this dissertation, we discuss the theory behind software radios and explore some of the related developments of the past few years. We show how it can be developed into an advanced monitoring framework, suitable for uses such as research and law enforcement investigations. We discuss the requirements of this framework, including its functionality and how it can integrate other technology. |
