Baseband processor
A chip managing all antenna-based radio functions in a device.
Last updated
A baseband processor (also known as baseband radio processor, BP, or BBP) is a device—a chip or part of a chip—in a network interface controller that manages all radio functions requiring an antenna. This term is generally not used in reference to Wi-Fi and Bluetooth radios. A baseband processor typically uses its own RAM and firmware, and is fabricated using CMOS or RF CMOS technology. It is widely used in radio-frequency (RF), GPS, and wireless WAN communications.
Quick Facts
- Firmware examples
- ENEA's OSE
- Nucleus RTOS (iPhone 3G/3GS/iPad)
- ThreadX (iPhone 4)
- VRTX
- Technology
- CMOS, RF CMOS
Facts from the source article.
Background
Baseband processors typically run a real-time operating system (RTOS) as their firmware, such as ENEA's OSE, Nucleus RTOS (used in iPhone 3G/3GS/iPad), ThreadX (used in iPhone 4), and VRTX. The rationale for separating the baseband processor from the main application processor is threefold: radio performance, because radio control functions like signal modulation, encoding, and radio frequency shifting are highly timing-dependent and require a real-time operating system; radio reliability, as separating the BP ensures proper radio operation while allowing application and OS changes; and legal requirements, as some authorities like the U.S. Federal Communications Commission (FCC) require certification of the entire software stack on a device communicating with the mobile telephony network, and separating the BP allows reusing a stack without recertifying the full application processor.
Security concerns have also been noted. Since the software running on baseband processors is usually proprietary, independent code audit is impossible. By reverse engineering some baseband chips, researchers have found security vulnerabilities that could be used to access and modify data on the phone remotely. In March 2014, makers of the free Android derivative Replicant announced they had found a backdoor in the baseband software of Samsung Galaxy phones that allows remote access to user data stored on the phone.
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Sources
Compiled from Wikipedia and the sources listed below. Text from Wikipedia is available under CC BY-SA 4.0; this entry is adapted from it.
- Wikipedia: Baseband processor (CC BY-SA 4.0).
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