Interference-aware spectrum sensing mechanisms in cognitive radio networks

• Study spectrum sensing mechanisms by the optimization of network parameters and strategies.
• The proposed mechanisms have fewer sensing overhead.
• SUs can access into the spectrum holes efficiently, and transmit with a low power.

This paper focuses on the spectrum sensing mechanisms, which could improve network throughput through the sensing strategy optimization and cooperative spectrum sensing methods. In order to guarantee an integrated and effective research, we take the whole channel scenarios into consideration, i.e., Single Secondary user with Single and Multiple Channels (SSSC and SSMC), Multiple Secondary users with Single and Multiple Channels (MSSC and MSMC). Moreover, according to the specific feature of each scenario, different sensing methods are adopted, i.e., optimal sensing period to maximize network throughput for SSSC, a novel sensing method to minimize searching time for SSMC, partial cooperative spectrum sensing mechanism for MSMC, and setting a spectrum pool in the fusion center to record the channel states for MSMC. Simulation results demonstrate that our methods can improve spectrum efficiency, network throughput and channel utilization, especially when the spectrum is utilized inadequately.

Throughput vs. spectrum sensing time under high (left) and moderate (right) usage of spectrum.Figure optionsDownload as PowerPoint slide