Comparative Study of Single-user Spectrum Sensing Techniques in Cognitive Radio Networks

Cognitive Radio is an emerging and fascinating technology, which promises solution to the spectrum scarcity problem. This influential technology has the power to change the future technological trends forever if employed properly. In Cognitive Radio Networks, an unlicensed (secondary) user utilizes the licensed spectrum band opportunistically without causing any interference to the primary transmission or licensed (primary) users. Spectrum Sensing is the foremost task for successful Opportunistic Spectrum Access. It is a cardinal function of cognitive radio to avert the harmful interference with licensed users and recognize the available spectrum for ameliorating spectrum utilization. Over the past decade, legions of spectrum sensing techniques have been proposed in the literature. In this paper, a brief survey of all the major contributions in the field of single user or non-cooperative spectrum sensing for cognitive radio networks have been discussed. A comparative study has been carried out based on various important parameters, which needs to be considered for real-time implementation of Cognitive Radio Networks.