Spectrum Utilization Efficiency Analysis in Cognitive Radio Networks

Abstract:
In cognitive radio network, secondary (unlicensed) users (SUs) are allowed to utilize the licensed spectrum when it is not used by the primary (licensed) users (PUs). Because of the dynamic nature of cognitive radio network, the activities of SUs such as “how long to sense” and “how long to transmit” significantly affect both the service quality of the cognitive radio networks and protection to PUs. In this work, we formulate and analyze spectrum utilization efficiency problem in the cognitive radio network with various periodic frame structure of SU, which consists of sensing and data transmission slots. Energy detection is considered for spectrum sensing algorithm. To achieve higher spectrum utilization efficiency, the optimal sensing and data transmission length are investigated and found numerically. The simulation results are presented to verify the our analysis and to evaluate the interference to the PU which should be controlled into tolerable level. Index Terms — Cognitive radio network; spectrum utilization efficiency; spectrum sensing; energy detection; frame structure.