Spectrum Allocation for Cognitive Radio Networks Using the Fireworks Algorithm

The fireworks algorithm features a small number of parameters, remarkable optimization ability, and resistance to a local optimum. Based on the graph coloring model, the fireworks algorithm is introduced for the first time to solve the spectrum allocation problem for cognitive radio networks, thus maximizing utility and fairness of spectrum allocation. Two-layer binary coding is adopted for individual fireworks. The first layer refers to the coding of cognitive users used to determine channels that can be connected with the user. The second layer refers to the auxiliary coding of channels responsible for addressing mutual interference among multiple cognitive users when they connect with the same channel at the same time. Explosion operator, mutation operator, and the selection operation are designed to allocate the spectrum for the cognitive radio network. Simulation results demonstrate superiority and efficiency of the proposed algorithm in terms of spectrum allocation.