Adaptive dual‐radio spectrum‐sensing scheme in cognitive radio networks

In this paper, a novel spectrum‐sensing scheme, called adaptive dual‐radio spectrum‐sensing scheme (ADRSS), is proposed for cognitive radio networks. In ADRSS, each secondary user (SU) is equipped with a dual radio. During the data transmission, with the received signal‐to‐noise ratio of primary user (PU) signal, the SU transmitter (SUT) and the SU receiver (SUR) are selected adaptively to sense one channel by one radio while communicating with each other by the other one. The sensing results of the SUR are sent to the SUT through feedback channels (e.g., ACK). After that, with the sensing results from the SUT or the SUR, the SUT can decide whether the channel switching should be carried out. The theoretical analysis and simulation results indicate that the normalized channel efficiency, defined as the expected ratio of time duration without interference to PUs in data transmission to the whole frame length, can be improved while satisfying the interference constraint to PUs. After that, an enhanced ADRSS is designed by integrating ADRSS with cooperative spectrum sensing, and the performance of ADRSS under imperfect feedback channel is also discussed. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

A unified spectrum sensing and throughput analysis model in cognitive radio networks

Cognitive radio (CR) is a newly developed technology for increasing spectral efficiency in wireless communication systems. In the CR networks, there exist two traditional spectrum‐sharing technologies called spectrum overlay and spectrum underlay. A new hybrid overlay/underlay paradigm has also been discussed in the literature. In this work, we create a unified spectrum sensing and throughput analysis model, which is suitable for overlay, underlay, and hybrid overlay/underlay paradigms in the CR networks. In the proposed model, the energy detection scheme is employed for the spectrum sensing in the network in which the co‐channel interference is present among primary users and secondary users (SUs). The SUs' throughput in the proposed CR system model is then analyzed. The simulations are also carried out for demonstrating the performance of overlay, underlay, and hybrid overlay/underlay paradigms. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Joint impact of sensing time and SPRF parameter on the performance of a continuous energy harvesting cooperative cognitive radio network

Joint impact of sensing time and signal power raise factor is studied for an improved energy detector–based energy harvesting cooperative cognitive radio network. All the cognitive radio nodes harvest energy either from radio frequency resources or from non–radio frequency resources. The probability density function of harvested energy from both the sources is exponentially distributed. Novel theoretical expressions for harvested energy and throughput are derived. Impact of several sensing parameters and a device constraint on the outage is studied. Optimal values of sensing time and signal power raise factor parameter pair are estimated for maximum harvested energy and maximum throughput. Energy efficiency of the network is also evaluated, and impact of sensing time on it is indicated.     

Energy-efficient cooperative sensing and transmission in relay-assisted cognitive radio network

An innovative EE-oriented cooperative sensing and transmission scheme in relay-assisted cognitive radio networks,called energy-efficient best-relay cooperative transmission (BCT) was proposed.Based on the BCT scheme,mean energy efficiency (MEE) maximization problem with sensing duration and transmitting power as optimization variables was modeled for fading channels under constraint of minimal secondary outage probability.By virtue of Jensen’s inequality,the original optimization problem was decomposed into two relatively independent subproblems which solved sensing duration and power allocation respectively.And for the two subproblems,an efficient cross iteration based algorithm was proposed to obtain the suboptimal solutions.Both analytical and simulation results demonstrate that the proposals can achieve significantly higher EE while enhancing reliability of secondary transmission remarkably compared to non-cooperation single cognitive transmission schemesin high QoS requirement.     

Parameters optimization for cooperative sensing in multi‐channel cognitive radio networks

In this paper, we propose a relatively complete and robust optimization model under the scenario where multisecondary users cooperatively sense multi‐channels. The objective of this model is to maximize the system throughput, meanwhile aims to jointly optimize the parameters including the sensing time and the weight coefficients of the sampling results. Because this model is a nonlinear optimization model, we instead adopt a heuristic sequential parameters optimization method (SPO) to solve the model. The method begins with deriving the lower bound of the objective function of the optimization model. Then, it maximizes this lower bound by optimizing the weight coefficients through solving a series of suboptimal problems using Lagrange method. Given that the weight coefficients are found, it finally transforms the problem into another monotonic programming problem and exploits a fast‐convergent polyblock algorithm to find an optimized sensing time parameter. We finally conduct extensive experiments by simulations. The results demonstrate that, in terms of the throughput gained by the system, SPO can deliver a solution that is up to 99.3% of the optimal on average, which indicates that SPO can solve the proposed optimization model effectively. In addition, we also show the performance advantage of the proposed model on improving the system throughput by comparing with other state‐of‐the‐art optimization models. Wireless Communications and Mobile Computing. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

认知无线电NC-OFDM系统中基于压缩感知的信道估计新方法

提出了一种基于压缩感知(CS,compressive sensing)理论的不连续子载波正交频分复用(NC-OFDM,non-contiguous orthogonal frequency division multiplexing)系统信道估计新方法,全面研究了认知无线电NC-OFDM系统CS信道估计的理论框架、导频图案的设计、信道估计算法,并依据CS测量矩阵设计理论提出了测量矩阵互相关最小化的导频图案优化准则。仿真结果表明,同已有的NC-OFDM系统信道估计方法相比,CS信道估计能够在多种禁用子载波场景下,使用较少导频获得很好的信道估计性能。     

Throughput analysis in censoring-based cooperative cognitive radio network with energy harvesting

An energy harvesting (EH) and cooperative cognitive radio (CR) network (CRN) is studied in this paper where CR users transmit data through a primary user (PU) channel if the channel remains idle, else an optimal number CRs helps in transmission of PU. To achieve the optimum number of CRs (ONCR) involved in cooperation, a novel scheme based on a combination of channel censoring and total error is proposed. The performance of the proposed scheme is investigated under RF harvesting scenario. The EH is dependent on sensing decision and a CR source harvests energy from PU's RF signal. The harvested energy (HE) is split into two parts: One part is used by the CR network (CRN) for its own transmission, and the other part is used for supporting PU. The effect of the energy allocation factor on total throughput is also investigated. New expressions for optimal number of CRs and throughput are developed. The effect of network parameters such as sensing time, censoring threshold, and energy allocation parameter (EAP) on throughput is investigated. Impact of distance between nodes is also studied.     

Channel assignment schemes for cooperative spectrum sensing in multi‐channel cognitive radio networks

In this paper, channel assignment for spectrum sensing is studied in multi‐channel cognitive radio (CR) networks to maximize the number of channels satisfying sensing performance (called available channels). Beginning with a nonlinear integer programming problem, we derive the upper bound of optimal value through many‐to‐many assignment problem and then propose three algorithms for both centralized and distributed scenarios. In centralized case, a heuristic scheme is proposed based on the signal‐to‐noise ratios (SNRs) over all primary channels (PCs). Then, a greedy scheme is proposed to reduce the reported information from the CRs. In distributed case, a novel scheme with multi‐round operation is designed following the coalitional game theory. In each round, each CR selects some PCs based on SNRs. Then, the CRs selecting the same channel play coalitional game, and thereby, multiple games are played concurrently over multiple channels. Finally, the best coalition for each channel is chosen among the formed coalitions to perform the cooperative spectrum sensing. The simulation results show that the proposed schemes can significantly increase the number of available channels. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

非线性能量收集认知无线电网络的次用户吞吐量最大化方案

针对一对主用户和M对次用户构成的认知无线电网络（cognitive radio network,CRN），研究了非线性能量收集的认知无线电网络的次用户吞吐量最大化问题。具体来说，对于考虑次用户发射器（secondary transmitter,ST）电路功率的情况，首先将主用户吞吐量需求下的次用户吞吐量最大化（secondarythroughput maximization,STM）问题建模为一个非线性优化问题，然后将它转化成凸优化问题，最后提出一种联合使用黄金分割和二分法的低复杂度算法，获得主用户发射器（primarytransmitter,PT）能量传输和次用户信息传输的最优时间分配以及主用户发射器的最优发射功率。对于忽略次用户发射器电路功率的情况，首先证明次用户吞吐量最大化问题的凸特性，然后设计了一个更高效的算法来求解。仿真结果表明，相比等时间分配方案和链路增益优先级方案，提出的设计算法能显著提升次用户吞吐量。     

认知中继网络中的信道分配方法研究

认知中继网络中,对信道进行分配可以有效地提高端到端吞吐量。对三节点认知中继网络下的信道分配进行了研究。中继节点采用解码转发协议时,提出了一种次优的分配方法,将信道按信道增益排序,然后逐个地分配中继信道。中继节点采用放大转发协议时,给出了最优的信道分配方法,提出了一种次优的信道分配方法。次优方法逐个地比较中继信道采用传统协作方式传输时的端到端吞吐量、分配为双跳信道S-R和R-D链路时的端到端吞吐量完成分配。和最优方法相比,两种次优方法以较小的性能损失换取了计算复杂度的降低。给出了数值仿真,比较了两种传输方式下的端到端吞吐量性能,验证了以上方法的有效性。通过对比仿真时间,比较了最优方法和次优方法的计算复杂度。给定信道总数,对次优方法下信道分配后的比例进行了仿真,发现待分配中继信道以1/3的比例分配为直传信道;而在放大转发下,待分配中继信道几乎不被分配为双跳信道。      

An efficient and adaptive channel handover procedure for cognitive radio networks

In designing cognitive radio systems, one of the most critical issues is handling the channel handover process (CHP). The CHP consists of spectrum sensing, spectrum decision, negotiation on the common control channel, and adjustment of frequency and modulation settings, and such, it can be a time‐consuming process. Consequently, initiating the CHP after each detected user activity (UA) can decrease the aggregate spectrum utilization. To alleviate this problem, we introduce a novel handover strategy to find the optimal trade‐off between the durations of the CHP and UAs. With the use this model, secondary users (SUs) track only local information on their current data channel to make the decision to initiate the CHP or to wait for the termination of the ongoing UA. The system adapts to the dynamic conditions of the data channels and reduces the frequency of handovers to increase throughput and decrease access delay. We give analytical utilization bounds for SUs and also compare the performance of our model to those of other channel handover strategies by using extensive simulations. Our results for channels with heterogeneous loads and dynamic environments show that this model can clearly decrease the frequency of handover and consequently increase the aggregate SU utilization. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Effective autocorrelation-based spectrum sensing technique for cognitive radio network applications

Spectrum sensing based on detection techniques enables cognitive radio networks to detect vacant frequency bands. The spectrum sensing gives the opportunity to increase the radio spectrum channels re-utilization. However, the main challenge in spectrum sensing is the simplicity of the considered detection approach and the amount of prior information needed to make an accurate decision. This paper proposes a novel sensing technique based on the autocorrelation function. This novel approach is based on the speed of convergence to zero of all autocorrelation coefficients. This technique shows the highest probability of detection for the same probability of false alarm target at low signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) compared with many standard detection techniques. The proposed method has been implemented using GNU Radio software and SDR (software-defined radio) platforms. The experimental results show the effectiveness of the proposed method under real scenarios.     

Novel quantization‐based spectrum sensing scheme under imperfect reporting channel and false reports

In this paper, a novel sensing scheme, uniform quantization for cooperative sensing (UniQCS), that employs a uniform quantizer is proposed. UniQCS is based on energy detection and uses weight vector for global decision function. It performs better than hard decision algorithms such as majority and k‐out‐of‐n in terms of probability of detection and false alarm at the cost of a marginal increase in overhead bits under imperfect reporting channel and false reports. The probability of detection is maximized for a given probability of false alarm constraint by the proposed method. For detailed analysis, the UniQCS is compared with equal gain combiner scheme, which performs far better than hard decision algorithms, via highest bandwidth requirement. The proposed algorithm performs close to equal gain combiner. Moreover, the robustness of UniQCS to sensing error is analyzed when some nodes always report false decisions to the fusion center and the reporting channel is imperfect. For probability of false alarm equal to 0.01, performance gain of UniQCS is at least 45% compared with the other methods when there are two false reporting nodes. UniQCS performance gain is at least 15% compared with other methods for probability of reporting channel error equal to 0.001. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Cross‐layer optimization for full‐duplex cognitive radio network with cooperative spectrum sensing

In this paper, the cross‐layer optimal design of multihop ad hoc network employing full‐duplex cognitive radios (CRs) is investigated. Firstly, the analytical expressions of cooperative spectrum sensing performance for multihop CR networks over composite fading channels are derived. Then, the opportunistic throughput and transmit power of CRs are presented based on the derivation of false alarm and missed detection probability. Finally, a multiobjective optimization model is proposed to maximize the opportunistic throughputs and minimize the transmitting power. Simulation results indicate that Pareto optimal solution of sensing duration, decision threshold, and transmit power can be achieved by cross‐layer multiobjective optimization, it can balance the conflicts between different objective functions and reap the acceptable outcomes for multihop CR network.     

Effects of imperfect channel sensing and estimation on the performance of cognitive radio systems

In realistic scenarios of cognitive radio (CR) systems, imperfect channel sensing may occur due to false alarms and miss detections. Channel estimation between the secondary user transmitter and another secondary user receiver is another challenge in CR systems, especially for frequency‐selective fading channels. In this context, this paper presents a study of the effects of imperfect channel sensing and channel estimation on the performance of CR systems. In particular, different methods of channel estimation are analyzed under channel sensing imperfections. Initially, a CR system model with channel sensing errors is described. Then, the expectation maximization (EM) algorithm is implemented in order to learn the channel fading coefficients. By exploiting the pilot symbols and the detected symbols at the secondary user receiver, we can estimate the channel coefficients. We further compare the proposed EM estimation algorithm with different estimation algorithms such as the least squares (LS) and linear minimum mean square error (LMMSE). The expressions of channel estimates and mean squared errors (MSE) are determined, and their dependencies on channel sensing uncertainty are investigated. Finally, to reduce the complexity of EM algorithm, a sub‐optimal algorithm is also proposed. The obtained results show that the proposed sub‐optimal algorithm provides a comparable bit error rate (BER) performance with that of the optimal one yet with less computational complexity.     

Power allocation algorithm for cognitive radio energy harvesting networks based on energy cooperation

An algorithm to optimize the power allocation by maximizing the system throughput in cognitive radio energy harvesting networks was proposed.The algorithm formulated the throughput optimization model subject to the causality constraints of the harvested energy within the two secondary users and the interference constraint of the primary user.In addition,by applying the variable-substitution method and problem equivalence transformation,the joint optimization problem of power and cooperative energy was decoupled into two problems:a power allocation problem and a cooperative energy one.The former problem could be solved by iterating the two decoupled problems.As shown in the simulation results,the energy cooperation can significantly improve the system throughput when the harvested energy difference between two nodes is rather large.     

Optimization of sensing time in multichannel sequential sensing for cognitive radio

This paper studies the design of sensing time in multichannel sequential sensing for cognitive radio under the multichannel sensing slots and one transmission slot scheme. Firstly, we consider the case where the channel idle probability is known. In this case, when the channels’ signal‐to‐noise ratios (SNRs) are equal, we prove that there exist optimal sensing times that maximize the achievable throughput for secondary user, while primary user is sufficiently protected. When the channels’ SNRs are different, brute‐force search is used to find the optimal sensing order that maximizes the achievable throughput of secondary user, and the corresponding optimal sensing times will be obtained. Then, a suboptimal and low‐complexity approach of one‐slot sensing time without knowing the channel idle probability is proposed. The proposed approach solves the problem of sensing order by selecting the channel with the minimum sensing time in the next sensing slot when the channels’ SNRs are different. Numerical results show that the proposed approach achieves a performance close to that of the optimal sensing time under different conditions and has significant performance improvement over the approach of fixed sensing time. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

On the transmission opportunity and TCP throughput in cognitive radio networks

The characteristics of cognitive radio networks have huge impacts on the end‐to‐end performance of the transmission control protocol (TCP) for secondary users. Thus, the existing TCP throughput expression, widely used in wired and wireless networks, is no longer suitable for cognitive radio networks. In this paper, we derive the transmission opportunity of secondary users, taking into account the dynamics of spectrum availability, the overhead and errors of spectrum sensing, as well as the interaction between TCP and lower layers. The amount of transmission opportunity is expressed in terms of effective data transmission time. On the basis of the analysis of the transmission opportunity, an expression of an effective TCP throughput is then derived. To evaluate this effective TCP throughput expression, two cross‐layer optimization problems are formulated as application examples to maximize the transport layer effective throughput and energy utility, respectively. Simulation results show that our analysis on transmission opportunity is accurate, and the derived effective TCP throughput expression is more precise than existing ones. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Sensing‐throughput tradeoff for cooperative multiple‐input single‐output cognitive radio

In this paper, we propose a new cooperative multiple‐input single‐output (MISO) cognitive radio (CR) system, which can use some of the antennas to transmit its data and the others to help to transmit the data of the primary user (PU) by performing cooperative communication if the presence of the PU is detected through the cooperative spectrum sensing. A new cooperative sensing‐throughput tradeoff model is proposed, which maximizes the aggregate rate of the CR by jointly optimizing sensing time and spatial sub‐channel power, subject to the constraints of the aggregate rate of the PU, the false alarm and detection probabilities, the aggregate interference to the PU and the aggregate power of the CR. Simulation results show that compared with the conventional scheme, the proposed cooperative scheme can achieve the larger aggregate rate of the CR, while keeping the aggregate rate of the PU invariable with the increasing of the interference. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Prediction‐based MAC‐layer sensing in cognitive radio networks

We consider a cognitive radio network which coexists with multiple primary users (PUs) and secondary users (SUs) transmit over time‐varying channels. In this scenario, one problem of the existing work is the poor performances of throughput and fairness due to variances of SUs' channel conditions and PUs' traffic patterns. To solve this problem, we propose a novel prediction‐based MAC‐layer sensing algorithm. In the proposed algorithm, the SUs' channel quality information and the probability of the licensed channel being idle are predicted. Through the earlier predicted information, we schedule the SUs to sense and transmit on different licensed channels. Specifically, multiple significant factors, including network throughput and fairness, are jointly considered in the proposed algorithm. Then, we formulate the prediction‐based sensing scheduling problem as an optimization problem and solve it with the Hungarian algorithm in polynomial time. Simulation results show that the proposed prediction‐based sensing scheduling algorithm could achieve a good tradeoff between network throughput and fairness among SUs. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.