Computer Engineering Commons^™

On Spectrum Probing In Cognitive Radio Networks: Does Randomization Matter, Chao Chen, Zesheng Chen, Todor Cooklev, Carlos Pomalaza-Ráez

Todor Cooklev

In cognitive radio networks, dynamic spectrumaccess is achieved by allowing secondary users (SUs) to probethe spectrum and utilize available channels opportunistically.Spectrum probing mechanisms should be efficient and fast toavoid harmful interference with primary users (PUs). Periodicprobing has been commonly adopted as a default spectrumprobing mechanism. In this paper, we attempt to study differentspectrum probing mechanisms and evaluate a performance metriccalled the probing delay, i.e., how quickly a probing mechanismcan detect a channel change. We find that randomization in theprobing strategy does affect the probing delay. Specifically, in theindependent sensing scenario, periodic probing indeed achievesthe smallest probing delay. In the cooperative …