Modeling and analysis of multi-user spectrum selection schemes in cognitive radio networks

In this paper, we study the spectrum selection problem in cognitive radio network with emphasis on resolving the channel contention and the spectrum sharing issues of multiple secondary users. For the traditional channel selection methods, the secondary users select their operating channels based on various criteria. However, these methods neglect the effect that multiple secondary users may content for the same channel if they have the same consensus on one particular good channel. Compared to the existing spectrum selection methods, we consider the sensing-based and the probability-based spectrum selection schemes which can prevent too many secondary users from contending the same channel. An analytical model integrated with the preemptive resume priority M/G/1 queuing network theory is developed to evaluate the overall transmission time of the both schemes. Based on this model, we discuss how to find the optimal selection probability for the probability-based scheme. Furthermore, we also analyze in which condition dependent of sensing time and traffic parameters that the sensing- or the probability-based scheme should be used. Based on the analytical results, we provide a principle to guide system operators which scheme should be used in CR networks. Then, we conclude that channel selection scheme should be adaptive to the variations of the traffic characteristics.1