Modeling and Analysis Framework for Multi-Interface Multi-Channel Cognitive Radio Networks

The concept of a multi-interface multi-channel cognitive radio is both novel and promising. Indeed, such opportunistic access to the spectrum, over multiple channels in a simultaneous manner, will provide much higher data rates and better seamless communication while decreasing the possibility of interference to licensed users. In this vein, this paper proposes a detailed modeling and analysis of multi-interface multi-channel cognitive radio networks. The analytical efforts lead to the representation of each cognitive node with a 2-D Markov chain. Among the findings of the proposed modeling and analysis is the probability mass function of the secondary user (SU)'s queue length, from which any higher moment can be extracted. In addition, the stability condition, beyond which the network cannot be considered operative any longer, is derived. Statistical tests are conducted to determine the characteristics of the queue length's tail distribution. The accuracy of the analytical results is corroborated with simulation experiments. The proposed modeling is fairly practical as it takes into account issues such as sensing faults and channel imperfections, asynchronism among SUs, distance, and the primary activity level. In addition, the model is useful for the performance analysis and design of other types of cognitive networks as well, including cognitive-radio-based wireless regional area networks.