Closed-Form Analysis of Spectrum Characteristics for Cognitive Radio Performance Analysis

This paper provides an analysis and characterization of the spectrum environment in which a cognitive radio will operate. The different spectrum environments characterize the performance constraining regions that impact wireless system operation, and must be addressed or mitigated by cognitive radios techniques and technology. Closed-form probability distributions are developed for fixed bandwidth signaling channels, and for proportional bandwidths, such as preselectors and low noise amplifiers. The use of closed-form expressions of spectrum environments will enable cognitive radio and dynamic spectrum access researchers to (1) simulate a wider range of spectrum environments than can be sampled and analyzed; (2) perform analysis of radio performance, without researchers having large databases of environments; and (3) provide provable assertions about cognitive radio performance in a range of potential environments.