Enhanced tree routing protocols for multi-hop and multi-channel cognitive radio network (EMM-TRP)

Abstract Cognitive Radio (CR) is a promising technology and innovative solution for current spectrum allocation problems. We can exploit the unused licensed bands to meet the increased demand on spectrum bands by applying CR technology. The routing process in CR environment has many challenges such as the absence of centralized infrastructure, the lack of cooperation between the network layer and lower layer, the dynamic nature of channel status, and frequent link failure according to Primary users’ traffic. In this paper, we develop an enhanced multi-hop multichannel tree routing protocol (EMM-TRP) for cognitive radio network and we contributed to the following: (i) we proposed an EMM-TRP that jointly utilized the tree routing algorithm with a spectrum management module in routing decisions. (ii) We also proposed a new metric to find the best route (The main purpose for the design of this metric is safeguarding the PUs traffic from CR node interference and quick data transmission.) (iii) We have improved the EMM-TRP routing tree algorithm search by adding neighbor's table technology. (iv) Finally, we offered recovery and discovery unit in the case of link failure. We carried out our experimental evaluations in ns2 simulator. These evaluations have been shown that EMM-TRP protocol achieves better performance in terms of average throughput, end-to-end delay, overhead and hop count, compared by SAMER, CRP, STOD-RP and CTBR routing protocols.