Modeling spectrum handoff in overlay cognitive radio networks - a queueing theoretic approach

Abstract

In the overlay Cognitive Radio (CR) networks, the low priority Secondary Users (SUs) must constantly monitor the occupied spectrum to detect the possible appearances of the high priority Primary Users (PUs) within the same spectrum portion. On detection, the SUs must vacate the occupied spectrum portion without interfering with the PUs beyond a certain threshold duration and must opportunistically access another idle spectrum portion to guarantee their seamless communication. This mechanism is known as the spectrum handoff process. In this thesis, we first introduce a novel approach to model the CR channel which is capable of capturing a more realistic behavior of the spectrum occupancy by both user types and that is more suitable for modeling the spectrum handoff process as opposed to the existing approaches. Then using that as a base we focus on building analytical models to capture the various aspects of the spectrum handoff process in a realistic manner.