Competitive performance of multiple spectrum access strategies coexisting in heterogeneous cognitive radio networks

Abstract

This paper develops a computationally efficient method to evaluate the competitive performance of multiple spectrum access strategies when they coexist and compete with each other in a heterogeneous cognitive radio network (CRN).We use a Markov Model Bank (MMB) to model the operations of the heterogeneous CRN. Various spectrum sensing errors, spectrum sensing strategies, and spectrum access strategies can be conveniently modeled. In particular, three typical spectrum access strategies are analyzed. Throughput expressions for each CRN user can be derived even when different strategies are adopted by different users. Simulation shows the critical fairness challenge among the CRN users when different strategies compete in the heterogeneous CRN.