In this paper, we consider the transmission needs of communication networks for two classes of secondary users (SUs), named SU1 and SU2 (lowest priority) in cognitive radio networks (CRNs). In such CRNs, primary users (PUs) have preemptive priority over both SU1's users (SU1s) and SU2's users (SU2s). We propose a preemptive scheme (referred to as the P Scheme) and a non-preemptive scheme (referred to as the Non-P Scheme) when considering the interactions between SU1s and SU2s. Focusing on the transmission interruptions to SU2 packets, we present a probabilistic returning scheme with a returning probability to realize feedback control for SU2 packets. We present a Markov chain model to develop some formulas for SU1 and SU2 packets, and compare the influences of the P Scheme and the Non-P Scheme in the proposed probabilistic returning scheme. Numerical analyses compare the impact of the returning probability on the P Scheme and the Non-P Scheme. Furthermore, we optimize the returning probability and compare the optimal numerical results yielded by the P Scheme and the Non-P Scheme.

Cognitive radio provides a feasible solution for alleviating the lack of spectrum resources by enabling secondary users to access the unused spectrum dynamically. Spectrum sensing and learning, as the fundamental function for dynamic spectrum sharing in 5G evolution and 6G wireless systems, have been research hotspots worldwide. This paper reviews classic narrowband and wideband spectrum sensing and learning algorithms. The sub-sampling framework and recovery algorithms based on compressed sensing theory and their hardware implementation are discussed under the trend of high channel bandwidth and large capacity to be deployed in 5G evolution and 6G communication systems. This paper also investigates and summarizes the recent progress in machine learning for spectrum sensing technology.

Recently, broadband wireless communication has been significantly enhanced; thus, frequency spectrum scarcity has become an extremely serious problem. Spatial frequency reuse based on spectrum databases has attracted significant attention. The spectrum database collects wireless environment information, such as the radio signal strength indicator (RSSI), estimates the propagation coefficient for the propagation loss and shadow effect, and finds a vacant area where the secondary system uses the frequency spectrum without harmful interference to the primary system. Wireless sensor networks are required to collect the RSSI from a radio environmental monitor. However, a large number of RSSI values should be gathered because numerous sensors are spread over the wireless environment. In this study, a data compression technique based on spatial features, such as buildings and houses, is proposed. Using computer simulation and experimental evaluation, we confirm that the proposed compression method successfully reduces the size of the RSSI and restores the original RSSI in the recovery process.

Cognitive radio network (CRN) provides an effective way of improving efficiency and flexibility in spectrum usage. Due to the coexistence of secondary user (SU) and primary user (PU), managing interference is a critical issue to be addressed if we are to reap the full benefits. In this paper, we consider the problem of joint interference management and resource allocation in a multi-channel ad hoc CRN. We formulate the problem as an overlapping coalition formation game to maximize the sum rate of SU links while guaranteeing the quality of service (QoS) of PU links. In the game, each SU link can make an autonomous decision and is allowed to participate in one or more cooperative coalitions simultaneously to maximize its payoff. To obtain the solution of the formulated game, a distributed, self-organizing algorithm is proposed for performing coalition formation. We analyze the properties of the algorithm and show that SU links can cooperate to reach a final stable coalition structure. Compared with existing approaches, the proposed scheme achieves appreciable performance improvement in terms of the sum rate of SU links, which is demonstrated by simulation results.

This paper provides theoretical analyses for maximum cyclic autocorrelation selection (MCAS)-based spectrum sensing techniques in cognitive radio networks. The MCAS-based spectrum sensing techniques are low computational complexity spectrum sensing in comparison with some cyclostationary detection. However, MCAS-based spectrum sensing characteristics have never been theoretically derived. In this study, we derive closed form solutions for signal detection probability and false alarm probability for MCAS-based spectrum sensing. The theoretical values are compared with numerical examples, and the values match well with each other.

In this paper, the artificial noise (AN)-aided multiple-input single-output (MISO) cognitive radio network with simultaneous wireless information and power transfer (SWIPT) is considered, in which the cognitive user adopts the power-splitting (PS) receiver architecture to simultaneously decode information and harvest energy. To support secure communication and facilitate energy harvesting, AN is transmitted with information signal at cognitive base station (CBS). The secrecy energy efficiency (SEE) maximization problem is formulated with the constraints of secrecy rate and harvested energy requirements as well as primary user's interference requirements. However, this challenging problem is non-convex due to the fractional objective function and the coupling between the optimization variables. For tackling the challenging problem, a double-layer iterative optimization algorithm is developed. Specifically, the outer layer invokes a one-dimension search algorithm for the newly introduced tight relaxation variable, while the inner one leverages the Dinkelbach method to make the fractional optimization problem more tractable. Furthermore, closed-form expressions for the power of information signal and AN are obtained. Numerical simulations are conducted to demonstrate the efficiency of our proposed algorithm and the advantages of AN in enhancing the SEE performance.

Green cognitive radio (CR) plays an important role in offering secondary users (SUs) with more spectrum with smaller energy expenditure. However, the energy efficiency (EE) issues associated with green CR for fading channels have not been fully studied. In this paper, we investigate the average EE maximization problem for spectrum-sharing CR in fading channels. Unlike previous studies that considered either the peak or the average transmission power constraints, herein, we considered both of these constraints. Our aim is to maximize the average EE of SU by optimizing the transmission power under the joint peak and average transmit power constraints, the rate constraint of SU and the quality of service (QoS) constraint of primary user (PU). Specifically, the QoS for PU is guaranteed based on either the average interference power constraint or the PU outage constraint. To address the non-convex optimization problem, an iterative optimal power allocation algorithm that can tackle the problem efficiently is proposed. The optimal transmission powers are identified under both of perfect and imperfect channel side information (CSI). Simulations show that our proposed scheme can achieve higher EE over the existing scheme and the EE achieved under perfect CSI is better than that under imperfect CSI.

In this paper, we study a radio frequency (RF)-powered backscatter assisted cognitive radio network (CRN), where an eavesdropper exists. This network includes a primary transmitter, a pair of secondary transmitter and receiver, a friendly jammer and an eavesdropper. We assume that the secondary transmitter works in ambient backscatter (AmBack) mode and the friendly jammer works in harvest-then-transmit (HTT) mode, where the primary transmitter serves as energy source. To enhance the physical layer security of the secondary user, the friendly jammer uses its harvested energy from the primary transmitter to transmit jamming noise to the eavesdropper. Furthermore, for maximizing the secrecy rate of secondary user, the optimal time allocation including the energy harvesting and jamming noise transmission phases is obtained. Simulation results verify the superiority of the proposed scheme.

This paper presents a novel statistic computation technique for energy detection-based spectrum sensing with multiple antennas. The presented technique computes the statistic for signal detection after combining all the signals. Because the computation of the statistic for all the received signals is not required, the presented technique reduces the computational complexity. Furthermore, the absolute value of all the received signals are combined to prevent the attenuation of the combined signals. Because the statistic computations are not required for all the received signals, the reduction of the computational complexity for signal detection can be expected. Furthermore, the presented technique does not need to choose anything, such as the binary phase rotator in the conventional technique, and therefore, the performance degradation due to wrong choices can be avoided. Numerical examples indicate that the spectrum sensing performances of the presented technique are almost the same as those of conventional techniques despite the complexity of the presented technique being less than that of the conventional techniques.

This paper presents a novel spectrum sensing technique based on selection diversity combining in cognitive radio networks. In general, a selection diversity combining scheme requires a period to select an optimal element, and spectrum sensing requires a period to detect a target signal. We consider that both these periods are required for the spectrum sensing based on selection diversity combining. However, conventional techniques do not consider both the periods. Furthermore, spending a large amount of time in selection and signal detection increases their accuracy. Because the required period for spectrum sensing based on selection diversity combining is the summation of both the periods, their lengths should be considered while developing selection diversity combining based spectrum sensing for a constant period. In reference to this, we discuss the spectrum sensing technique based on selection diversity combining. Numerical examples are shown to validate the effectiveness of the presented design techniques.

In this study, product of two independent and non-identically distributed (i.n.i.d.) random variables (RVs) for κ-µ fading distribution and α-µ fading distribution is considered. The statistics of the product of RVs has been broadly applied in a large number of communications fields, such as cascaded fading channels, multiple input multiple output (MIMO) systems, radar communications and cognitive radios (CR). Exact close-form expressions of probability density function (PDF) and cumulative distribution function (CDF) with exact series formulas for the product of two i.n.i.d. fading distributions κ-µ and α-µ are deduced more accurately to represent the provided product expressions and generalized composite multipath shadowing models. Furthermore, ergodic channel capacity (ECC) is obtained to measure maximum fading channel capacity. At last, interestingly unlike κ-µ, η-µ, α-µ in [9], [17], [18], these analytical results are validated with Monte Carlo simulations and it shows that for provided κ-µ/α-µ model, non-linear parameter has more important influence than multipath component in PDF and CDF, and when the ratio between the total power of the dominant components and the total power of the scattered waves is same, higher α can significantly improve channel capacity over composite fading channels.

In this work, we address a joint energy efficiency (EE) and throughput optimization problem in interweave cognitive radio networks (CRNs) subject to scheduling, power, and stability constraints, which could be solved through traffic admission control, channel allocation, and power allocation. Specifically, the joint objective is to concurrently optimize the system EE and the throughput of secondary user (SU), while satisfying the minimum throughput requirement of primary user (PU), the throughput constraint of SU, and the scheduling and power control constraints that must be considered. To achieve these goals, our algorithm independently and simultaneously makes control decisions on admission and transmission to maximize a joint utility of EE and throughput under time-varying conditions of channel and traffic without a priori knowledge. Specially, the proposed scheduling algorithm has polynomial time efficiency, and the power control algorithms as well as the admission control algorithm involved are simply threshold-based and thus very computationally efficient. Finally, numerical analyses show that our proposals achieve both system stability and optimal utility.

In cognitive radio (CR) networks, spectrum sensing is an essential task for enabling dynamic spectrum sharing. However, the problem becomes quite challenging in wideband spectrum sensing due to high sampling pressure, limited power and computing resources, and serious channel fading. To overcome these challenges, this paper proposes a distributed collaborative spectrum sensing scheme based on 1-bit compressive sensing (CS). Each secondary user (SU) performs local 1-bit CS and obtains support estimate information from the signal reconstruction. To utilize joint sparsity and achieve spatial diversity, the support estimate information among the network is fused via the average consensus technique based on distributed computation and one-hop communications. Then the fused result on support estimate is used as priori information to guide the next local signal reconstruction, which is implemented via our proposed weighted binary iterative hard thresholding (BIHT) algorithm. The local signal reconstruction and the distributed fusion of support information are alternately carried out until reliable spectrum detection is achieved. Simulations testify the effectiveness of our proposed scheme in distributed CR networks.

This letter presents a computational complexity reduction technique for space diversity based spectrum sensing when the number of receive antennas is greater than three (NR≥3 where NR is the number of receive antenna). The received signals are combined with phase inversion so as to not attenuate the combined signal, and a statistic for signal detection is computed from the combined signal. Because the computation of only one statistic is required regardless of the number of receive antenna, the complexity can be reduced. Numerical examples and simple analysis verify the effectiveness of the presented technique.

In this work, we investigate a joint transmit beamforming and artificial noise (AN) covariance matrix design in a multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) cognitive radio (CR) downlink network with simultaneous wireless information and power transfer (SWIPT), where the malicious energy receivers (ERs) may decode the desired information and hence can be treated as potential eavesdroppers (Eves). In order to improve the secure performance of the transmission, AN is embedded to the information-bearing signal, which acts as interference to the Eves and provides energy to all receivers. Specifically, this joint design is studied under a practical non-linear energy harvesting (EH) model, our aim is to maximize the secrecy rate at the SR subject to the transmit power budget, EH constraints and quality of service (QoS) requirement. The original problem is not convex and challenging to be solved. To circumvent its intractability, an equivalent reformulation of this secrecy rate maximization (SRM) problem is introduced, wherein the resulting problem is primal decomposable and thus can be handled by alternately solving two convex subproblems. Finally, numerical results are presented to verify the effectiveness of our proposed scheme.

This paper introduces an energy-efficient transmit design for multiple-input single-output (MISO) energy-harvesting cognitive radio (CR) networks in the presence of external eavesdroppers (Eves). Due to the inherent characteristics of CR network with simultaneous wireless information and power transfer (SWIPT), Eves may illegitimately access the primary user (PU) bands, and the confidential message is prone to be intercepted in wireless communications. Assuming the channel state information (CSI) of the Eves is not perfectly known at the transmitter, our approach to guaranteeing secrecy is to maximize the secrecy energy efficiency (SEE) by jointly designing the robust beamforming and the power splitting (PS) ratio, under the constraints of total transmit power, harvested energy at secondary receiver (SR) and quality of service (QoS) requirement. Specifically, a non-linear energy harvesting (EH) model is adopted for the SR, which can accurately characterize the property of practical RF-EH circuits. To solve the formulated non-convex problem, we first employ fractional programming theory and penalty function to recast it as an easy-to-handle parametric problem, and then deal with the non-convexity by applying S-Procedure and constrained concave convex procedure (CCCP), which enables us to exploit the difference of concave functions (DC) programming to seek the maximum worst-case SEE. Finally, numerical results are presented to verify the performance of the proposed scheme.

To improve the efficiency of spectrum utilization, cognitive radio systems attempt to use temporarily unoccupied spectrum which is referred to as a spectrum hole. To this end, QoS (Quality of Service) is one of the most important issues in practical cognitive radio systems. In this article, an efficient spectrum management scheme using self-reserving spectrum is proposed to support QoS for cognitive radio users. The self-reservation of a spectrum hole can minimize service dropping probability by using the statistical characteristics of spectrum bands while using optimum amount of resources. In addition, it realizes seamless service for users by eliminating spectrum entry procedure that includes spectrum sensing, spectrum request, and spectrum grant. Performance analysis and intensive system level simulations confirm the efficiency of the proposed algorithms.

Price-based power control problem is investigated in the spectrum sharing cognitive radio networks (CRNs) by Stackelberg game. Using backward induction, the revenue function of the primary user (PU) is expressed as a non-convex function of the transmit power of the secondary users (SUs). To solve the non-convex problem of the PU, a branch and bound based price-based power control algorithm is proposed. The proposed algorithm can be used to provide performance benchmarks for any other low complexity sub-optimal price-based power control algorithms based on Stackelberg game in CRNs.

Spectrum sensing is the first task performed by cognitive radio (CR) networks. In this paper we propose a spectrum sensing algorithm for orthogonal frequency division multiplex (OFDM) signal based on deep learning and covariance matrix graph. The advantage of deep learning in image processing is applied to the spectrum sensing of OFDM signals. We start by building the spectrum sensing model of OFDM signal, and then analyze structural characteristics of covariance matrix (CM). Once CM has been normalized and transformed into a gray level representation, the gray scale map of covariance matrix (GSM-CM) is established. Then, the convolutional neural network (CNN) is designed based on the LeNet-5 network, which is used to learn the training data to obtain more abstract features hierarchically. Finally, the test data is input into the trained spectrum sensing network model, based on which spectrum sensing of OFDM signals is completed. Simulation results show that this method can complete the spectrum sensing task by taking advantage of the GSM-CM model, which has better spectrum sensing performance for OFDM signals under low SNR than existing methods.

In this letter, we consider the harvested-energy fairness problem in cognitive multicast systems with simultaneous wireless information and power transfer. In the cognitive multicast system, a cognitive transmitter with multi-antenna sends the same information to cognitive users in the presence of licensed users, and cognitive users can decode information and harvest energy with a power-splitting structure. The harvested-energy fairness problem is formulated and solved by using two proposed algorithms, which are based on semidefinite relaxation with majorization-minimization method, and sequential parametric convex approximation with feasible point pursuit technique, respectively. Finally, the performances of the proposed solutions and baseline schemes are verified by simulation results.