Simultaneous sensing-transmission in cognitive radio networks under spatiotemporally collaborative techniques

Cognitive radio concept aims at using the frequency bands more efficiently. Cognitive radio concept aims at using the frequency bands more efficiently. A main concern in recent research is to maximize the throughput of the secondary cognitive radio network under the restriction of avoiding interference to the primary network. Traditionally, a specific interval is conceived to the task of spectrum sensing, which penalizes the secondary network throughput. Nowadays, the continuous sensing mode has been extensively studied. In this approach, secondary receiving nodes continuously sense the spectrum while other secondary users simultaneously transmit in the same frequency band. We compare, under the continuous sensing approach, the performances of centralized spatiotemporally cooperative spectrum sensing techniques. The altered versions of well-established generalized likelihood ratio test and maximum-minimum eigenvalue detection techniques are considered. We consider the sample fusion, the decision fusion and the eigenvalue fusion technique. It is shown that, in spite of the intrinsic interference present in the continuous mode, this approach is flexible in terms of the sensing time, allowing better sensing performance.