Requirements, Design Challenges, and Review of Routing and MAC Protocols for CR-Based Smart Grid Systems

Cognitive radio technology can facilitate communication in smart grid applications through dynamic spectrum access. However, traditional routing and MAC protocols adopted for cognitive radio networks may not be beneficial in CR-based smart grid environments due to large data sizes and variable link quality among different functional blocks of smart grids. The interference and fading in wireless links necessitate efficient routing for reliable low-latency data delivery of smart grid applications. This low-latency data delivery must be achieved while protecting the legitimate primary users. Besides efficient routing, MAC layer protocols should be enhanced to achieve successful data delivery with simultaneous spectrum sensing and duty cycling for energy-efficient operation. In this article, we evaluate the requirements and key design challenges for routing and MAC protocols in the CR-based smart grid. We also provide a review of research carried out to date for routing and MAC protocols for the CR-based smart grid.